When I was a 7th grade science teacher, an activity for my students was to create a beak for a bird to dig, grab and eat the bird’s food. Dependent on the student’s research of what food the bird eats would determine the shape of the bird’s beak. Then their challenge of creating the beak and only allowed to use two of their fingers to move their created beak. Really interesting creations were made and some truly worked in picking up “food”.
Often I think of this science activity as I observe birds working to find food in the natural environment. Every so often I also see other birds try to “steal” another bird’s food. While walking along the “north trail” at Imperial Beach, CA, I did see one gull try to get another gull’s food. I suspect this happens often, yet here was my opportunity to observe the action.
Here is a western gull with food in its beak and then another gull moving closer to the gull with food.
Western gull with its food.
Gull moved a bit too close to the Western gull.
I watched this activity between the birds for a couple of minutes and the gull with the food was having none of this annoyance from the other gull! Do not mess with my food!
The Borghese Gallery is an elegant palace and worldwide famous art museum with exceptional paintings by artists/sculptors, such as Caravaggio, Bernini and Raphael. Did I know any of this before now? No, an advantage of travel … often learning something new!
A couple of days prior, I visited the villa’s gardens, about one-quarter the size of NYC’s Central Park and third largest park in Rome. This large green space of trees has statues, monuments and plenty of quiet, shady places to sit. Or choose a bench nearby a musician … one was a saxophonist, further down the path an accordionist. A couple of artists with ink and paper, another with watercolor. I loved it!
My favorite place to sit at the Borghese gardens.Monuments throughoutOther places to sit away from main path.Secret Garden on the right, but area allowed no entry while work is being done.Borghese Galleria, Rome, Italy
The villa/galleria was never a residence from what I understand. It was Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the nephew of Pope Paul V (reign 1605–1621) who collected works and had favorite artists. On my guided tour I discover a new name: Caravaggio. (A few days later another person points out his work to me at a basilica.) Yes, now I see Caravaggio’s use of light!
Caravaggio’s Saint Jerome
Fortunately I used the galleria’s official website, before my visit, to be prepared in knowing some of the famous sculptures and paintings. I had come to truly appreciate Bernini’s sculptures! No doubt any individual who loves art and history puts this place on their itinerary.
Bernini’s The Truth What I discovered while looking closer, it was not a finished piece!Fingers are not done. Amazing how sculptor creates from a block of marble!
For many decades works were collected. But the family became bankrupt in the 19th century, so the Italian state owns it, all of it, and opened it all to the public in 1902! What a save! Here’s a few more photos, but nothing compared to what is there. Visit if you are interested in art!
Raphael’s workBust of Cardinal Scipione Borghese who started and collected for the family.Many beautiful rooms!
Did you notice food tours and pasta-making classes are my favorite activities when I travel? Yes, especially as a solo traveler! They are opportunities to interact with other travelers, eat good food and learn new things about the area that I’ll continue to wander around in the upcoming days.
But first I wanted to walk away from city center, along the coast and have a good appetite for my pasta-making and eating later in the day. It’s a beautiful sunny day and always with a wind; a joy of being on a coast! I discover a 10km race is happening and they too are going my way! So I felt like all of us were on a walk-run activity. I cheered them on, even as I noticed no sidewalk spectators did, and also offered to take group photos as needed. Never planned any of that interaction, but it was fun! I turned around at their 4km sign to head back to city center.
A beautiful day for a walk.And for some to run… or walk.Or parasail… others were sailing and surfing!And I observed this egret and some black-winged stilts on a thin canal.
Later in the day was pasta-making time! This pasta-making class was with 14 other people at a restaurant! We made tiramisu, a couple of pastas with a pasta-making machine, and then sat down to eat! We started with prosecco at a fine dining table. The restaurant doesn’t open till 7:30PM so we’ll be out just before then.
Restaurant style!Equipment for all!
We made the tiramisu and pastas with all levels of success. I think I’m catching on how to use the machine. Our chef only spoke Italian so we had a translator. My fellow participants were from Romania, Germany, Denmark, Tunisia and 2 other people from USA.
I loved the Primitivo wine with my meal and we finished it all with limoncello! Tomorrow morning I have time to walk and relax before catching a train to Brindisi.
Before my trip, I used colored markers and tried to be aware of some birds I may hear and/or see on my trip. Above is one possible bird.
My travel through the Balkan countries: Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia was not a “birding trip”. However, I cannot help but notice when birds are or are not around. Then if I have some time I like to read about the bird and sketch it. I only used pencil to keep my backpack light in weight on this trip.
