An Ordinary University Student Challenges a 37-Day Solo Trip Around the World; Day 26 - Graz, Austria Edition

Farewell Austria, the day I look down at the "spaceship" from the hills of Graz. And on to Slovenia.

The final day in Austria. From the Graz hill "Schlossberg," I reflect on the journey so far. The red roofs wet with rain and the "spaceship" that stands out with such unique character. With memories of this country in my heart, the bus heads to the next country, Slovenia.

The terrifying funicular and the "spaceship" seen from the top of the hill

Day 26 of the trip.
I left the hotel after 9:00 AM and headed for the Graz hill, "Schlossberg." I took a tram to the foot of the hill and from there, took the funicular to head straight for the summit.

I managed to catch the first car at 9:00 AM, but I couldn't help but feel a little nervous inside, remembering the funicular accident in Lisbon.
It's no wonder, as the incline here is a staggering **610 per mille (about 31.4 degrees)**, an incredibly steep angle. I watched the rain-soaked city from inside the car as it slowly climbed.

The view from the top was a bit hazy due to the rain, but it was a beautiful sight withred roofs spreading out everywherejust like the ones I saw in Prague and Würzburg.
And within that old cityscape, the modern art museum "Kunsthaus" that I saw yesterday could be clearly seen floating like a blue spaceship, andits alien nature stood out once again.

The clock tower (Uhrturm), the symbol of the hill, was larger than I imagined when seen up close, and the simple design with the clock face painted directly onto the wall was impressive.
I chose the stairs for the way down, but it was a long, winding path that might have been even harder than the climb up.

Austria Summary

I returned to the hotel and reflected on the trip so far until it was time to move to the next country.

[Austria Summary]

• Vienna, in particular, had many gorgeous palaces and royal residences from the Austrian Empire era, giving it an overwhelming sense of being a "capital city."

• Compared to places like Prague, it clearly gave the impression of being more urbanized.

• Palaces, city halls, roads—I remember that for some reason,the city was under construction everywhere.

• I was surprised that both Vienna and Graz had sections where trams ran underground like a subway.

• Prices felt a bit higher compared to the Czech Republic, which was a beer paradise.

Crossing the border by bus to Ljubljana, Slovenia

I had bread bought at a supermarket for lunch and headed from the Graz bus terminal to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. It is about a 3-hour bus trip.

When I arrived in Ljubljana, the area in front of the station was under major construction.Three lanes were forcibly squeezed into one, and I got caught in a terrible traffic jam.

I dropped off my luggage at the hotel and picked up a simple dinner at a supermarket.
On my first night in a new country, I went to bed early to recover from the fatigue of the long journey.