Day 2, 31/03/08: Entering Italy

Like i already mentioned, crossing the Alps was fairly easy, and around 21.30h i entered Italy. Even though it was a dark night, i could still understand that i was crossing a really beautifull landscape (by the way, this is close also to the Slovenian border). My objective was stop for the night in Udine, but that was not possible for two reasons:

1st - i entered Italy with very low fuel, since i thought that it would be cheaper to fill up in Italy than in Austria (wrong). Because of that, and mainly because i was crossing mountainous region, there where not that many petrol stations. The outcome was that i needed to exit the highway where i was, and make use for the first time of my 5l jerrycan because the reserve light was blinking.

2nd - i was feeling tired and sleepy after more than 12h on the road and 800km.

When i woke up in Gemona del Friuli, this was the view of my....parking place.

Ps: Maybe the picture is not very clear, so just some small notes. On the botton of that mountain, there is really a city over there. Also, 10m away from my car there is a train viaduct, but i only found out this while i was sleeping. Because when i parked the car, i didnt saw shit, and now comes the ironic part, i didnt stoped near the main road because i wanted a less noisy place...

Day 2, 31/03/08: Crossing the Alps

I wrote that after Viena it was highway all the way to Italy. Well, it isnt true. There was a point that the highway finished and it was normal road up the Alps. Indeed, crossing the Alps (at least where i did it) was piece of cake. Not very steep slopes, a significant amount of tunels, not too much trafic. Before the trip i was afraid my Fiat was going to suffer here, but he behaved bravelly.

As for the landscape, the idiot here crossed it at the end of the day, beggining of the night. So, i suppose that i missed the most pretty landscapes, and there is a strong possibility of not passing these roads again. In the middle of the Alps, and because i was hungry, decided to stop in a small village for a dinner. Those who know me will immediatly think that i stoped in some McDonalds. That would be unlikely to be found in a village on the Alps, and also would be an insult to Austrian cuisine.....

Found a restaurant owned by a middle-east looking person and had a kebab.

Day 2, 31/03/08: (Not) visiting Wien

Although Wien was on my exact track, and in fact i crossed the center of it, there was no time for stops. I had already been there, and hopefully will return. On the trip there was no time to pass by (but not enter) the variety of museus in the Museum Quartier, not seeing the Opera building, no Sissi Palace, no paying a fortune for a ordinary chocolate cake in a supposedely famous pastery (pasteis de nata, now that is something worth waiting). Wien, an imperial city, calm, organized, and with splendidly conserved buildings.
A perfect place for a long weekend to take your girlfriend/wife/mistress, just to enjoy a sophisticated capital and with an abundant cultural life. Not for a guy travelling alone across Europe in a Polski Fiat.