Austria to Croatia by train - Eurocity -Sava- from Villach to Zagreb
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Date: 2024-01-09
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Comments and reviews: 35
-yasukiwi
Nice vid Thibault. I've been to Slovenia 3x and plan to visit 4th time in October from NZ. Such a stunning country as you say. I have been on this line a couple of times including on the HZ sleeper from Zurich. Stayed at Bled a couple of times so def back up what you say about stopping and staying there. I would also highly recommend you to do the line Jesenice-Bohinj Bistrica-Nova Gorica since it's also a very scenic line, Lake Bohinj is also very beautiful, and you cross a border by crossing the Nova Gorica Station carpark into Italy LOL.
I am hoping for first time on next trip to come into Slovenia from another point in Austria, Graz, and on another EC train, The Emona to Maribor. If you haven't reviewed that one maybe it's time you did, and you can enjoy the SZ restaurant car too! (Shame this EC you took doesn't have one tbh. The other one EC (though from I saw in only YT vid I saw of it, I am hoping I might be able to take is the Istria to Pula. Hope some day you will also review it. At the moment though there is similar big rebuilding of rail line in south-west Slovenia so don't know whether I will have luck to take it, or any train Ljubljana-Pula. Anyway, here's to more beautiful Slovenian railway trip reports from you.
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Nice vid Thibault. I've been to Slovenia 3x and plan to visit 4th time in October from NZ. Such a stunning country as you say. I have been on this line a couple of times including on the HZ sleeper from Zurich. Stayed at Bled a couple of times so def back up what you say about stopping and staying there. I would also highly recommend you to do the line Jesenice-Bohinj Bistrica-Nova Gorica since it's also a very scenic line, Lake Bohinj is also very beautiful, and you cross a border by crossing the Nova Gorica Station carpark into Italy LOL.
I am hoping for first time on next trip to come into Slovenia from another point in Austria, Graz, and on another EC train, The Emona to Maribor. If you haven't reviewed that one maybe it's time you did, and you can enjoy the SZ restaurant car too! (Shame this EC you took doesn't have one tbh. The other one EC (though from I saw in only YT vid I saw of it, I am hoping I might be able to take is the Istria to Pula. Hope some day you will also review it. At the moment though there is similar big rebuilding of rail line in south-west Slovenia so don't know whether I will have luck to take it, or any train Ljubljana-Pula. Anyway, here's to more beautiful Slovenian railway trip reports from you.
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-backup_hdd
okay, so, as i already commented under the announcement, i actually was on a similar route a few days ago (on monday): i took the same train, but only to lesce-bled - and then a later connection from lesce-bled to ljubljana. we only thought about going for the slovenian car on the second leg; that said, the croatian cars are very well air conditioned, and they do have one power outlet per compartment.
if you, like us, manage to have a compartment for yourself, you can actually pull out the seats all the way, so they basically form one single big bed.
there's a very similar connection from ljubljana to rijeka (some slovenian cars get added to the nightjet from stuttgart to rijeka in ljubljana. now this (open windows, fully pulled-out seats, having the compartment for myself and riding through slovenia and then along the coast to rijeka) has been my absolute favorite train experience so far - i can only recommend it! (i suppose the chances for getting a compartment for yourself is way higher when taking an early connection from ljubljana - like around 7 or 8; and maybe a bit off-season. it's an absolute dream)
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okay, so, as i already commented under the announcement, i actually was on a similar route a few days ago (on monday): i took the same train, but only to lesce-bled - and then a later connection from lesce-bled to ljubljana. we only thought about going for the slovenian car on the second leg; that said, the croatian cars are very well air conditioned, and they do have one power outlet per compartment.
if you, like us, manage to have a compartment for yourself, you can actually pull out the seats all the way, so they basically form one single big bed.
