Me and tour mate XXX. Walked the 3.5 miles around the lake with her and her husband XXX. May 19, 2016

Back in Bled, Slovenia, for a couple of hours. This time I walked the 3.5 miles around Lake Bled and truly enjoyed the calm and peace of the walk and the spectacular views of Bled island, the castle and the snow capped Julian Alps. May 19, 2016

The Lake Bled Castle in Slovenia. May 19, 2016

Back in Lake Bled, Slovenia for a few hours to see the sites. This time I made it up to Bled’s cliff-hanging castle…or should I say the bus drove us up to the castle where we saw amazing panoramic views of Bled, the lake and the island. The castle’s history goes back to 1011. May 19, 2016

Driving along the Slovenian mountainside brought us to the Vrsic Pass of the Triglav National Park where our Rick Steves bus driver managed some 50 hairpin turns. The views were simply amazing. May 19, 2016

On our way up the Vrsic Pass in the Triglav National Park is this little Russian chapel. The road used to travel the park was built during World War I by some 10,000 Russian soldiers who lived and worked in terrible conditions, hundreds of whom died from illness and exposure. In 1916, an avalanche killed more than 300 workers. The chapel was built in honor of their memory. May 19, 2016

Our Rick Steves tour bus stopped at this Soca River Canyon, close to our hotel and final stop in Bovec, Slovenia, so we could see the emerald-colored water from a bouncy suspension bridge. May 19, 2016

Me on the bouncy suspension bridge at the Soca River Canyon enjoying the emerald-colored water and mountain views…while holding on for dear life. May 19, 2016

Our guide Tina and the man of the hour, the winemaker and winery owner himself, Boris Lisjak, telling us about his wine, as our guide Tina, does the translating. May 20, 2016

Another stop along the way to Croatia was here at Brda, Slovenia. May 20, 2016

Tour members XXX to the left of me and XXX to the right of me enjoying our wine tasting and treats at the Boris Lisjak Winery in Dutovlje, Slovenia. May 20, 2015

Taking a tour of the wine cellars of the Boris Lisjak Winery in Dutovlje, Slovenia. May 20, 2016

The Boris Lisjak Winery in Dutovlje, Slovenia. May 20, 2016