Of course, if it is a new bird for my life list, that is very exciting. But what I also noticed, is if I think I know the bird and work to identify it, the bird may be a totally different name and a new bird for me, such as the shag you’ll see in a sketch below. Surprisingly I knew house sparrows are all over the world. In Albania though, it got listed as a new bird in my life list. Had I never listed that bird before? Wow, I guess not!
Eight new birds in Albania, seven in Croatia and three in Bosnia-Herzegovina. No new birds in Montenegro and Slovenia since the birds there were already seen in a previous country.
Here are some quick sketches. Nothing is to scale!
In AlbaniaIn CroatiaAlso in CroatiaIn Bosnia-Herzegovina In Slovenia
Will I see new birds in Italy and Greece? Time will tell!
Our day began with a visit to a 5th generation olive oil production, a small family operation, Grubic, producing quality olive oil. They are recognized in a 2026 competition within the top 500 olive oil producers in the world!
After an explanation of their harvesting process and seeing the centrifuges they use, we did have a tasting. Interestingly centrifuges are now used rather than the old press method! The equipment is very expensive. They do have a cooperative spirit here in providing local olive growers to pay for the use of their equipment.
Centrifuge now used, not a press.
We had 3 tastings each of a monoculture and the 4th was a blend. We were to warm the cup holding our olive oil and then slowly sip it with some air. That is to be the correct way to taste the oil. Also, the tasters at competitions receive each oil tasting in a blue glass as the color of olive oil has nothing to do with its quality. The first tasting has a fresh grass sort of taste and the last did not.
After our tasting we had some snacks with the olive oil drizzled on it. The biggest surprise though was vanilla ice cream with fig and plum fruit on it and a drizzle of olive oil!
Olive oil drizzled on snacks.Olive oil drizzled on ice cream!
We walked through the small, very quiet town of Bale. Of course, had a coffee. Everything is quite relaxed! I met a couple on their honeymoon and enjoyed talking with them. They are from northern area of Croatia.
Walking through townOld church with few frescoes remaining.See the barn swallow that flew in and has nest on ceiling.
I did see bicyclists throughout this trip. This day they were part of VBT tour. While many towns in the Balkan area have very bicycle-friendly lanes/paths, the roads between the towns have no bike lanes or shoulders. The cyclists with front and rear lights and colorful clothing and helmets were easier to see. Motorists also seemed to provide some distance between their vehicle and cyclists which I was happy to see!
On our way back to Poreč, we stopped at Lim Fjord. Mussels and oysters are grown in the brackish water, but very beautiful area! Water was a bit cool so no swimmers! The area does look like a fjord.
Lim FjordLim Fjord
Where we are staying in Poreč does have a place for bicycle storage:
Farewell dinner is tonight and I am off to Trieste, Italy tomorrow. Here is a map of the travel so far with the Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) group I have been with these past weeks! Tomorrow I am a solo traveler for a few weeks in Italy and Greece.
The Adriatic Sea is rarely mentioned in comparison to the Mediterranean Sea, yet the Adriatic Sea is a northern arm of the Mediterranean Sea. My travels for the next few months will be to explore the Balkan Peninsula, not really a peninsula, and Italian Peninsula separated by this 500 mile long body of water.
For those of you who love water, I learned, the Adriatic Sea is relatively shallow, has clear, turquoise water and over 1,000 islands. Wonder if island hopping is a thing people do?
My time will be split: group tour and solo time. The entire travel involves places I have never visited, so this will be a true exploration! My blog posts are usually twice a week, however, if writing time is available, I’ll post more often.
Looking at a map, I’ll visit Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and some locations on the eastern coast of Italy. If you have visited any of these areas, let me know what I should not miss! Thanks!
My sketch below is to orient myself to the locations of the countries I’ll eventually be visiting. I’ll start on the Southeastern European side. Can you name the countries labeled B thru F? Then I’ll visit eastern coast of country labeled A. Will not visit country labeled “?”, but needed to include it for my sense of the area.
Italian and Balkan Peninsulas. Can you name the countries?
Here are the answers:
A= Italy
B= Slovenia
C= Croatia
D= Bosnia and Herzegovina
E= Montenegro
F= Albania
How did you do? What about upper right corner with question mark? Answer: Serbia
Time to travel … and explore foods, birds, history with eyes wide open and to meet people from all over the world!
Santiago can be walked if you are a patient person. I decided to walk to the Costanera Center, the tallest building in the city and maybe in South America. Next door was a five floor shopping mall. I had no interest in going to the sky deck bar at the very top of the center to see the entire city. I continued my walk to a Japanese Garden, an area of the huge city park.
