Leaving Venice wasn't tough, just packed up, ate breakfast and finally had a cup of coffee, and hopped on the boat back to the train station.
Of course, the guy at the ticket window wasn't friendly and while I'm sure he spoke a least a bit of English, he wasn't in the mood to be helpful that morning.
I got my ticket for the 10 a.m. train to Gorizia at 9:59. Plenty of time, the ticket clerk said.
He was right. Made it on, and all was well until just two stops from Gorizia.
The train conductors went on strike.
The train stopped and I had no idea what to do next.
I was sitting on the train thinking it would keep going, until the conductor came and said "train doesn't go there."
Luckily, I ran into a Slovenian guy who works in Dublin and was on his way home to Nova Gorica, which is where I was headed. Plus, he spoke Italian.
We also ran into an American couple from Seattle and the four of us sat around, waiting, as train after train was cancelled due to the strike. We'd contemplated calling Slovenian guy's family to come get us or to walk. The Slovenian guy even bought us a coffee while we waited.
Finally, two hours later, we were back on a moving train.
Despite being behind schedule, we had a good time and all made it back to Nova Gorica eventually.
Of course, at the Nova Gorica train station, the ticket windows were closed. Oh the joys of traveling in a predominately Catholic country, on a Sunday.
I wandered the platform and finally found someone who reassured me that the train to Bled was coming and I could buy my ticket on the train.
About 30 minutes later, I was on the train, looking out over the Socka River.
And two hours later, I was at Lake Bled.
Of course, the guy at the ticket window wasn't friendly and while I'm sure he spoke a least a bit of English, he wasn't in the mood to be helpful that morning.
I got my ticket for the 10 a.m. train to Gorizia at 9:59. Plenty of time, the ticket clerk said.
He was right. Made it on, and all was well until just two stops from Gorizia.
The train conductors went on strike.
The train stopped and I had no idea what to do next.
I was sitting on the train thinking it would keep going, until the conductor came and said "train doesn't go there."
Luckily, I ran into a Slovenian guy who works in Dublin and was on his way home to Nova Gorica, which is where I was headed. Plus, he spoke Italian.
We also ran into an American couple from Seattle and the four of us sat around, waiting, as train after train was cancelled due to the strike. We'd contemplated calling Slovenian guy's family to come get us or to walk. The Slovenian guy even bought us a coffee while we waited.
Finally, two hours later, we were back on a moving train.
Despite being behind schedule, we had a good time and all made it back to Nova Gorica eventually.
Of course, at the Nova Gorica train station, the ticket windows were closed. Oh the joys of traveling in a predominately Catholic country, on a Sunday.
I wandered the platform and finally found someone who reassured me that the train to Bled was coming and I could buy my ticket on the train.
About 30 minutes later, I was on the train, looking out over the Socka River.
And two hours later, I was at Lake Bled.
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