Day 30 Murska Subota to Celje

105 km (65 miles), 1,575 total
Today I visited the second (Maribor) and third (Celje) biggest cities in Slovenia. Tomorrow the biggest and the capital (Llubliana). 
It was, I realise sitting down writing this, a tough day. I’m tired. Relentlessly hot and hilly throughout. But beautiful and enjoyable. Slovenia, at least what I’ve seen, is very beautiful. I travelled mainly by small country roads. Drivers, when they came - which was not often, - were respectful of cyclists, slowing down and leaving lots of space. This makes a big difference. Lots of cycle tracks too. 
Started off with a farewell picture of the “castle” and cycled into Murska Sobota to visit the railway station. On 26 April 1944, all of the Jews of the town were ordered to gather in the Murska Sobota synagogue with hand luggage only. Their destination was Auschwitz. There is a very poignant memorial on the platform. It is a single, small, bronze suitcase - like it might have been left in the panic and chaos. On the bench next to it is a memorial inscription. It is strange, and moving, to see these across Europe when there are no such local reminders in Britain where this particular horror never visited. The morning was spent going to Maribor. Scenery fantastic. Maribor is OK but I’m spoilt now. Had a beer and the local cake speciality. I needed fuel at this point. While I sat eating I looked st the hill profile for the second half. Not encouraging (see profile). Found there was a Decathlon store and Maribor. Went and restocked on electrolyte replacement tablets which are essential and I had no more. Had a pizza near Loće and ground my way to Celje. Nice enough,  but nothing special (according to Wikipedia the RAF may have something to do with this).  Nice live music in the streets. Shorter distance tomorrow (around 75km) so going to have aloe-in!😀

Goodbye castle


Wow - who thought if this as a memorial?


Profile of the afternoon ride

Saw lots of these!


Maribor


The plague column




Local Maribor specialities 


Rural Slovenia 








Celje







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