Tallest building from Japanese Garden
The uphill walk to the Japanese Garden was worth it. Long and hot weather today. Soon it will be summer here. At the Japanese Garden you walk along paths passing quiet pools of water with lily pads, waterwheels, streams and sculptured trees.
More of the Japanese Garden
Very pleasant place as I also listened for birds. Another new bird: white-crested elaenia.
A new bird for me!
On my way down the hill, I interacted with employees putting up insect traps in fruit trees. Not knowing any Spanish on my part, my apologies to them, I photoed an information sheet so I could know what fly they are trying to capture.
So many places to eat in the city! I settled on my tour guide’s recommendation for a meal: pastel de jaiba… a crab cake … and as I write this, the electricity went out in one-third of the restaurant. I have my water, bread with butter and salsa, wine and meal so I am set… and then the electricity was back on! Unfortunately the chocolate cake has strawberry layer within, so glad I mentioned no strawberry please, so I’ll finish my wine with flan. Ah yes, I now remember that dessert is a South American staple!
Quite the crab cake meal!
I walked to Parque Bicentenario where hundreds of start-up tech and other companies had displays. Further along I spent time at a pond. Much to my surprise, I saw a plumbeous rail walking along the pond’s edge onto grass. Rails are typically hidden from sight. To see this one so easily was amazing!
Plumbeous rail
Two other birds were new to me: yellow-billed pintail and yellow-winged blackbird … a male and a female. I was happy to have my camera available for these observations.
Then I was looking at this next bird wondering is that a mockingbird? Yup.
Chilean mockingbird
Finally, I had been hearing the rufous-collared sparrow and the noisy monk parakeets. Now I had photos! My bird life list has grown by 8 new birds. Soon off to Easter Island in the mid-Pacific Ocean!
Rufous-collared sparrowMonk parakeet landed on the ground. Usually in the trees.
I’ll be back in a few days after I discover Easter Island!
Santiago is a long way from noon Arizona flight to late evening flight from Houston, Texas to a morning arrival in Santiago, especially when I never seem able to sleep on these overnight flights!
Seated next to me was a young man born in Santiago and now living in Florida. He returns every couple of years to visit family on a ranch, a long drive south of Santiago. He was surprised to hear of my upcoming travel to Easter Island as he has never been there. He said, one can drive from Santiago east one hour to the mountains and west one hour to the coast and south for days to towns closer to the tip of Chile.
It was with great sadness as I learned of hikers who became lost and died in a sudden snowstorm and highs winds in Torres del Paine, southern mountainous area in Chile. They were in the backcountry, still a distance from the hut, their destination, for the night. Blinding and sudden snowstorms are difficult, especially when winds are 120 mph! And they were caught in the storm while hiking in. What sadness though for the families of these hikers. I suspect those hikers were doing a dream hike and unfortunately met with Chile’s ever-changing mountain weather. When I visit those mountains later on this trip, our tour will not be in the backcountry. But everywhere one needs to be ready for changing weather, thus my backpack holds clothing for all types of weather. We always hope to be prepared!
So after two flights, with one 9 hours and me wearing the compression socks, I thought the socks comfortable. No swollen legs, so good news on that front. I took them off soon after the flight. With the warm Santiago weather I did not need knee-high socks on.
I arrived at my hotel, checked my luggage with the concierge with a plan to return hours later when my hotel room became available. Amazingly I met 3 women who are on an earlier tour than my own and was invited to join them. It worked out perfectly as I was exhausted, wanted to visit places they mentioned and had the camaraderie while touring the city.
Santiago is the capital and largest city in Chile at an elevation of 1706 feet with about 10 million people. Traffic is crazy. This city is not an easy walkable city, despite my seeing cyclovia (bike lanes) and walking path beside them, in some areas where we wanted to go. Thus we took Uber to each place with a ride always available in under 5 minutes. Throughout the city there is plenty of street art. Off in the distance one can see Santa Lucia Hill. Fifteen million years ago it was a volcano. The city is surrounded by hills and in the distance snow-capped mountains,
We visited these sites:
Parque Metropolitano: we rode a cable car to the top of San Cristobal Hill, saw the large statue of the Virgin Mary, and stopped in at the church and sanctuary, then took the funicular down the other side of the hill to find a restaurant for lunch.
