Mary Lou’s Birthday Adventure 2026

Mary Lou’s Birthday Adventure 2026

More Than a Holiday — A Journey Through Slovenia, Italy and Austria

27 September – 4 October 2026

Some birthdays are celebrated with a cake, a dinner or a gathering. Others become a journey.

My birthday in 2026 became exactly that: an adventure through magnificent Alpine landscapes, historic towns, peaceful lakes and places filled with stories. It was a week in which travelling became much more than moving from one destination to another.

It became an opportunity to discover, learn, reflect and create memories.

From Slovenia's mountains to the quiet waters of the Fusine Lakes, from the remarkable story of Venzone to beautiful Lake Bled, Villach and finally Salzburg, every destination contributed something different to the experience.

And sharing these moments with Anna made the journey even more meaningful.

This is the story of my birthday adventure.

A Birthday Journey Begins

There is something special about travelling around your birthday.

Perhaps it is because birthdays naturally encourage reflection. They remind us that another year has passed, but they can also remind us how much of life remains to be explored.

I wanted this holiday to be about more than simply visiting beautiful places.

I wanted to experience them.

I wanted to understand some of their history, observe their culture, photograph what caught my attention and return home knowing something I had not known before.

That philosophy followed me throughout the journey.

Travel. Discover. Learn. Be inspired.

And our Alpine adventure soon began to provide all four.

Planica — Where Mountains Meet Human Courage

One of the most fascinating destinations of the holiday was Planica in Slovenia.

Arriving in Planica immediately made me appreciate the scale of the surrounding landscape. The mountains dominate the horizon, creating an extraordinary natural arena.

But Planica is not simply beautiful.

It is a place where geography, sport, engineering and human courage meet.

The famous Planica Nordic Centre introduced us to a world that I had previously seen mainly through sporting events: ski jumping and ski flying.

Standing beneath those enormous hills is completely different from watching the sport on television.

Only when you see their height and steepness in person do you begin to understand what the athletes actually do.

I found myself thinking:

How much courage does it take to stand at the top and deliberately launch yourself into the air?

The answer probably involves far more than courage alone. It requires discipline, technique, preparation, confidence and extraordinary control.

Discovering Planica's Sporting Heritage

As we explored the centre, the displays and information around us transformed the visit into an educational experience.

We encountered references to the development of skiing in Slovenia, including the traditional skiing heritage associated with Bloke — Bloško smučanje.

That historical connection was fascinating because it demonstrated that skiing here is not simply a modern sporting activity. It forms part of a much longer relationship between people, winter landscapes and practical movement through snow.

We also learned about the development of women's ski jumping, something I was particularly pleased to see represented.

The achievements displayed at Planica demonstrate just how dramatically the sport has progressed.

Among the records associated with this remarkable venue are Domen Prevc's 254.5-metre world record from 30 March 2025 and Nika Prevc's 242.5-metre women's world record from 27 March 2026.

Numbers on a display are one thing.

Looking at the enormous ski-flying hill while reading those distances is another.

Suddenly, 254.5 metres does not feel like a statistic.

It feels extraordinary.

We also saw the wooden ski-flyer figures showing the aerodynamic position adopted by athletes in flight, as well as information connected with competitions and Planica's continuing role in international winter sport.

Another interesting discovery was the Disc Golf Park Planica, including its instructions and course information. It was another reminder that the Nordic Centre is not only about winter competition but also a place designed for recreation and activity throughout different seasons.

One of the most unexpected discoveries was the indoor snow-covered cross-country skiing facility.

Snow indoors while autumn sunshine illuminated the mountains outside was quite a contrast!

Planica taught me something important about travel.

A destination becomes much more interesting when we stop asking only,

“What can I photograph here?”

and begin asking,

“What can I learn here?”

Fusine Lakes — When Nature Asks You to Be Still

From the energy and sporting heritage of Planica came a completely different experience.

The Laghi di Fusine — Fusine Lakes in Italy offered tranquillity.

Here, the mountains seemed to communicate through reflection rather than grandeur.

Clear Alpine water mirrored the surrounding peaks and forests, sometimes so perfectly that it became difficult to distinguish where the mountains ended and their reflections began.

There are destinations where you immediately feel compelled to talk.

And there are destinations where silence feels more appropriate.

For me, Fusine belonged to the second category.

Walking beside the water, looking across the lake and watching the changing colours of the landscape created one of those rare moments when there was no need to rush.

Of course, Anna and I took photographs — many photographs! 📸

Some became favourite memories from the entire holiday.

But behind those photographs was something much more valuable: the experience of simply being there together.

The still water, forest, mountains and clear Alpine air created a natural pause in the journey.

Travel sometimes teaches through museums and historical monuments.

Nature teaches differently.

It reminds us to slow down enough to notice what is already around us.

Piccolo Mangart di Coritenza — A Story Written on a Mountain

During our journey we also encountered the dramatic story connected with the north face of Piccolo Mangart di Coritenza.

