A River Runs Through It

A three-hour bike ride from Skopja Loka to Ljubljana and as much as I can hook into the fantasy of the idyllic life in the country, I have to confess that I love cities. I remember the same feeling coming into Stockholm at the end of the first bike ride I did in the Swedish countryside. I like the energy of lots of people, the choices of restaurants and cafes and stores and particularly the beauty of European cities with their exquisite architecture, always charming Old Town and the castle on the hill. 

An afternoon wandering down the river, thinking of other cities with the river as the connecting thread of the city— Salzburg, Prague, Budapest, Amsterdam, Brugge, Venice, San Antonio, Souzhou, Paris, London and more. Certainly not all cities— not Madrid, not San Francisco, not New York (the Hudson on the edge rather than the middle)— but enough to feel the commonalities between them. The river as a winding spine around which the musculature of the city is built. A place to stroll on either side, to eat at tables perched on the edge, to splurge and take the boat ride up and down. 

 

Truth be told, we could ride longer each day. A mere 18 miles today and we’re tending to arrive very early afternoon. Then we lunch, we wander, we nap, we go out to dinner. But no use complaining. Enough exercise to keep us toned and both the walking and the biking perfect tempos to enjoy the surroundings. 

 

Tonight will be different as I will connect with some Orff colleagues (as mentioned), go to a concert and have a late dinner. Hopefully along the river.

So approaches the end of Day 4.