Zageb, Again

No need for an early start today as we dont catch the bus tilll 1600. I think we need to catch it from the train station and its only a 20 minute walk away from the old town.
Last night dear old Crispy spotted a dress she likes. I know she wont settle till she buys it. Shes like a kid with pocket money and once she makes her mind up there is no force in nature that will stop her. So out of the stalag by 9 am, avoiding the guards and alarm systems, and onto the streets of Graz. Homeless to all intent and purpose until we reach zagreb.
The backpacks although they are as light as we can make them are still heavy enough to be a pain in the arse if your carrying them about all day.
Crispy came up with a great idea. We could lock the backpacks in the bag lockers at the armoury we visited yesterday and collect them just before we set off for the bus. Perfect. We made our way there snuck in like ninjas and quickly locked away the bags. We were free to enjoy our remaing time in Graz unhindered safe in the knowledge that our worldly goods were secure.
After an hour or so scouring the back streets of the old town Crispy found her dress. Pocket money spent and Crispy satisfied we set off to the bike rental shop. It had threatened thunder storms today but the sky was blue and the temperature in the high 20's so we were happy to continue with the plan to cycle a small part of the river Mur. We quickly sorted the bikes and set off. We had to have our bags back and the cycles returned by 2pm at the latest to get to the bus terminus and find the correct stand on time.
We cycled south from Graz for a while but it was all industrial landsdapes so we turned tail and headed north. It was beautiful. Excelent cycle paths, green forest and fast flowing river. We chanced upon an authentic Austrian beer garden (well thats what the sign said)  and stopped for lunch. It was excellent. After lunch we cycled back to Graz
Dropped off the bikes and set off up the road for a 20 minute bus ride to the bus station.
The bus arrived on time. It had come from Vienna en-route to Zagreb calling at Graz. As such there were already a few people on board and seats were limited. We are well used to getting on transport abroad and all sense of fair play has to go by the wayside. Non of the usual rules apply and its every man, or woman, for themselves. Crispy is an expert at bus boarding. The doors had barely opened before she used the side swerve technique she has perfected to get to the front of the line. I usually get dragged behind her by her pulling my backpack strap like one of those curly child lead things.
On the bus and away to Croatia. The bus has to pas through Slovenia to get to Zagreb. There should be 2 border crossings to navigate but as Slovenia is part of the EU the border crossing from Austria to Slovenia is unmanned.  It lies forlorn and rusting. The border from Slovenia to Croatia is still very much active as Croatia is still an independent state.
The crossing to Croatia was uneventful and we pased unhindered through passport control. Once back on the bus it was plain sailing all the way to Zagreb.

Off at the main bus station and a short 20 minute walk saw us at our hotel...

Ill say more about this in the next post.

Bare and Crispy signing off, Zagreb, Croatia