A 10-day adventure by Never Settle. Read more
  • 13footprints
  • 4countries
  • 10days
  • 59photos
  • 0videos
  • 634kilometers
  • Day 10

    Going back home..

    June 19, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Today is the last day of our trip. We still have time until noon, so we try to get as much as possible out of this day. The beach is less than 500 meters away from our flat. We put on our swimwear and start the day with swimming in the mediterranean sea. At this time of the day it is still very quiet at the beach.
    We use the remaining time for breakfast and a short cycle tour along the main road of Lido. It is pleasant for cycling, as its a wide road with cycleways on boths sides. A few hundred meters away from the ferry terminal the tourists area seems to be over and fruit shops, houses and sports facilities are lined on both sides of the road. Unfortunately we don't have enough time to reach the lower end of Lido, because the ferry that takes us to the train station already leaves at 12.30. Nevertheless it was good to have done a short ride before being seated the rest of the day.
    One last time we enjoy the ferry cruise with view on the city of Venice. Then, it's time for the long train journey. We admire the beauty of the mountains as we're rolling through Italy and Austria. At each stop we would rather get out and stay in the Alps than go back home with this train. Sadly, this is not possible.
    Read more

  • Day 9

    Venice

    June 18, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Unlike all the days before we don't have to pack our bags in the morning. Instead we walk to the supermarket around the corner, get some fresh fruit for breakfast, and enjoy it under the morning sun on a bench at the Lido ferry port. After that we take one of the ferries to Venice. We get off at Sant Elena to explore the city from this side. This part appears to be a bit abandoned as many of the houses are at least partly uninhabitated. We stumble upon some art exhibitions that belong to the Biennale. Some parts are only accesible with a ticket, but others are free. So we get to see some pieces of modern art .. interesting..
    Soon we find ourselves sourrounded by masses of other tourists. Obviously we are approaching the Piazza de San Marco. Everyone is busy taking photos and it's hard to move forward in any direction. Maybe it would be a nice place without all the people. Basically this is my impression of Venice throughout the whole day. Definitely it is a very special city. No cars and streets, but canals and boats instead. But so many tourists! I find it's a very strange atmosphere. Something like a normal city-life is missing. Of course there are no offices in Venice and probably there is no business that is not related to tourism. Houses are used for Hotels, restaurants, art galleries and souvenir shops. And those, that are still used for living are mostly in a desolate state. Piedro told us yesterday that Venice was too expensive for people to live there. Thus it remains a city of tourists.
    Today a people's vote against cruises entering the Venice canal takes place. They want to make the big ships stop at Lido, because the cruisers' residues deestroy the substance of the city. We vote in favor of their request and hope that they will be successful. There is enough water-traffic around Venice anyway.
    We try to find a baggage deposit for the next day, as our train only leaves at 2 pm. But there are only two places and both would charge us 7 Euro for each bag. Our bike-bags are small, but we have four of them. No discussion possible. So we decide to spend our next morning on Lido and avoid the baggage deposit.
    After 10 hours of walking around we take the ferry back to Lido. As the temperatures are getting more endurable right now we decide for a run along the beach. Our route goes to a small lighthouse on the north eastern end of Lido and back. It's a beautiful scenery.
    Back home we meet our flat companions, a couple from Ukraine, also tourists. That adds another question mark to our considerations concerning the concept of this flat. Probably we'll never find out..
    Read more

  • Day 8

    Venice - nearly..

    June 17, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Stats: 105.6 km, 110 m elevation gained, 745.7 km from the start.

    GPS track: https://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=1830…

    We enjoy our breakfast in the hotel and start into the day with a little bit of heartache since it is the last day of cycling. Another long, but very flat section lays ahead of us. We are lucky with the direction of wind and the first kilometers are fast and easy. After 55 km the first break. It is 12.35, we are thirsty, need some shade to cool down and are more than happy when we finally reach a supermarket in one of the villages. What we didn't know was the schedule of Italian siesta: 12.30 to 4 p.m. No chance to get anything. Fortunately the bakery is still open. Unffortunately they charge us a ridiculous amount of money for two bottles of water and some cookies.
    As we are approaching Venice, the roads become busier and we see more cars with foreign license plates. We stop again in Lido de Jesolo to buy some food for the evening at one of the shopping centers but find this crowded area rather ugly. Good to get away from here soon. There is a nice cycleway between Laguna Veneta and the river. No cars and few other people. At the end of this Viaa Christo Re we have to cross a floodgate, but it's closed as there are some boats passing. While we wait for it to open again we meet Piedro. He is on a day trip from his hometown to Venice. Like us he loves travelling by bicycle and we have a good time talking about our experiences and future trips. We ride together to the Punta Sabbioni ferry station. Unfortunatly the next ferry is a small one and they do not allow us to take the bicycles on board. Thus we have to wait another 30 minutes for the next boat. Thanks to tha chat with Piedro the time is passing by quickly. At the Lido ferry station we say goodbye to him, as he has to continue to the train station.
    We go to meet our AirBnB host and leave our stuff in the accommodation. The interior of the flat, the furniture and decoration looks as if his grandparents were living there. I'm wondering if I will find the dead grandma if I open the closets. The most expensive accommodation during this trip is also the least tasteful.
    The outside is not so much better I think. We go for a walk along the beach - which is at least free of other tourists at this time of the day. But the seemingly never ending lines of beach chairs and little huts in three, four or five rows give us an idea of what it looks like here during the day. I wonder why people spend their holidays like this. I wouldn't last an hour in this place. Anyway, everything here is extremely touristy and after a week on the bicycle, most of the time in remote places, it is weird to be here.
    I hope than Venice itself can somehow compensate my disappointment from today.
    Read more

