Today is Züri’s 5thbirthday! To describe this year as “unusual” would be a significant understatement. We have had the pleasure of having him with us as we drove across the United States, flew over the Atlantic Ocean, and toured throughout Europe.
We knew that traveling with a dog wouldn’t always be easy. Yes, there have been some places that we were unable to visit because we were traveling with a dog. But we have also been pleasantly surprised by how many places welcomed our dog. Below are a few of the places that surprised us with their hospitality toward dogs!
Slovenia
I want to include all of Slovenia in this list! It was such a dog friendly country.
Dogs were allowed on public transit, in parks and in most restaurants. People were welcoming to our dog and we had no difficulty finding an English speaking veterinarian. We found TWO dog bakeries. And, to top it off, we even stayed at an Airbnb named after a dog!
There are some places that dogs were not allowed, such as the Mestni muzej Ljubljana. However, when the staff saw us outside, caught in a downpour, we were graciously invited into the museum gift shop for refuge. While there, the lovely staff member and some patrons played with our wet dog and helped us identify dog friendly places to eat – completely above and beyond.
We were even surprised that we could take dogs inside the courtyard at the iconic Ljubljana castle.
Roman Ruins (France & Croatia)
Züri didn’t get to go to the Colosseum in Rome. In fact, I went with a friend and didn’t even take him to the city. But we were thrilled to learn that he could still experience Roman ruins in other areas. He enjoyed playing in ruins in several cities, especially in Nice where the sits near a large open park.
He also was able to enter an amphitheater in Pula, Croatia. The Pula Arena is one of the best preserved amphitheaters. And although it charges admission for humans, they allow dogs to enter for free.
Swiss Gondolas
Everything is expensive in Switzerland. High quality often comes at a price. For example, dogs typically require a ticket to ride on trains and buses. But occasionally we are delighted to find places that don’t change for the dog. For example, many gondolas allow dogs AND don’t charge for pets. Below are pictures of Lake Oeschinen where Züri got a free gondola ride, a beautiful hike and a refreshing swim in an alpine lake. Maybe there is such as thing as a free ride!
Edinburgh
We love it when restaurants bring out a bowl of water for our pup (especially in Europe when it is not routine bring water for humans to drink). But a few places raised the bar even higher. When we were in Edinburgh for New Year’s the city was so overwhelmed with tourists that it was difficult to find somewhere to eat lunch without exceptionally long wait times. The addition of rain (resulting in the closure of most outdoor seating areas) and a large dog made the challenge was greater. We were delighted when we finally found Brewhemia. We enjoyed it because they had a warm, dry table available. Züri enjoyed it because he received a bowl of water AND a bed to rest on. It was a short, but appreciated, respite from the cold and rain!
