VISITING LUBIANA DURING A MAGICAL FALL MOTOTRIP

THE DRAGON BRIDGE IN THE HISTORICAL CENTER OF LUBIANA.
IN THE BACKGROUD, PARTIALLY HIDDEN BY THE FOG, LUBIANA'S CASTEL

After dreaming about it, longing for it and planning it into the details, we finally spend a weekend in the Capital of Slovenia, and we do so by riding our motorcycles in a very engaging and exciting round trip, choosing two different ways: one for the going and one for the returning. 

The roads we ride present themselves to us as very variegated not only for the diversity of their landscapes, from isolated villages in the valleys among the mountains, to touristic or industrial areas, but also for the change of weather we encounter (from sunny and warming to foggy and chilling)! 

The city of Lubiana is rich of charme, effervescent at any time of the day and night and full of inspiring people and places, exactly ad I remembered it from my previous visits many years ago, when I was a young journalist covering cultural events in the area of former Jugoslavia for the Italian digital magazine "Osservatorio Balcani". 

8-9-10 October 2022

                                     

TOTAL DISTANCE COVERED: 364 KM = 226 miles

The mototrip in the detail:

DAY 1: FROM HOME TO LUBIANA THROUGH BLED = 202 KM

DAY 2: STAYING IN LUBIANA AND VISITING THE CENTER BY WALKING

DAY 3: FROM LUBIANA TO HOME THROUGH AIDOVSCINA = 162 KM

AT OUR HABITUAL MEETING POINT AND STARTING POINT,
WE CELEBRATE THE BEGINNING OF A NEW RIDING EXPERIENCE! 

DAY 1 

After reaching Tarvisio, we cross the border between Italy and Slovenia in the Italian town of Fusine and we take the spectacular Slovenian road 201, which in the town of Jesenice changes its 'name' and becomes 452. This mainly road  follows the creek Sava, from its origin till it becomes a mighty river. 

In Slovenia we have a first stop in the touristic Kranjska Gora, known for winter sports and for his Casino, then we keep on going till our chosen goal for a typical Slovenian meal: the Gostilna "Gala" in Lesce. 

After lunch we deviate from our route and go to the picturesque Lake of Bled, which seems a fairy tale scenario, with its castle built on the very top of a high formation of vertical rocks and its enchanting isle, hosting a chapel and a legendary bell on its tower. 

After visiting Bled, we return back to the main road, the 452, intentioned to keep our way direction South-East, towards our main destination: Lubiana.

QUICK STOP IN TARVISIO, LAST TOWN IN ITALY JUST BEFORE THE BORDERLINE

BREAKFADST IN KRANSKA GORA

THE COLORS OF AUTUMN ALONG THE ROAD 201

TYPICAL SLOVENIAN LUNCH AT GOSTILNA GALA IN LESCE

LAKE BLED AND ITS TOURISTIC BOATS

LAKE BLED AND ITS ISLE

LAKE BLED AND ITS CASTLE

Somewhere after Lesce the road 452 it's labeled 411 and 412, until it arrives to the town of Kranj, There we took the 211 which eventually in its final segment it's called "8" when it becomes the route of entrance to Lubiana from North-West.

ARRIVAL TO THE HOTEL BOUTIQUE ASTERIA, IN NJEGOŠEVA CESTA, 10 - LUBIANA

DAY 2

Walking in the vicinity of our hotel, we re-discovered the surprising Metelkova, the artists' neighbourhood, a totally unique area, which I had found out by coincidence many years ago... click on the link to know more about this pearl: 

                           watch the clip by clicking here!

Lubiana historical center is all about elegance, romanticism and mystery:

EXPLORING THE OLD TOWN, WALKING BY
 THE FASCINATING PROMENADES
WHICH STRETCH ALONG THE BANKS OF THE RIVER

                                    REPUBLIC SQUARE AND THE PARLIAMENT 

   

A SOUVENIR SHOP IN THE CENTER OF LUBIANA

HAVE A LOOK TO THE "BRIDGE OF LOVE"...

...BY WATCHING THIS CLIP:

CLICK UPON THIS LINK!

SAVOURING A BEER "UNION" IN A LUBIANA RESTAURANT

DAY 3

The third day we pack pur bag and head back home. We do so first of all by crossing the very center of the city with our motorcycles to wave goodbye to our most dear spots.

It's an early Sunday morning and it's a very foggy day so both the city and the landscape surrounding it are surreal, magical, suspended beyond time in a rare silence.

SAYING GOODBYE TO ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC PLACES OF THE ENTIRE CITY

The area of Breg on the side of the Ljubljanica River, is a venue for traditional outdoor fairs. The market of antiques takes place every Sunday here.

Exiting Lubiana, we go direction South West: we take the road 409, where there's almost no traffic and the atmosphere is kind of ghostly, full of wonder and suggestion! 

LEAVING LUBIANA, AT A CERTAIN POINT WE STOP IN THE PERIPHERY, IN ORDER
TO WEAR MOST APPROPRIATE GLOVES AND UNDERHELMETS,
CAUSE WE NOTICE THAT THE DEGREE OF HUMIDITY IS VERY HIGH.

After passing the suburb areas and some villages in the lowland surrounding Lubiana, we take a route through the mountains to explore the region in its wildest aspects. 

When we pass the town of Logatec, we take the 102 till the village of Kalce and from there we venture on the road 621 and we immerse ourselves in the woods: even with the fog, or maybe just because of the fog, the colours of the Autumn and the falling leaves make this part of the ride something unique and particularly intriguing: every uphill corner we turn shows us a spectacular view! 

ADMIRING THE BEAUTY OF THE FALL ALONG THE BREATHTAKING ROAD 621

SOAKING IN THE COCOONED EMBRACE OF THE FOREST 

After the village of Col, we take the road 207 and we descend until the town of Ajdovščina. Then we ride through the 444 until the borderline with Italy, that we pass in the already mentioned territory of the twin cities of Nova Gorica and Gorizia. 

We then keep on going and we stop for lunch in the town of Manzano, before to ride to the city of Udine, where we stop for a last selfie, before definitely going back home, in San Daniele del Friuli.

LUNCH AT GIOANNA'S, IN THE TOWN OF MANZANO

LITTLE STOP IN PRIMO MAGGIO SQUARE, UDINE

THE LAST SELFIE OF THIS ROADTRIP