Austria > Ljubljana Castle

We get up early, as we have a long day ahead. Since we didn’t manage to visit the Kehlsteinhaus yesterday, we start with that today. It takes some figuring out to get back on the route. Just outside Salzburg, we slowly wind our way into the mountains. Unfortunately, it’s cloudy this morning as well. There are still patches of snow on the mountaintops. We gain altitude quickly. At the visitor center, a bus normally goes up to the Kehlsteinhaus. This original teahouse was given to Hitler in 1945, shortly before the end of the war. Today, a restaurant is housed there, but it is closed. When we take the road toward Berchtesgaden, the descent grade is 24%. Unfortunately, this is the wrong direction. Brutus struggles immensely to climb the mountain while turning. In the Netherlands, we never had a chance to practice in mountainous terrain. Even in Berchtesgaden National Park, the road climbs rapidly in hairpin bends. We drive up at a slow, steady pace. We simply can’t go any faster. At the top, we have a beautiful view of the rolling landscape along the Germany–Austria border.

Austria - The three bridges in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana

The verges are covered with leftover snow from winter. From here, we cannot see the Kehlsteinhaus. On the other side, we descend the mountain again. The brakes are put under considerable stress while going down. They are very hot when we reach the A10 motorway toward Villach. I can smell the rubber. We decide to take the highway to Ljubljana instead of the mountain road. Let’s not unnecessarily strain Brutus during his first week. Through numerous tunnels, we reach the border with Slovenia. Traffic is at a standstill. It turns out there is construction in the tunnel tube, and traffic is allowed through alternately. Since the tunnel is over seven kilometers long, it takes a while before the oncoming traffic has passed. On the other side lies Slovenia. It turns out we also need a motorway vignette here. The first toll gate, however, is just a regular toll booth. The attendant points us to a gas station. We drive into Slovenia. The capital, Ljubljana, lies in the middle of the country. We drive on to the city center and look for a parking spot. Most parking garages are for vehicles up to two meters in height. We need another 50 centimeters. Fortunately, there is an outdoor parking lot within walking distance of the old city. The Three Bridges are one of the most famous spots in Ljubljana. From here, we also have a view of the higher Ljubljana Castle (Ljubljanski Grad). On the banks of the Ljubljanica River, we order lunch. The weather is beautiful. Through the narrow streets, we reach the funicular. With this lift, we reach the castle. The fortress has existed since the 12th century, but the current form was built in 1511. We decide to walk back down, enjoying a beautiful view over the Slovenian capital. It is a small but lovely and cozy city. Around half past four, we leave the parking lot and continue toward Croatia for tonight’s overnight stay. We choose to drive along the highway past Zagreb rather than cutting through the mountains. Time-wise it makes no difference, though the distance is slightly longer. At the border, we have to show our passports for the first time. Afterwards, we get back on the toll road. At a quarter to seven, we arrive at Camping Slapic near Karlovac. The young man at the reception speaks a little Dutch, which he proudly says he learned from Dutch guests. It has apparently rained here for two weeks. Just this afternoon, a cloudburst passed over. We look for a not-too-muddy spot to pitch our tent. Only a few other tents are on the campsite. In the evening, we eat at the campsite’s restaurant. It is quiet here as well. When we return to our tent, the restaurant closes.