there's a very similar connection from ljubljana to rijeka (some slovenian cars get added to the nightjet from stuttgart to rijeka in ljubljana. now this (open windows, fully pulled-out seats, having the compartment for myself and riding through slovenia and then along the coast to rijeka) has been my absolute favorite train experience so far - i can only recommend it! (i suppose the chances for getting a compartment for yourself is way higher when taking an early connection from ljubljana - like around 7 or 8; and maybe a bit off-season. it's an absolute dream)
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-Fan652w
Why the late departure? See the departure board shown at 1m 55s. The D211 obviously waited for connecting passengers from IC533 running Vienna to Lienz, shown as 23 minutes late. (Current summer23 European Rail Timetable table 62 shows D211 as Sundays only) On Sunday 19 January 2020 I travelled from Salzburg to Villach on RJ111, shown on the board as 1300 to Klagenfurt. My train arrived on time at Villach at 1243, and many passengers (not me) made a cross-platform change to D211. Regarding the remote platform 8 used in 2022, I think Villach Hbf has been rebuilt and expanded since my visit. Platform 8 is clearly new and is on the avoiding line built primarily for freight trains running from Italy to Vienna or further north.
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Why the late departure? See the departure board shown at 1m 55s. The D211 obviously waited for connecting passengers from IC533 running Vienna to Lienz, shown as 23 minutes late. (Current summer23 European Rail Timetable table 62 shows D211 as Sundays only) On Sunday 19 January 2020 I travelled from Salzburg to Villach on RJ111, shown on the board as 1300 to Klagenfurt. My train arrived on time at Villach at 1243, and many passengers (not me) made a cross-platform change to D211. Regarding the remote platform 8 used in 2022, I think Villach Hbf has been rebuilt and expanded since my visit. Platform 8 is clearly new and is on the avoiding line built primarily for freight trains running from Italy to Vienna or further north.
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-Fan652w
May I summarize research done by other commentators and myself. D211 left late because it waited for a late connecting train from Vienna. (See station departure board) Platform 8 is a new platform on the remote goods avoiding line added when the station was rebuilt. (Platform looks very new) Platform 8 is only used in an emergency. (See the platform departures list available on OBB journey planner 'Scotty' - no departures from platform 8 are listed) The 'emergency' when you travelled was construction work ('Bauarbeiten') at or near Villach Hbf. (Notice on departure board shown at 1m 20s; a commentator with local knowledge. D211 normally uses platform 2. (See 'Scotty', and comments from local commentators)
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May I summarize research done by other commentators and myself. D211 left late because it waited for a late connecting train from Vienna. (See station departure board) Platform 8 is a new platform on the remote goods avoiding line added when the station was rebuilt. (Platform looks very new) Platform 8 is only used in an emergency. (See the platform departures list available on OBB journey planner 'Scotty' - no departures from platform 8 are listed) The 'emergency' when you travelled was construction work ('Bauarbeiten') at or near Villach Hbf. (Notice on departure board shown at 1m 20s; a commentator with local knowledge. D211 normally uses platform 2. (See 'Scotty', and comments from local commentators)
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train
I actually took this routelast week, but only between Villach and Bled (and back again a week later. Actually I was supposed to take it to/from Munich (as part of EC 212/213), but on the way to Bled the Munich-Villach section was cancelled for some reason, and on the way back we arrived in Villach with a 40 minute delay and then they just announced the train was cancelled and made us all get off. The train was very full in both cases, would definitely recommend getting a seat reservation.
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I actually took this routelast week, but only between Villach and Bled (and back again a week later. Actually I was supposed to take it to/from Munich (as part of EC 212/213), but on the way to Bled the Munich-Villach section was cancelled for some reason, and on the way back we arrived in Villach with a 40 minute delay and then they just announced the train was cancelled and made us all get off. The train was very full in both cases, would definitely recommend getting a seat reservation.
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-Sayitlikitiz101
If the goal was to make trains compete with cars or air travel, as should be the goal of rail travel, then it fails miserably. Anyone can make this trip in an auto in 2 hours. What's the incentive to ride this train that feels like it's out of the 1960's?
