The train journey from Austria to the capital of Slovenia.

*This travelogue, from Graz, Austria to the capital of Slovenia, was written by contributor Linh Nguyen (Khalyn), currently a PhD student in immunology in Austria.

In mid-June, I decided to go to Slovenia to visit an old friend I hadn't seen in a long time for my birthday. Birthdays are occasions for us to do something we always put off, making excuses about not having enough time, aren't they? Late in the afternoon after work, I grabbed my backpack with three changes of clothes, a few personal items, and began my journey from Austria to Slovenia by train.

The city I live in is Graz, very close to the Slovenian border. From the top of the hill where I sometimes go for weekend picnics, a friend once pointed to a distant hillside and said that was Slovenia. Since coming to Austria to study, I've heard so much about the beautiful scenery of Slovenia, even though before that I didn't even know there was a country with that name right next to the Austrian border.

From Graz, it only takes four hours by train to reach Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Normally, travelers can catch a single train for 32 euros from Graz to Ljubljana. However, due to ongoing road repairs, my journey involved two changes of transportation, including a bus ride in between.

The interesting thing about traveling by train in Europe is that trains don't usually sell tickets with fixed seat numbers. Buying a ticket only guarantees you'll be on board, but it doesn't guarantee you'll have a seat. If you want to reserve a seat, you'll usually have to pay a small extra fee to ensure you don't lose your preferred seat. European trains are generally less crowded, with few people reserving seats in advance. This also means you can sit anywhere you like, as long as it's not occupied. I chose a window seat, as usual, just to enjoy the scenery more easily throughout the journey.

The scenery from the Austrian border to Slovenia was breathtaking, with rolling mountains and charming little houses nestled on the hills, but unfortunately, I couldn't capture any photos that truly captured its beauty. After more than an hour's journey, the train stopped at a small station right on the Slovenian border.

From there, I had to take a short bus ride to Maribor to catch the next train to the capital, Ljubljana. The Slovenian city of Maribor is nestled among the wine-producing hills on the Drava River. The town hall, in the Renaissance style, dates back to 1515.

During my brief 20 minutes in Maribor, Slovenia's second-largest city, I only managed to catch a glimpse of the sights around the central train station. My first impression was of the street with the church at the end, which reminded me of Notre Dame Cathedral in Vietnam. Despite being the second-largest city, Maribor is actually quite small and surrounded by mountains. Another thing that caught my attention was the central bus station in Maribor, with its distinctive red glass archway. Maribor could also be a worthwhile destination if you have a car and want to enjoy short picnics overlooking the surrounding mountains.

My train ticket was a day pass, meaning you could travel anytime, on any train or bus the company had prepared for that day. As long as the train went to the final station for which you purchased the ticket.

While strolling around, a thunderstorm broke out, so I had to return to the central train station in Maribor to wait for my next train, not wanting to get wet. After finding the tracks my train needed, I took out the box of cherries I'd hastily bought in Austria before the trip, sat down to eat them, and watched the dark clouds gather.

After nearly two hours on the train from Maribor, I finally arrived at the station in Ljubljana, ending my journey. Perhaps traveling by train is like closing your eyes and savoring a ripe cherry. Not as fast as a plane, the train is slow enough to allow you to leave behind all your work and study worries and slowly immerse yourself in the travel experience. And it's also unique enough to leave you with a sweet aftertaste.

Linh Nguyen