For my second Erasmus in Ljubljana, I decided that I’ll make the transportation there part of my experience. So I chose a 13-hour bus/train journey through Europe during which I discovered that it’s not just about sustainability – it’s about slowing down and getting a needed mental break to start a new life chapter.
Two years ago, I participated in the Erasmus program in Ljubljana during my bachelor's degree, and during that stay, I not only gained credits, but also found myself... And my life partner. This led to me travelling back and forth five times in the past year since the end of my semester abroad.
When I found out that I had the opportunity to return to Ljubljana for my second Erasmus during my master’s degree, it calmed me down because I knew I was going somewhere I knew very well – after all, I call it my second home. At the same time, I realised that I had fallen into a routine: each time I travelled back and forth, I took a direct night bus, viewing it only as a practical way to get from point A to point B as quickly and cheaply as possible. But this time, I didn’t want to ‘just arrive’ again; this time, the journey itself was supposed to become a part of the story.
STEP 1: PLANNING
When planning the trip, I knew I didn’t want to go by my own car, and I couldn't find any fitting car-sharing options. Additionally, I am not quite skilled enough as a cyclist to ride such a distance with all my luggage (I saw that some people cycled to their Erasmus destination and they have my admiration for that!). That basically left me with three options: a plane, a bus, or a train.
Although the option of my traditional direct night bus was tempting, I rejected it. Therefore, I was deciding between two options: a plane or a combination of bus and train. Flying might seem like the fastest way, but there are no direct flights from Prague to Ljubljana, and once you add the time needed to get to the airport and arrive in advance, the journey takes essentially the same amount of time as the bus and train (approximately 10 to 13 hours).
In addition, I looked and compared the costs, and since budget is a crucial factor for all student travellers, the decision became even clearer: A flight would have cost me around 155 €, whereas my land journey by bus and train was only 57 € in total.
Since I am interested in the environment and try to reduce the pollution I produce as an individual, I was also interested in the ecological impact of my trip. And that's when my final decision was made: NO PLANE. The carbon footprint difference was so striking that I had to recalculate it to be sure I didn’t make a mistake in my calculations. And I didn’t – my flights would produce 360 kilograms of CO2, while a combination of bus and train produces only around 20 kg!
An important question for me was also how to get to Prague, as I don't live in the capital. My family offered me a ride by car, but after seeing the carbon footprint numbers and considering the traffic stress, I had to say no and chose the train instead.
So, in the end, I decided to use the combination: train – bus – train.
STEP 2: PACKING
Packing for Erasmus is a chapter in itself – it’s that moment when you try to squeeze your entire life, memories, and expectations into a limited space. It is a challenge that forces you to think about every single piece of clothing and every little thing you own. You really have to avoid that ‘what if’ way of packing here, and suddenly you realise that you don’t need to have everything, only what has a real value.
This process of ‘forced minimalism’ is also a step towards thinking more sustainably – you realise that having less stuff in your luggage not only means a lighter suitcase, but also a clearer head. Instead of frantically shopping for new things at the last minute (you really don’t have to get a whole new ‘travel wardrobe’), I tried to use what I already had and approached packing with respect for nature and my own comfort. Erasmus teaches you that the most important things – like the courage to start over in another country – don't have to be packed in a suitcase: you carry them within yourself!
STEP 3: THE JOURNEY
The day of the journey started like any other normal day… except I was leaving home and moving to another country (not only to finally close the long-distance gap with my partner)!
As I already mentioned, I don’t live in Prague, so I had to get there first. I grabbed my suitcase, a backpack full of snacks, and my camera bag, said last goodbyes, gave last hugs and stepped out into the sunrise… (Sounds poetic, but I actually had to wake up extremely early…)
After a kilometre-long walk, I reached my train station and boarded the train to Prague. As we were approaching the city, I noticed heavy traffic on the roads – if you’ve ever been to a capital city, you know how crowded it is with cars (and Prague is no exception). So I was really grateful I chose the train; therefore, I effortlessly skipped the queues and avoided the stress of finding parking.
In Prague, we have two large bus/train stations that are (thank God) right next to each other, so I could easily walk between them, even though I was dragging my giant pink suitcase.
I transferred to a FlixBus (travelling green in every sense of the word!) as usual, but this time in a different direction – not directly to Ljubljana, but to Maribor, the second largest city in Slovenia.
From the bus window I was able to really appreciate the scenery, which changed from the familiar hills of the Czech Republic to the snow-capped peaks of the Austrian Alps, and finally descended into Slovenia with its forests and majestic mountains in the background (did you know that forests cover almost 60% of Slovenia’s land area, making it the fourth most forested country in Europe?)
After 8 hours on the bus, where I either slept or listened to music while looking out the window as a typical main character, I reached Maribor. I had some free time before my final train, so I decided to explore the city a bit. For example, I saw the world’s oldest grapevine!
After that break, I found myself on the train that took me across half of the country to Ljubljana.
And just like that, I reached my final destination – exhausted, but excited and with a clear conscience, I didn’t unnecessarily pollute the planet because I chose a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation.
STEP 4: REFLECTION
This journey may seem ordinary or boring to you, but for me, it completely changed my perspective on travelling itself. Often, we are in such a hurry to reach our destination that we forget to enjoy the journey, but this time the journey was the destination.
Looking back, this 13-hour journey definitely didn’t feel like a loss of time and was far more than just a logistical shift: it was a necessary pause that allowed me to mentally separate two different life stages. After all, it wasn’t just about covering distance but also making room for a completely new chapter to begin.