Blessed Virgin Mary statue on the hillChurch on the side of the hillFunicular coming up as we went down
For lunch I had … let me simply provide photos below. It was tasty and too many fries, but perfect timing as I was hungry. The price is $8.990 which is almost 9 thousand Chilean pesos, about 9 USA dollars.
Menu item and my choiceHere was the tasty meal, but way too many fries!
Thankfully for me in my exhaustion, I bought some Chilean money from my new friend who had gotten too much Chilean money. Even for my single fifty dollar USA bill, I now had a stack of one and two thousand Chilean bills. Each thousand Chilean bill is worth one USA dollar.
We also visited Pueblito Los Dominicos where many handicrafts are made and sold by local artisans. As you walk around the many, many shops you do feel as though you are in a traditional village. I did find my first new bird for Chile here! An Australian thrush which at first glance I thought was a robin. It’s a common bird as are the noisy monk parakeets. But the austral blackbird was the next new bird for my life list.
A note re my blog: I usually write two times per week. However, I may add more per week to share my adventures with you. So, I’ll be flexible and I hope you enjoy my notes.
Cycling, camping, birdwatching, outdoor activities and many other activities have become more popular during the pandemic because we are able to give each other space. My day began with a cool Californian morning which means cold to a southern Arizonian. With overcast sky and slight wind in the air, I ate my breakfast and decided to have my coffee at Starbucks and finally have WiFi access since it is not available at the state park. It also provided me an opportunity to look at my photos from the previous days!
As the day warmed, I drove to Aliso and Woods Canyons Wilderness Park. While talking with a man coming off the trails on his bicycle, I asked for an easy mountain bike trail for a gravel bike, like his and mine. I knew there is a paved bike path, but why not first try some mountain biking on my gravel bike? Off I went with basics on my bicycle … bike tools, lunch, snacks, water and one camera…. I bicycled about 8 miles before I realized my bike lacked some needed front and rear suspension, so I decided to return and ride pavement while I still had a back and butt. The ride was beautiful and fun and I also talked with others on the trail who mentioned coming to Arizona for college searches.
Back at my car, I went to the paved bike path along the Aliso Creek which I originally planned to do. Ah yes, smooth and easy on the body! Trail signs seemed to indicate there would be some closures, but all went well for me. I saw a white-faced ibis, mallards and swallows. The amount of white on a white-faced ibis is so small this name for the bird cracks me up. Anyway, here is a white-faced ibis:
Back at the campground, my tent was not blown away and the shower water was hot! Fifty-cents-worth, 2 tokens provided 3 minutes of shower water and I was thrilled! Another day outdoors and only speaking with 3 people so felt safe. At the Starbucks I sat indoors, alone thanks to their sign stating indoors was not open, yet when I asked if indoor seating was available, they said yes. Perfect!
One goal during this travel opportunity is to view shorebirds since they’ll not hang out in the desert where I live. My birdwatching fun began while I was eating breakfast at my tent site. I observed and photographed a California towhee, a California thrasher and cliff swallows! I was also distracted by the numerous rabbits and squirrels running around the tent site and noticing the holes the squirrels dig. Seeing the California thrashers and California towhees was exciting and interesting too as I noticed their differences from the curve-billed thrasher or sage thrasher and Abert’s towhees I would see in Arizona!
I drove north to Dana Point where a masked booby had been reported on eBird, and a CA friend had seen it just a few weeks ago, so I decided to see if it was still in the area. It is rare for the bird to be here. And, yes it was!
I also saw a few great blue heron nests and one nest with 2 juveniles in it. I love seeing brown pelicans and all types of terns, but one really odd-looking bird was an Egyptian goose. See what you think of the bird flying over the car’s roof below. The terns and pelicans are amazing when they dive straight down into the water to catch their fish!
I then drove further north to San Joaquin Wildlife Marsh which is in conjunction with the wastewater treatment plant in the area. I spent most of my time at the San Diego River and finally to one small marshy area. As I walked the mile back to my car, I surprisingly flushed a killdeer off its egg! I remember seeing the bird earlier in my visit. The killdeer was walking along the berm; I thought it strange to be so far from the water and the other birds. But when I realized it was on an egg, I had to take a closer look at the egg. The bird allowed me a closer look. The egg was colored like the gravel it was on. I then gave the bird plenty of room as she watched me walk down the trail before she would return to her nest.
See the egg in the center of the photo on left?
Another good day without interacting with to many people and those that I did were wearing masks. Most people were curious as to what the birds were that we were all looking at. It’s nice to know the names of the birds and be able to help other people out with the identification of those birds. That killdeer egg was a highlight today … I was the only one to see it!
