Lost at Sea: Nothing goes to windward like a VW Golf!

There comes a point, around high summer, when we've had enough of the boat and we just want to get off! We'd been anchoring off, in small coves, surrounded by naked campers. Every day felt like being at the beach... lie around, get hot, go for a swim, repeat.

Pavlov tied to a jetty in Tunarica

Beach off a camping ground in Tunarica

As hard as this might sound, particularly for our poor friends currently freezing in the UK, after some days we'd had enough. Megan and I looked at each other and said "LET'S GET OFF THE BOAT". So we headed up to Marina Veruda, just south of Pula and docked Pavlov for a week. We hired an air-conditioned VW Golf in the marina (Hang the expense!!). After getting Pavvie some needed resuscitation for her new alternator (one cable had burned out), we jumped in the car and headed out of Croatia. On the way out, we stopped briefly to see the Liminski canal

The Limski canal

We then entered Slovenia. What a breath of fresh air! I'm still amazed at how different the vibe can be in European countries that are separated by just a thin line on a map (and years of fighting each other). Slovenia was just so different to Croatia. While Croatia is one of the most beautiful countries for sailing with its thousands of islands and bays, we have found that Croatians are not the most convivial or friendly of folk, and there is a tendency in Croatia to gouge tourists for all they are worth. This can get tiring after a while. Also, Croatian cuisine is an oxymoron; we have found the food to be unexciting, bland and expensive. Our first stop in Slovenia was a petrol station. Yes, even here, the food was thousands of times better than Croatia, and cheaper too!

Portoroz, Slovenia

Slovenian countryside

We drove up the Slovenian coast, stopping briefly at Portoroz, before heading to Ljubljana, the capital. Ljubljana took our breath away, its a delightful and friendly city, with a romantic castle floating above it and a canalised river flowing through it. It enchanted us the same way Paris did: it's a city that sings to a romantic and passionate soul.

The Triple Bridge in Ljubljana

Statuary in the main square

Canalised river winds through the town

An accordionist plays traditional music

The famous dragons guarding the dragon bridge

Jazz brass band

There was music everywhere, on the streets and in concert halls. Every second store-front seemed to be an art gallery. It was like finding culture after a period in the desert. There was even a kangaroo bubbler to warm every Australian's cockles.

16th century Ljubljana dude

Main Square

Hotel by the riverside

Ljubljana is a bike friendly town, with its own twist!

Just loved this, a Kangaroo bubbler!

Funicular up to the old Castle

We took a funicular up to the old Castle in Ljubljana. This castle had suffered from significant decay and was almost demolished. The renovation was interesting and very modernist: it actually worked to see the stark contrast between the old and new.

View from the castle in Ljubljana

More views

Courtyard of the castle

Beautiful old house

Art outside the cathedral

Interesting church door, cast iron.

After a few nights in Ljubljana, we headed north to Bled. Bled was particularly interesting for Megan, as she'd been here over 30 years ago in 1980. Bled also has an old castle that sits above a gorgeous lake. We had to have a swim in the fresh water of the lake, very refreshing after all the salt we've been imbibing.