Traveling after Building a bus for travel in Europe "euroBus"

[dhaavers]

[fxr]

[dobryan]

[Jake de Villiers]

I had a speeding ticket from France sent to me six weeks after we got home.

I deserved it.
_________________
'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7.5 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com

[fxr]

You have to watch your speed on the Autoroute in France - they log your time difference between the toll plazas - and there's no leeway.

The 'unwritten rule' in the UK is that as long as you're within the speed limit+10%+2mph you're OK. So 35 in a 30 won't get you dinged by a speed camera - 36mph will.

Italy seems like California - speed limits are seen as "suggestions".
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[16CVs]

You're so photogenic though Dave. I'd think they'd pay you to take your picture.

Great trip Dave.

Stacy
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.

[Schuylersister]

You are an inspiration Dave. Thank you for sharing all of this with us. I'm starting to do some planning of my own and have learned so much from you already.

[dobryan]

Trip report: Prague, Trencin, Bratislava, Vienna, Ljubljana

Sept 20, 2025 to October 7, 2025

The July trip was the route in black. This one is the red leg on the map. This map is pinned to the bottom of the head banger cabinet so I can see it when I am in bed...

My wife, Donna, and I flew out to Prague where I last left the bus in long term airport parking.

We grabbed a hotel in the historic part of Prague for the first two nights since there were no camps convenient to Prague.

Prague is the most beautiful city in central Europe in my opinion.

After two days in Prague we drove into Slovakia and met my friend Zoran in Trencin for the afternoon.

That evening we stayed at a camp just outside Bratislava for the night. Somehow we failed to get a pick of our actual campsite.

The next morning we drove into Bratislava and met my friend Janka who showed us around the historic area of Bratislava, the Capitol of Slovakia.

Donna especially loved the pastry restaurant. It was fully decorated with paintings on the walls too.

We drove over to our camp outside Vienna that evening just as the rain came in.

And the next day we took an Uber into Vienna and toured the Hapsburg museum (just a tiny bit) and then did a bus tour. Vienna is very modern for the most part and does not have the extensive historic area that Prague has.

Dinner.

And fuel in Austria was about $8 a gallon.

Next stop was a camp outside Ljubljana, Slovenia.

We elected to drive into the city and park at the top at the castle. No issues parking.

And did a guided tour of the castle with actors showing various periods of history of the castle.

After Ljubljana it was time for Donna to fly home. She only had a week to spend with me.

And I adjusted the front passenger wheel bearing in the airport parking lot. I thought it was a little loose.

After dropping off Donna and seeing her get through security at the airport, I headed to a camp at Lake Bled, Slovenia for four days. I was beat and decided to take a good rest in a beautiful area.

View from just outside the camp.

Pastry cart in the mornings at the camp.

And there is a restaurant at the camp entrance on the lake.

I slept about 13 hours the first night there.
Then went on a hike to a viewpoint looking over the lake. There is a 15th century monastery on the island in the lake.

And a friend on a walk around the lake the next day.

After Lake Bled I moved up into the Alps a bit to lake Borinj and the Vogel ski area for one night. I was fortunate to get a lakeside spot.

The next morning I took the cable car to the top of the mountain and enjoyed the views.

That afternoon I drove into a suburb of Ljubljana and visited with my friend Tone at his house and did a driveway camp for the night.

Then on to a rocket contest outside the town of Brsko. I play at competitive model rocketry and go to several meets a year, both in the US and Europe. I camped at the contest field with several others.
The drive to the meet.

And at the meet.

Some Ukrainian friends needed to use my equipment since they had a mishap with theirs.

And my vain attempt to recover one of my models from a corn field. Never found it...

The trip ended in a small village about 30 minutes outside Ljubljana at the house of my friend Anze. They graciously offered to let me park next to their garage for the next few months until I return in 2026. They live backing to a stream in an 8 foot deep channel. It is quite the sight. They promised to move the euroBus if it floods but said that is very rare.

Final photo as we leave for the airport at 6:30am. Sleep tight.

_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2010 Subaru EJ25 (Vanaru) and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[Schuylersister]

Beautiful! Thank you! You are quite an amazing human!

[crazyvwvanman]

For camping in Prague, there are some small camps clustered near the zoo in an area called Troja.
https://www.camping.info/en/campsite/autocamp-trojska is one I've used a few times.
Good transit stop at the end of the street, Tram 17 goes direct to the Old Town, 10-15 min.

For visiting Vienna, we liked the big camp in Klosterneuberg.
On the Danube, nice little town, easy train to Vienna
https://www.campingklosterneuburg.at/app/de/camping

Mark

[sanchius]

Awesome trip, thanks for taking us along!
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The Syncro years (2005-16) - The 2WD years (2017-23) - In Hoosierland (2023-now)
Westy & WBX rebuild spreadsheet - Sanchius & Tuna: The Video
Your gold star membership keeps this awesome list going!

[Microbusdeluxe]

Great trip report. About 10 years ago I got a ticket for entering a restricted bus lane in a rental car in Italy. I had no clue that I had violated any regulations until the ticket arrived in the mail. I threw it away. Another ticket arrived with a big number on it (200 Euros?). I tossed that one, too. I've been to Europe since then, but not Italy. Who knows maybe my mug is on the Post Offices there?
_________________
'69 Squareback RIP
'65 21 window deluxe sold before the price spike, damn it.
'70 rhd bay now a taxi in South Sudan
'81 Westy sold
'89 hightop Westy Joker syncro 16" now with Bostig!

[dobryan]

I have been on the toll roads. Toll by plate. Nothing in the mail yet, but if so I will pay it!
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2010 Subaru EJ25 (Vanaru) and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[Jake de Villiers]

Wow, Dave, what a great trip!!

The food, the old buildings - I am envious.
_________________
'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7.5 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com

[16CVs]

We were just catching up on “The Amazing race” in Praque when i stated your thread through there. As usual great pictures of your adventure.

It’s nice having your own vehicle over there. Look forward to your next trip. Gives me ideas of where to go next year.

Stacy
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.

[dhaavers]

Amazing post, per usual…love your life!

- Dave
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[mtnhome]

Prague is an amazing city. You can go from 1400's buildings to modern in a few blocks.
Good to see a plan with the euroBus working out so well!
_________________
'84 Westy, '93 Subaru ej22 and Subarugears 5speed
Build thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=763098&highlight=

[Abscate]

I’ll be there in two weeks on the company dime.
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[Abscate]

I’ll be there in two weeks on the company dime.
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[4Gears4Tires]

That's awesome!
_________________
'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition