Train ride from the past

The train going from Ploce to Sarajevo was actually a train from the 1950's donated to Bosnia-Herzegovina from Sweden. It must have been a real luxury to travel with that train in the 1950s but now, not so much. The seats were huge and soft, but the fabric was so worn of that with (off course) no air condition and an immense heat, you literarily got stuck to the seats and left half of your skin back when getting up (which you had to do a lot of times to escape the HUGE bugs that got in through the one window that was able to be opened). Luckily we had some brave bosnian men that was not as afraid as us for the monster bugs (even though they had some troubles as well trying to get them out).

Split

Split, Croatia is a beautiful, though really touristy city along the dalmatian coast. Our hostel/ apartment was located just on the roman ruins and close to the center. Although the apartment was well placed, the interior was not as pleasant. We actually had a multifunction hand sink / shower, where you had to climb up really far to get into the shower. I did try to get a photo of the strange invention, but the bathroom was to small to get a functioning angle. As well there was no laundry machine nor wi-fi as the booking information promised us.
Strolling along Split we found a great sea-food restaurant and got to see a great flame-throwing show that served well for a continuance of testing out our cameras. I got to take many cool pictures, but ending up filling my memory card only with pictures of the two artists, so there was some heavy deleting photo action going on later.

Going onwards from Split we had to take the bus to Ploce, which by the way can easily classify as a god forsaken city. If it was not for the train and bus terminal there would be nothing there, at all. Even so we got the hours to pass, trying to fix Maria's backpack making some croatian guys laugh their hearts out, until they tried to fix it themselves and found out that it was impossible (hah!).

The clean city

We took time for a day trip to Ljubljana as well and I must say I'm surprised. I admit that Ljubljana is not one of the european cities I've heard most of, hence my surprise. Because it is a really beautiful city. True enough it does not have a big tourist attraction special for only this city, but not many places actually do. The city must be one of the cleanest capitals in Europe and the atmosphere is calm but still lively.

Slovenian Flag

Slovenian art

Slovenian view, Norwegian girls

Slovenian fun, in the national history museum

Slovenian cleanliness at its best

One of the reasons for us going in to Ljubljana again was to book a seat for our next train ride to Split, Croatia. As we found out there was no night trains going to Split so we ended up loosing a day taking the day train. Which was delayed a couple of hours so that we just had enough time to change trains in Zagreb, leaving no time what so ever for buying food or water or taking out cash to be able to buy this on the train. A nine hour train ride with no food, and hardly any water in the frying sun shining in to the train that off course had a malfunctioning air condition, made us learn the hard way to ALWAYS bring "too much" water on your train rides. You never know what can happen.

Venice

We arrived in Venice knowing that our hostel was not on the main island, but what we did not know was that we definetly should buy a 48 hour (or more) ticket for the vaporette. We ended up paying way to much for a single ticket (6,50 Euros for a single tip), and since they did not have a ticket office on the island where our hostel was situated we had to pay the same amount to get out to the main island the day after as well.
The place of our hostel was amazing and for my part the best thing about Venice was to sit outside the the hostel with a bottle of wine dipping our feet in the channel.
Venice is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen, but the transport system with the vaporettes could be a bit more efficient or at least better explained, we ended up taking unnecessary long trips to get from one place to another.
We used the first day walking around the main island and spending a lot of time in Plaza San Marco exploring our cameras and testing different functions, photographers as we try to be.
The second day we ended up going to Lido, the beach just outside Venice. With bath tub warm water we had difficulties trying to cool down from the immense heat of Venice. Still tired after our speed tour through Rome this day was a godsend for two norwegian bodies. I just wish we would have thought more of bringing a higher sun screen.

Lake Bled, Slovenia

Going to Lake Bled from Venice we had to spend the night at the train station in Ljubljana. Here we had the pleasure of meeting some american guys who as they put it; where looking for Croatia in the train station of the capital of Slovenia. Apperantly they had been on hour train from Venice, which was not hard to see since they were wearing touristy sailor hats from the channel city. The funny thing was that the train they were originally on was actually going to Zagreb, but they had for a not known reason gotten of the train many hours early. And now they had to wait in Ljubljana for the next train at 7 a.m. the next day. They were trying to be gentlemen drunk as they were, and offered to set up a tent for us and saying that since we were two girls traveling alone they would look after us all night. But a couple of hours later they were sound a sleep with no tent and just some really small towels instead of sleeping bags.
Really tired after a wake night at the station we took the first train going to Bled in the morning. Arriving there at around 6 a.m. The hostel reception did not open until 8 a.m (or actually 9 a.m. in difference of what they stated on their website) so we gathered our bags and got some longed for sleep in their parking lot before getting our room.

Lake Bled is a really idyllic place with a beautiful scenery. The great lake has a small island with a small church which you can reach by renting a small row boat. After a nap we took a hike around the lake and up to the castle overlooking the little village.
Up in the Slovenian alps the sun was milder and swimming in the freshwater lake was a way more chilly experience than the recent swim in Lido in Venice.

Rome was not built in a day, but if your efficient, you can almost see all in a day.

I came to Rome earlier than Maria, and was walking around the hostel while waiting for her arrival. When I was walking around randomly, I just stumbled upon the colosseum, and I realized that the centre of Rome is surprisingly small, even so, we managed to get lost more than a couple of times. My multiple attempts of trying to find a short-cut was eventually abandoned after long detours up different hills. The first night we went out to eat in the Trastevere district.

We started up early the next day with our sightseeing and since we only had two (and a half) days in this beautiful city we decided to see the most of it the first day and explore the roman café-life the next. 

We managed to see the Forum Romanum, the colosseum and the vatican before a well-earned break at the hostel. With new strength we went out and got to see the spanish steps and the Trevi Fountain. Which was immensely over crowded and a bit over rated for my part. 

The owner of the hostel gave us a lot of tips of when to be at the different places and where to get the shortest lines, so it is a lot thanks to her that we were able to see so much in one day. 

As well she recommended us a really good restaurant close to the Trevi Fountain, L'archetto, with over 40 different kinds of pasta, what a place!! The food was awesome and could not be more perfect for two tired souls just starting their adventure together. 

We started up early the next day with our sightseeing and since we only had two (and a half) days in this beautiful city we decided to see the most of it the first day and explore the roman café-life the next.
We managed to see the Forum Romanum, the colosseum and the vatican before a well-earned break at the hostel. With new strength we went out and got to see the spanish steps and the Trevi Fountain. Which was immensely over crowded and a bit over rated for my part.
The owner of the hostel gave us a lot of tips of when to be at the different places and where to get the shortest lines, so it is a lot thanks to her that we were able to see so much in one day.
As well she recommended us a really good restaurant close to the Trevi Fountain, L'archetto, with over 40 different kinds of pasta, what a place!! The food was awesome and could not be more perfect for two tired souls just starting their adventure together.

Speed tourism in Italy

Leaving the beautiful little city of Sarzana on my way to Rome and meeting the lovely Maria time was short. I only had one day more, but wanted to see so much. It ended up with a couple hours in Pisa, since the train stopped there anyways. I walked around the city center, clicking photos of the tower. And then to spend the afternoon and the night in Florence. Florence is a beautiful city in the heart of Tuscany with a lot of history, and I wish I could spend more time there, but I need to save something for the next time in Italy right?