Maribor

The weather forecast had suggested that it was going to be a damp day in Maribor. I had hoped to go skiing. When I went down for breakfast, the weather did not look promising. Breakfast itself did. There were quite a few options including sausage and scrambled egg. The fruit juices were more like squash though. I ate well. Then I had to decide whether to head up into the hills. I went for a quick walk to see how it felt outside. On turning into the Main Square, I made my mind up.

It was raining and the damp square had piles of forlorn, dirty, melting snow. I walked on. Not far from here is the cathedral (photo taken from outside an Irish pub).

The streets were quiet as I made my way back to the hotel. Here is the old castle on the left and the basilica in the background.

I also passed the outdoor skating rink and a monument, behind the former castle.

I then popped back in to the hotel. Breakfast had nearly finished, but there was time to sit in the window with a hot chocolate and watch the rain fall. I saw on webcams that it was raining at the top of the ski runs with poor visibility. Then I packed my bag and checked out. I was allowed to deposit my bag with reception whilst I continued my trek around the city. I went down to the banks of the river Drava.

 

These are part of the old city wall and its fortifications. As are these at the western end.

There were a lot of swans along the waterfront

The world's oldest grape vine is also growing along here (next to a detailed relief map of the city with realistic water on it).

I had a beer and used the facilities in a nearby warm, dry bar. Then I decided to cross the footbridge to the south bank. I wandered around a bit more before returning and spotted one more grand building from the bridge.

The Narodni dom is now a concert hall and cultural centre. I was booked on the 16:30 train, so it was time for some refreshment before the long journey north. Near the hotel, I found a place called M Pite. I don't think it was open the previous evening. I sat and had pleasant piece of burek with a local beer.

I returned to the hotel to pick up my bag and headed to the station.

The train was ready early.

Off we went towards Graz. As we approached the Austrian city, the train developed a problem. Eventually, they turned it off and on. We arrived into the main Graz station too late for my connection to Vienna. I went to the ticket office and obtained a beleg that said I could get any train to my destination because of the delay. There was another train 20 minutes later, but that arrived into Wien Meidling after the scheduled departure of the Nightjet to Amsterdam. At Meidling, I looked at the departure board to see that Amsterdam train was 30 minutes late. It was a cold wait at the station and the train ended up being two hours late.