  • Day 7

    Palmanova

    June 16, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Stats: 120.3 km, 1025 m elevation gained, 640.1 km from the start
    GPS track: https://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=18311128

    Finally we made it into Palmanova! After we came down from Godovic pass - happy about having left the mountains behind - we got surprised by hot, humid climate, strong headwinds and more climbs. With our legs already tired from the first half of the trip, the second half became very tough. Shortly after crossing the Italian border we stopped in a climatized eco-market to cool down. Then it was only 20 km left to Palmanova. Turned out to be a great choice to stay for the night.
    Palmanova is a planned town, build in the xxth century. The city walls as well as the green belt around it and the inner structure remains intact, which makes it a very special place to visit.
    After fueling our tired bodies with a huge salad and washing our clothes, we went for a walk through and around Palmanova. There are several well-signed walking tracks that lead you around the city. Perfect for our evening-walk.
    Back to our hotel room we observe a spectacular thunderstorm from our window.
    Read more

  • Day 7

    Tough climb over Godovic pass

    June 16, 2017 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    All the way up I was thinking of kilometer 49. I remembered Julian said it would be over after kilometer 49 when we planned the route in the morning. The steep climb with the heavy bikes was certainly the most strenuous part of or trip. But finally we made it past kilometer 49 after having gained more than 800m in altitude. The way down was absolutely rewarding!Read more

  • Day 6

    Ljubljana

    June 15, 2017 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Stats: 65.8 km, 604 m elevation gained, 519.8 km from the start
    GPS track: https://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=18311137

    We arrive at Ljubljana in the late afternoon and can already use our room in the functional accommodation. After a refreshing shower, Julian finds out that there is a decathlon right around the corner. For us the perfect place to avoid the heat during noon. The shopping center is so huge that we get lost a few times until we finally find the shop. I don't need anything, but Julian is successful.
    As the temperatures in the afternoon are tolerable again, we walk through the city center and admire the many beautiful streets with nice, individual cafes and restaurants. The city is full of people and many enjoy a cold drink under the umbrellas of the streetcafes.
    Towards evening after a little indecisive searching process we find a really tasty Thai food shop, where they serve original-prepared curry. Shortly before closing time, we grab our breakfast for the next day from Hofer. We will need it. Tomorrow is another 120 km.
    Read more

  • Day 5

    Straza

    June 14, 2017 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Stats: 90 km, 525 m elevation gained, 454 km from the start
    GPS track: https://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=18311175

    In the early evening we arrive in Straza. Nuovo Mesto has not been far away. First of all, the question is how to convert our purchased ingredients into a salad without kitchen and dishes. Luckily, the owner of the house, who speaks a little German, lends us a salad bowl and cutlery. Dinner saved.
    Straza is small and through the town goes a river, the Krka. We find a hiking trail that leads through the neighboring vineyards on the hills. From the top you have a wonderful view into the valley. Totally idyllic and quiet. So we enjoy the extensive evening walk until dawn and then put our tired legs up.
    After a much too short night, we are awakened by the cocks, sheep, and other animals with acoustical articulation possibilities, that are greeting the new day with loud shouting and bloking.
    Read more

  • Day 3

    A night in the vineyards

    June 12, 2017 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Stats: 126.6 km, 405 m elevation gained, 278.8 km from the start
    GPS track: https://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=18311198

    At the end of the day we have to push the heavy bicycles uphill one more time. But the effort is worth it. Our accommodation is a small house in the middle of a fruit meadow on a hill. Surrounded by cherry trees and vines and with a great view. The right place to relax. The perfectly equipped room with kitchen also includes a bottle of home-made wine. Gorgeous !!Read more