A historical display referred to the climb of 13 August 1962.

This was precisely the kind of unexpected discovery I enjoy while travelling.

You may begin by admiring a mountain because it is beautiful, but then you discover that people have challenged themselves against that landscape, climbed it, studied it and left stories behind.

Suddenly the mountain becomes more than scenery.

It becomes part of human history.

Mountaineering stories are often stories about determination, preparation, risk and respect for nature.

Looking towards those enormous rock faces made the achievements of earlier climbers feel much more tangible.

Once again, the journey had quietly transformed sightseeing into learning.

Venzone — A Town That Refused to Disappear

One of the most powerful historical experiences of the holiday came in Venzone, Italy.

At first sight, Venzone is charming.

Stone buildings, narrow streets, historic architecture and carefully preserved details create the atmosphere of an old European town.

But its beauty carries an extraordinary story.

In 1976, Friuli was struck by devastating earthquakes. Venzone suffered enormous destruction.

What followed is one of the most compelling aspects of the town's modern history.

Rather than abandoning its historic identity, the community undertook an extraordinary reconstruction effort.

Buildings were carefully restored, and wherever possible original stones and architectural elements were used to rebuild the historic centre.

Walking through Venzone therefore carries a different significance once you know its history.

You are not simply looking at an old town.

You are looking at a town that was reconstructed because people believed its history was worth preserving.

That impressed me deeply.

Venzone became, for me, a lesson in resilience.

Buildings can collapse.

Communities can experience enormous loss.

Yet history, identity and collective determination can become the foundations for rebuilding.

We also encountered references to the Romea routes, reminding us that towns such as Venzone existed within much wider networks of movement, pilgrimage, commerce and cultural exchange.

I left Venzone thinking that reconstruction is not simply about rebuilding walls.

Sometimes it is about protecting memory.

Lake Bled — Slovenia's Fairytale Landscape

Then came one of the destinations I had particularly looked forward to visiting:

Lake Bled.

There is a reason photographs of Bled appear so frequently in travel books.

The combination is almost impossibly picturesque: the lake, mountains, forests, the island and its church, and Bled Castle rising above the landscape.

But photographs cannot fully reproduce the atmosphere.

Standing beside the lake was peaceful and beautiful.

The water reflected the surrounding mountains while Bled Island created the iconic scene at the centre of the lake.

The Church of the Assumption on the island gives the landscape its unmistakable character.

Above the water, Bled Castle adds another historical dimension.

This is what I enjoyed so much about Bled: nature and human history do not compete with one another.

They complement each other.

The mountains provide the dramatic background.

The lake creates tranquillity.

The island introduces tradition and spirituality.

The castle reminds visitors of centuries of history.

And together they create one of those places that seems almost designed to become a memory.

Anna and I took time to enjoy the scenery and, naturally, capture photographs together.

Looking at those photographs now, I do not see only Lake Bled.

I see a particular day in our lives.

That is one of photography's greatest gifts.

A photograph freezes a landscape.

But it also preserves who was standing beside you when you saw it.

Across the Alpine Landscape

One of the pleasures of this holiday was that the journey between destinations was often almost as beautiful as the destinations themselves.

Mountains appeared constantly.

Forests changed colour.

Small settlements emerged between valleys.

Church towers appeared in the distance.

Roads curved through landscapes very different from those we see at home in Malta.

Travelling through this region made me appreciate how geography influences culture.

Architecture responds to climate.

Food responds to local agriculture.

Transport follows mountains and valleys.

Sport develops around the environment.

History follows routes created by geography.

Once you begin observing these connections, travel becomes almost like an open-air classroom.

Villach — Austrian Charm and Everyday Life

Our journey also took us into Austria and to Villach.

After days dominated by lakes, mountains and historic sites, Villach provided another side of the travel experience: the atmosphere of an Austrian town and the rhythms of everyday life.

I enjoy seeing famous landmarks, but I also like observing ordinary places.

Shops.

Streets.

Squares.

Cafés.

Buildings.

People going about their normal day.

These details help you understand a destination beyond the postcard image.

Villach offered that combination of Alpine surroundings and urban life, giving us another opportunity to experience the cultural character of the region.

And yes — travelling also means enjoying a little shopping along the way! 🛍️

A holiday does not need every moment to be educational in a formal sense.

Sometimes enjoyment itself is part of the experience.

Wörthersee — Another Face of Austria

Our Austrian journey also introduced us to the beautiful Wörthersee area.

The lake landscape brought another change of atmosphere.

Once again there was water, but every lake encountered during the holiday seemed to possess its own personality.

The scenery around Wörthersee felt elegant and peaceful, framed by greenery, settlements and mountains.

By this stage of the holiday, I had become increasingly aware of something.

We had travelled through several destinations within a relatively compact geographical region, yet each one had given us something different.

Planica gave us sport and courage.

Fusine gave us stillness.

Venzone gave us resilience.

Bled gave us beauty and tradition.

