Happy birthday, travelling uncle!

Let’s have a look at the past year in red and green. You always need to wear this red shirt when we go to nature!

First you came to pick me up in Tuscany in June and then delivered me back safely three and a half months later, when we went on our memorable daytrip and discovered some possibly Etruscan ruins.

But there is also your garden in Ljubljana and my parents’ garden in Piran and some photos that you sent me through the year, including best of all – the four of an amazing sunset which I have showed on here already but deserve the repeat. Let’s ho!

There are eight galleries, each with four photos. The first is from your garden with two photos sent by you and two by me.

Your photo is from April.

Mine is from the end of June.

Your photo from November.

And mine from June with the same maple reflected.

Your marvellous garden is the venue for our annual card tournament. The tallest fir tree is as old as I am.

Where you like to chill.

Everybody is welcome, even bestia.

All set for the tournament.

“My” fir tree from above.

In the end of September when you took me back to Tuscany we went on our only day trip of the year. First there was a waterfall, then a peculiar hunting poligon, and next quite a long and hot search for some ruins.

A scenic waterfall near Canino.

You liked how the day started.

They shoot turtles, don’t they?

This field we crossed in vain and had to return. But it was nice.

No matter that the directions and Google Maps were confusing, we managed to find the remains of the Castellardo fortress near Canino in southern Etruria. Who knows what once was going on around here. Now the place is fully deserted (apart from one tool) and full of cyclamen.

We found it!

Fascinating, considering I found it on Google Maps by pure luck.

The king of Etruria.

Aha! Work in progress.

After that we stopped at Ischia di Castro for the door tour. There were many Thursday Doors posts from here. All doors must come to an end, you said, and we went to Lake Bolsena to get you an Ichnusa beer.

In admiration.

Enough with these doors!

Bar Mojito. And I had freshly squeezed pomegranate juice.

Capodimonte on Lake Bolsena.

As we always do, we had to visit Porto Ercole but the terrace of our favourite bar was left without the roof and is not as nice any more.

Porto Ercole is surrounded by fortresses.

This is not our bar but it looks nice.

This is not our bar either but I like the growth.

You went on a walk around our home and came home with this view on your phone. Photo: Uncle M.

Here are some views from Piran on the Slovenian coast where you like to visit my parents. You went for a swim on one of the last days in October, which is not what I’d expect.

Happy in your position.

The more, the merrier.

October 30th 2022. Photo: Dad.

Memory from the 70th birthday of your sister who is by some strange coincidence my mother.

And finally, your beautiful sunsets from Piran, taken last April. And I’m not just saying this so that you would come and take me to Slovenia again.

Photo: Uncle M. with his new phone.

Happy birthday, uncle Matic, cin cin and pridi kaj!