PS: Thibault, excellent reportage comme d'hab. Mon commentaire est plus ce service ferrovier que pour toi. You rock!
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If the goal was to make trains compete with cars or air travel, as should be the goal of rail travel, then it fails miserably. Anyone can make this trip in an auto in 2 hours. What's the incentive to ride this train that feels like it's out of the 1960's?
PS: Thibault, excellent reportage comme d'hab. Mon commentaire est plus ce service ferrovier que pour toi. You rock!
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train
Train travel in Yugoslavia pre 1990s would take about 6 hours on most routes between major cities with several trips daily. With the breakup and after the war such trips take 8-9 hours, once a day, immigration formalities, switch locomotives at each border, if the train passed through two or more republics each would contribute a car or two to the consist.
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Train travel in Yugoslavia pre 1990s would take about 6 hours on most routes between major cities with several trips daily. With the breakup and after the war such trips take 8-9 hours, once a day, immigration formalities, switch locomotives at each border, if the train passed through two or more republics each would contribute a car or two to the consist.
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-downunderrob
Two questions though. I see there was no lounge/Cafe car as part of this train. Is that usual?
It's either just not needed, or not economically viable. Or people aren't encouraged to use the Toilet!
Secondly, what's Train policy on smoking aboard? Not allowed any more, or was everyone defying the notion that all Europeans smoke?
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Two questions though. I see there was no lounge/Cafe car as part of this train. Is that usual?
It's either just not needed, or not economically viable. Or people aren't encouraged to use the Toilet!
Secondly, what's Train policy on smoking aboard? Not allowed any more, or was everyone defying the notion that all Europeans smoke?
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-tessc997
Small correction: the 1216 Taurus doesn't have batteries, in border stations they decouple it using a shunting loco and then push it back into under the other country's catenary. In the video it's just coasting without any power source. This is normal procedure done with single system locos on any border station between AC and DC systems.
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Small correction: the 1216 Taurus doesn't have batteries, in border stations they decouple it using a shunting loco and then push it back into under the other country's catenary. In the video it's just coasting without any power source. This is normal procedure done with single system locos on any border station between AC and DC systems.
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-lordvjadro
As for passport control - it will only happen in the direction of austria on the autstria - slovenia border. Austria is basicaly being a dick and prolonging every 6 months controls introduced first during migrant crisis. Official explanation is migrants but everybody knows its more about discouraging trans border workers.
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As for passport control - it will only happen in the direction of austria on the autstria - slovenia border. Austria is basicaly being a dick and prolonging every 6 months controls introduced first during migrant crisis. Official explanation is migrants but everybody knows its more about discouraging trans border workers.
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-fleodo2038
In fact if you want to go to Bled Lake Lesce isn-t the best option if you are travelling only by foot and public transit. There is another station, really close to tue lake at it Northern part, Called Bled Jezero. There is a train from Jesenice to this place, really old train though!
Thanks for the video!
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In fact if you want to go to Bled Lake Lesce isn-t the best option if you are travelling only by foot and public transit. There is another station, really close to tue lake at it Northern part, Called Bled Jezero. There is a train from Jesenice to this place, really old train though!
Thanks for the video!
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-111klinar111
In Dobova, the 3kV Slovenian and 25kV Croatian systems are changing. The Taurus 1216 does not have batteries for propulsion. Since the 1216 is a multi-system locomotive, it can move from one side to the other by itself. It accelerates then drops the pantograph and idles under a different voltage.
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In Dobova, the 3kV Slovenian and 25kV Croatian systems are changing. The Taurus 1216 does not have batteries for propulsion. Since the 1216 is a multi-system locomotive, it can move from one side to the other by itself. It accelerates then drops the pantograph and idles under a different voltage.
