NATURE AND TAXES SHOULDN'T GO TOGETHER

We jump on the busy early bus, and after pushing our way out of the city and its contaminating traffic, we arrive to the countryside.

Trough the window I can see small villages with black spots on their facades that makes wake up ans tart to imagine how horrible war can be, specially is if between your own brothers!

The ride is short and after three hours and once steeping out the bus I can hear the noise of the falling water against the stone. Magic forests and pristine waters are worth the Word Heritage category of this place, unfortunately for most of their visitors,that condition needs to be paid.

Nearly 14 Euros leave a bad taste in my mouth and also the thought that nature and taxes shouldn't go together.

A nice room in the quiet village of Mukinje is the perfect combination together with nice conversation and flavoured vodka, to fight the cold and the pouring rain outside,

With our backpacks gain in our shoulders we say goodbye to the Spanish from Alicante and the Indian-American with the ability of reading hands specially if there are nice girls around. I think this guesthouse is not used to the loudness of my culture.

A SMILE WILL DO THE TRICK

In our way back, after flashing our thumbs again with no luck this time, we extend our our return to Ljubljana all the way to Zagreb where a new country is wrapped up for us and ready to be open.

Two days exploring the peaceful labyrinth give us the chance to realize that maybe this city has a lot more to offer and we have the feeling that is trying to break free from the shell that war left over its people.

Beautiful fruits markets are the perfect spot to taste the flavour of it people ans also the perfect scenery to steal that people from the grumpy old ladies in their stands aware of my camera.

Maybe less concentration on my photos and more smiling would the trick for me!.

The capital has a busy night life and the smell of roasting chestnuts spark our curiosity to try to immortalize the main square and its never stop tramways.

Next morning we hear about the national park of Plitvice, where turquoise lakes give us a nice chance to stop for two days in our way to the hopefully coast of Zadar.

TWO NIGHTS IN JAIL

Once in Ljubljana we realize that it looks better in our guidebook than it does in the real life.

A bunch of streets clustered beneath the castle save the city from being an unattractive destination.
Leaving the bus station our steps lead us to prison, we have to spend two nights!!.
Luckily for us Ljubljana's old prison has been turned into a nice a curious youth hostel where pay can taste what it feels like sleeping in jail.
After all we don't enjoy our convicted status and feeling the pull of the mountains,we take a bus to Bled where mountains, a floating church and the clanging colours of the Autumn await us.

In Bled the Julian alps tell us that we are a bit far away from the original Marco Polo's route, but hey! we have to follow our own!.
We try our lick showing our thumb without flashing any hairy leg and we manage to cath a ride to the feet of mount Vogar where we hike just enough to dust off our boots

NARROW STREETS FIT LESS PEOPLE

After three days thinking in the long way trip we head to Trieste with Piran as our destination.

note: ( do not jump on the train in Italy without validating your ticket... it could cost you up to 50 euros, 1000 euros or even up to 2000 euros all depending on the mood if whoever is coming to check your tickets.)

Once in Piran, peace takes control of our souls after wondering the bustling streets of Venice.

We enjoy the narrow streets but enough is enough and there is not much more to do here than fool around with our own shadows and to be honest, we didn't come here for that. So we decide to pay visit to the capital City.

LIFE IS TOO MUCH SHORT TO SIT AND WONDER

The floating city awaits the first stop of our trip and welcomes us with its charm . History and beauty are breathable in this place. At first sight it has that magic smile which keeps attracting thousands of curious eyes every year. That makes very hard to find a decent room without having to scratch too much our small pocket.

I can see giant staples keeping together every single bridge just to fit one more person because it seems that October, tourism and culture are sharing the ride in the same gondola.

Canals of people walk around this city just to make harder to find that perfect spot and inspiration to get the precious picture that will make me fall in love with Venice like everyone seems to do.
The " Gondolieri" perform their best sing along like mermaids did with Ulysses just to attract one more well to do Japanese. Catching a ride with gondola is not affordable for those who carry backpacks... I don't want to think about how hard for your pocket has to be to catch that Saturday night easy ride home with the zaxi when you had a few extra beers.

So we walk and walk, go up and down with the as well expensive Vaporettos, because swimming is forbidden, and our legs get tired of following directions to the "Piazzale San Marco" or " Ferrovia"

This is only the beginning!!!