John: After a lousy transfer and night at Malpensa from Bologna, we get the 11.30 am 2hr 10 min flight to Athens, Greece. Teo and Spyros meet us at the arrivals lounge at the airport, take us to our hotel in Piraeus, and then for a drink and light meal at a waterside cafe, offering suggestions for our week in Greece. What lovely relatives we have around the world!! The weather is wet and miserable on the day of our arrival, but not for long. After Teo and Spyr...

I really don't know where to start with Bologna. Everything has been perfect. Today is our last full day and we don't want to leave. The apartment, for starters: a huge beautifully renovated space with everything: full separate kitchen, massive bathroom complete with washing machine, p2 dining tables, lounges and our first iron and ironing board. So what, you might ask? You don't travel for the hotels!Well after 63 days and 21 hotels, some around 8 sq metres wher...

Loretta: Due to the bizzare fact that it takes 5&half hours by train to travel just over 100km from Ljublijana to Trieste, we decided to take a shuttle bus that took under 90minutes to reach Trieste railway station. For 15euros each we saved ourselves the hassle of changing trains and time. The Go-Opti shuttle service has capitalised on the deficiencies of the Rail network and provides transport from Ljublijana to Trieste, Venice & Milan. I'm glad I coul...

John: to Ljubljana, what a contrast to Maribor! As we walk from the railway and enter into a stunning non-vehicular piazza surrounded by stunning buildings with four ancient bridges crossing a stunning canal with a castle hovering over the whole vista, I immediately fall in love with Slovenia's capital city,another University city. At night, with lighting the Europeans excel. Beautiful long ancient cobble-stoned streets branch out to more left and right and sma...

Maribor- winner of the European Culture Capital Award 2012, first brought to my attention in a domestic Jetstar in- flight magazine. What can I say? Look, I am trying to focus on positives, ok: Our accommodation was surprisingly lovely, an apartment in a Hostel complex that was ultra-modern, had all the gadgets including a fully appointed kitchen. We even had a huge terrace for outdoor dining. Outside, though, different story. Whether a designed work of art or...