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train
I've noticed that the 'old school' coaching stock doesn't have seats in the corridors anymore. Is this a recent change? I seem to remember such seats on Belgian, German, Swiss and Austrian vehicles in the 1980's/1990's. Excellent review, as always, Thibault. Merci beaucoup, mon ami.
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I've noticed that the 'old school' coaching stock doesn't have seats in the corridors anymore. Is this a recent change? I seem to remember such seats on Belgian, German, Swiss and Austrian vehicles in the 1980's/1990's. Excellent review, as always, Thibault. Merci beaucoup, mon ami.
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train
1: 55 - I can tell why your train was delayed just by looking at that departure board - It will have been waiting for passengers off the IC bound for Lienz (which will have come from Wien Hbf) as that-s a recognised international rail connection
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1: 55 - I can tell why your train was delayed just by looking at that departure board - It will have been waiting for passengers off the IC bound for Lienz (which will have come from Wien Hbf) as that-s a recognised international rail connection
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-curtisdaniel9294
Good video, as always. Question: since you are traveling through some mountainous areas, what are your altitudes, start, high point and end point? Curious as I live at about 1900 meters on the eastern side of the Colorado Rockies.
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Good video, as always. Question: since you are traveling through some mountainous areas, what are your altitudes, start, high point and end point? Curious as I live at about 1900 meters on the eastern side of the Colorado Rockies.
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-Jorge-tl8sg
I love all of the Balkan countries so much, and I love this quite old, slow trains! It's a pitty that so many train routes aren't available anymore, especially those who cross borders. I hope some day it will be possible again.
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I love all of the Balkan countries so much, and I love this quite old, slow trains! It's a pitty that so many train routes aren't available anymore, especially those who cross borders. I hope some day it will be possible again.
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-tmadanmenon
Good video. Excellent presentation. Still should have mentioned about details of visa to be obtained/formalities to be complied with, App for booking of ticket in on-line etc to enable tourists from other continents.
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Good video. Excellent presentation. Still should have mentioned about details of visa to be obtained/formalities to be complied with, App for booking of ticket in on-line etc to enable tourists from other continents.
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-13squier
Loved this one! EuroCity is my favorite category. International routes, international formations, cool locos, old school coaches & dining. This is a very romantic/exotic mode of transport to us American railfans!
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Loved this one! EuroCity is my favorite category. International routes, international formations, cool locos, old school coaches & dining. This is a very romantic/exotic mode of transport to us American railfans!
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-Juergen_K
Windows on a Train which can acutually be opened - what a treat! I think I am officially old now, as this brings back a lot of very good memories - sigh! The seating and the Moquette is also very nice indeed.
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Windows on a Train which can acutually be opened - what a treat! I think I am officially old now, as this brings back a lot of very good memories - sigh! The seating and the Moquette is also very nice indeed.
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-ALYANAAKHTER
Hi,
I am alia here from karachi, pakistan.
Its my dream to travel in trains and see the beauty of the world,
I wish I can also travel like you.
Enjoy your good time.
Regards
Alia.
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Hi,
I am alia here from karachi, pakistan.
Its my dream to travel in trains and see the beauty of the world,
I wish I can also travel like you.
Enjoy your good time.
Regards
Alia.
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-parpar3
I hope this route are upgraded anytime soon to Railjet (and the other Eurocity trains as well. I try to avoid the Eurocity trains due to their old equipment (no AC, no Wifi, toilets) and slow speed.
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I hope this route are upgraded anytime soon to Railjet (and the other Eurocity trains as well. I try to avoid the Eurocity trains due to their old equipment (no AC, no Wifi, toilets) and slow speed.
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-nigelwunsch236
Looking at the departure board it-s a -D- train not a Eurocity. I think to be a Eurocity train it would have to convey catering (at least a trolley) and also achieve a minimum average speed.
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Looking at the departure board it-s a -D- train not a Eurocity. I think to be a Eurocity train it would have to convey catering (at least a trolley) and also achieve a minimum average speed.
