🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 Trieste, Italy - May 25, 2026

​Just 2 days to spend here. The maritime gateway for northern Italy, Germany, Austria and Central Europe and home to about 200,000 residents. 

Italian wall lizard 

🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮 Lake Bled part 2 and Ljubljana, Slovenia - May 23 and 24, 2026

​Never ceasing to amaze me, I’m enjoying every day. More photos of the Lake Bled tour and Ljubljana and its sights.

The church on the island

Atop at the castle

Boat ride over to the church

Dragon bridge

Locks on bridge

A bird spotted. To show the full power of Artificial Intelligence I will show this example. I do not use AI for my photos, but I could not resist this amazing technology as an IDENTIFIED assist. The first photo is the original shot … can you see the bird in the grass?

The next step is to cut out the bird …

Of course it’s behind grass and way out of focus …

And then the magic of AI and you see a Gray Wagtail

Hooded Crow again using AI to assist

And me … thanks Norma!

🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮 May 22, 2026 - Ljubljana, Slovenia and Lake Bled

My first time visit to Slovenia. Not as widely known to the world I think. My impressions are that it is a singularly amazing country. A new country (1991) in an old nation. One of the greenest countries in the world in terms of the environment and natural beauty. Somewhat taller than most, the people are fit and friendly. City tour and then off to Lake Bled. 

City tour guide

On the way to the castle 

At the top

Kamnik Alps in the background 

Food in restaurant in castle

Lake Bled tour and boat ride to the church on Slovenia’s best known island (and only natural one)

A selection of wildflowers 

Eurasian Blackbird (Thrush) the European equivalent of our Robin and a marvellous singer … somewhat tame

Local painter

More Ljubljana to come …

🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 May 20, 2026 - Verona, Italy

​The second day here and a full day of discovery. The four of us had a private tour guide to show us around amazing Verona.

The Verona Arena is a Roman Amphitheater constructed between the 1st and 3rd century. Still in use today as an event venue. Recently famous for the 2026 Olympic Games closing ceremony and the 2026 Paralympics Opening ceremony. In a remarkable state of preservation. 

Excavation from Roman times of a Villa located smack in the centre of a children’s clothing store

Still remaining 15th century wooden eaves

Waiters waiting

Spiders at work on Romeo’s House

Romeo and Juliet’s famous balcony

And a big thanks to Jasmine for an amazing tour …