Starting our Motorcycle Tour today

Today we are going to meet our tour group and be introduced to the motorcycle that will be riding for the next 13 days. But we still have time to do a final stroll around Ljubljana. It's Monday and there is a different vibe to the city. There are less aimless tourists and more people going about their daily business. The shops are all open on the streets we've walked before. I am very tempted by some lovely shoes, but it seems crazy to buy shoes at this stage of the trip. We head to the market where we were amused to read in the guide book that among other wares "old people sell slippers. " It seems like such an odd comment but as it happens Peter needs slippers and sure enough, there is a big selection. We choose a friendly saleslady who produces a piece of cardboard for Peter to stand on while trying on slippers. They're great quality and very reasonable, so I guess the guidebook was making a good point.

This is certainly a nice relaxing, easy to city to get around. We've pretty much walked the entire central part of it, along the river, through the embassy district, the busy squares, pedestrian streets and several routes to the castle. One last walk takes us through a wooded area to the top of the castle hill and back down the other side to check out of the Adora Hotel.

The Pensione Kmecki Hram where we are meeting our group is in a small village about half an hour from the city centre. We gather from our cab driver that it's best known for its excellent restaurant; which is a good thing since we're planning to lunch when we get there. Our room is nice and comfy with a country view and the restaurant lives up to its reputation. And now the serious business starts.

We meet our leader Dejan, (whom we call Dan), Primož, the van driver/bike mechanic/ photographer and our riding and pillion mates - John and June, Ross and Kathy, who are friends travelling together from Australia. It's a small group which is unusual and extremely lucky for us. After a briefing at the Pensione, we are taken by van to the headquarters of Adriatic Moto Tours, where our bikes are lined up and waiting. 

Our bike is a Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200 - Lic. UR31. I nickname it Tony the Tiger. And then we're off on a short orientation ride to get to know the bikes and how we work as a team. Everyone is very happy at the end of the ride. Peter likes the feel of the Tiger and I find the pillion seat extremely comfortable. With the bikes safely stowed back at the pensione, we go by van to Ljubljana for a group dinner at the Castle. We had avoided eating there earlier thinking the restaurant was basically for tourists - but wrong, it's filled with locals, many dressed in finery and the food is scrumptious. And now I think we have seen practically every aspect of Ljubljanski Grad.