Day 3.

Running along Riva Nazario Sauro to work off some of the indulgence the previous evening.


And enjoying a decent breakfast back at the hotel before getting ready for the journey to Ljubljana.


Outside Trieste Centrale railway station.


And about to catch the 9.01am train across the border to Slovenia.


Just before 9am they announced that the train would be delayed because of a fire beside the tracks, and that they had to wait for clearance from the firefighters. 45 minutes later however we were leaving the station and on our way.


Passing through Sežana just after crossing the border and into my 123rd country visited.


And outside Ljubljana railway station (Železniška postaja Ljubljana).


It was just after twelve and I was starting to get a bit hungry. My Lonelyplanet guidebook recommended one of Ljubljana's fast food curiosities, Hot Horse, which sounded too intriguing to resist.


I opted for the classic horseburger. A decent size, very tasty and definitely filled me up!


I then walked through the city centre. Outside the National Gallery (Narodna Galerija) of Slovenia.


And inside my AirBnb on Slomškova ulica for the next two nights. The city didn't seem to have many hotels so I opted for the studio apartment for $74 a night.


In the afternoon I went for a walk in Tivoli City Park where they had an outdoor photography exhibition of Slovenia.


Looking towards the city centre.


The beautiful and historic Ljubljana Old Town.


Tromostovje (Triple Bridge) spanning across the Ljubljanica River.


In Prešeren Square is also the city christmas tree which will be lit tonight for the first time.


Ljubljana Castle looking down on the city from Castle Hill.


Ljubljana New Town with the train station in the background.


Traffic at the intersection of Bleiweisova and Celovška cesta.


I then went for a walk in the Old Town. One of the dragon statues on Dragon Bridge. Apparently there is a legend that the ancient Greek mythological hero and dragon slayer Jason was the founder of Ljubljana.


The bridge was built in the beginning of the 20th century when the city was part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.


A pedestrian bridge across the Ljubljanica River in the heart of the Old Town.


Galerija Emporium.


A Christmas tree in the Town Square on the east side of the river.


And the lights now fully lit for the first time of the festive season in Prešeren Square.


After the substantial lunch I opted for some churros for dinner before getting an early night as I had an early pickup tomorrow for my hot air balloon flight in Bled.