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-RamTheGre721
If you ever find yourself in Madrid Again, you should try their C-9 commuter. It is a short beautiful narrow gauge railway through the mountains. It is a little pricey but it's 100% worth it!
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If you ever find yourself in Madrid Again, you should try their C-9 commuter. It is a short beautiful narrow gauge railway through the mountains. It is a little pricey but it's 100% worth it!
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train
Is it possible to have an adress of a site on internet to see and collect pictures of trains in' croatia slovenia bosnia and serbia for my personal collection? Happy new year from Spain
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Is it possible to have an adress of a site on internet to see and collect pictures of trains in' croatia slovenia bosnia and serbia for my personal collection? Happy new year from Spain
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-johnericneil2455
Really enjoy following your travels. It was a nice touch to see you stop the subtitles so we could enjoy the scenery. More of that please. and less -toilet time-. icky.
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Really enjoy following your travels. It was a nice touch to see you stop the subtitles so we could enjoy the scenery. More of that please. and less -toilet time-. icky.
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-frajergaba
hello simply railway it would be awesome to review the recently created line between Praha/Prague (Czechia) and Kyjev/Kiev (Ukriane) by RegioJet that would get a lot of views
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hello simply railway it would be awesome to review the recently created line between Praha/Prague (Czechia) and Kyjev/Kiev (Ukriane) by RegioJet that would get a lot of views
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-AndrewG1989
Both Croatia and Austria are lovely countries in Europe. And the weather looks promising as there has been severe thunderstorms around which caused lots of flooding.
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Both Croatia and Austria are lovely countries in Europe. And the weather looks promising as there has been severe thunderstorms around which caused lots of flooding.
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-DiegoChurch
The train normally leaves from platform 2 in Villach. Maybe because the train was going to be delayed it had to use platform 8? even though at the end it was on time
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The train normally leaves from platform 2 in Villach. Maybe because the train was going to be delayed it had to use platform 8? even though at the end it was on time
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train
Normal platforms 1-7 are used for normal passengers. Balkanites are redirected to freight platforms as if they were cattle. There's the explanation you requested. :)
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Normal platforms 1-7 are used for normal passengers. Balkanites are redirected to freight platforms as if they were cattle. There's the explanation you requested. :)
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-stephan6998
Next time, try EC 151 Emona from Vienna to Ljubljana. Great scenery, not only along the Sava, but also crossing the Semmering!
And a wonderful dining car!
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Next time, try EC 151 Emona from Vienna to Ljubljana. Great scenery, not only along the Sava, but also crossing the Semmering!
And a wonderful dining car!
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-prostakuk
My favourite rail line in the world. Coming out of the Karawanks tunnel and following the Sava, is there any other way to arrive in the Balkans?
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My favourite rail line in the world. Coming out of the Karawanks tunnel and following the Sava, is there any other way to arrive in the Balkans?
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-timnewman1172
Thibault, it's almost like riding a vintage excursion train in the States. definitely worth it for the experience rather than the transport!
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Thibault, it's almost like riding a vintage excursion train in the States. definitely worth it for the experience rather than the transport!
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-lorenzodalla5056
13: 18 newer knew that the 1216s had some sort of -last-mile- function for shunting. I only knew that newer Vectrons and TRAXX had it
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13: 18 newer knew that the 1216s had some sort of -last-mile- function for shunting. I only knew that newer Vectrons and TRAXX had it
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-stefanv9660
I hope you will do a video to Split. I did Budapesta-Split last year. Amazing--
BTW Zagreb is so beautiful. so many beautiful women.
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I hope you will do a video to Split. I did Budapesta-Split last year. Amazing--
BTW Zagreb is so beautiful. so many beautiful women.
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-NerdX151
It's very interesting to see the italian influence on the slovenian network, from the catenary to the track ballast and station designs.
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It's very interesting to see the italian influence on the slovenian network, from the catenary to the track ballast and station designs.
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