Villach gave us Austrian town life.

Wörthersee gave us another moment of Alpine tranquillity.

And there was still one important destination ahead.

Salzburg — A Beautiful Finale

Wörthersee — Another Face of Austria

Our journey eventually brought us to Salzburg, one of Austria's most recognisable historic cities.

After mountains, lakes and villages, Salzburg provided a grand cultural finale.

Its architecture, streets, churches and historic character immediately created a different atmosphere.

Salzburg is inseparable from music, particularly the legacy of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was born there in 1756.

Yet even without knowing its musical history, the city makes an impression through its physical setting.

The historic centre sits within a dramatic landscape shaped by the surrounding hills and the River Salzach, while towers, domes and historic façades create a distinctive skyline.

Walking through Salzburg felt like moving through layers of European history.

And because it came towards the end of our adventure, I found myself looking at everything with another thought in mind:

Soon we would be going home.

That feeling always changes the final day of a holiday.

You start looking more carefully.

Taking one more photograph.

Looking back one more time.

Trying somehow to store the atmosphere in your memory.

The People Who Become Part of the Journey

Places matter, but people shape our memories of them.

This holiday was made richer by the people with whom we shared it.

Travelling with Anna meant sharing not only destinations but the little moments between them — photographs, conversations, laughter, waiting, walking, discovering something unexpected and sometimes simply standing quietly together looking at a beautiful landscape.

Our travelling companions also became part of the story.

A group journey is made up of many personalities and shared experiences, and I am grateful to Gorg and John, together with those who shared parts of this adventure with us and contributed to the memories we brought home.

Years from now, a photograph may remind us of a mountain or lake.

But it will also remind us of who was there.

And often that becomes the most precious part.

What This Birthday Holiday Taught Me

When I began this journey, I knew I was going on holiday.

By the end, I realised I had experienced something more.

I had stood beneath ski-flying hills where athletes challenge the limits of human performance.

I had learned about sporting traditions and records.

I had watched mountains reflected almost perfectly in Alpine lakes.

I had walked through a town rebuilt after devastating earthquakes.

I had encountered stories of mountaineering courage.

I had experienced Slovenia's famous Lake Bled.

I had crossed through different cultures and landscapes.

I had explored Austrian towns and finished among the history and elegance of Salzburg.

But perhaps the greatest lesson was simpler.

Life becomes richer when we remain curious.

You do not need to enter a classroom to learn.

Sometimes the classroom is a mountain.

Sometimes it is an old stone wall.

Sometimes it is a lake.

Sometimes it is a historical sign that makes you stop and ask, “What happened here?”

And sometimes learning comes from the person travelling beside you.

Birthday Reflection — Another Year, Another Perspective

Celebrating another birthday naturally makes me think about time.

When we are younger, birthdays often seem to be about becoming older.

As life progresses, I think they become more about becoming richer in experience.

Not richer through possessions.

Richer through understanding.

Richer through relationships.

Richer through memories.

Richer through curiosity.

And richer through gratitude.

This birthday reminded me that growing older does not mean becoming less adventurous.

It can mean becoming more selective about what truly matters.

I want experiences that teach me something.

I want conversations that mean something.

I want photographs that carry stories.

I want to continue discovering places with curiosity rather than simply passing through them.

And above all, I want to remain grateful for the people with whom I can share those moments.

Reflection Questions

What made this holiday special to me?

It combined celebration with discovery. I was not simply visiting destinations; I was learning about their landscapes, history, culture and people while creating personal memories.

Which destination taught me the strongest lesson?

Each offered something different, but Venzone's reconstruction after the 1976 earthquakes was particularly powerful. It demonstrated how determination and respect for heritage can help a community rebuild without losing its identity.

What did nature teach me?

That not every meaningful moment requires activity. At places such as the Fusine Lakes and Lake Bled, simply stopping, observing and appreciating the surroundings became part of the experience.

What did Planica teach me?

That extraordinary achievements are usually built on preparation, discipline, courage and generations of knowledge.

What will I remember most?

Not one single monument or photograph, but the combination of places, people, learning and shared experiences.

Final Lesson & Reflection

Travel changes meaning when we approach it with curiosity.

A tourist may see a building.

A curious traveller asks who built it and why.

A tourist may photograph a mountain.

A curious traveller asks what happened there.

A tourist may admire an old town.

A curious traveller asks how it survived.

That difference transformed my birthday holiday.

I returned with photographs, certainly.

But I also returned with stories.

And stories last much longer.

Perhaps this is why the phrase that now represents this journey feels so appropriate:

“Collecting moments, cultivating a richer me.”

That is exactly what this adventure became.

Not an escape from life, but an addition to it.

Another collection of places, knowledge, laughter, landscapes and memories that now form part of my own story.

So this is not really the end of my birthday adventure.

It is simply the closing page of this particular journey.

There are still places I have never seen.

Stories I have never heard.

Cultures I have never experienced.

Things I have never learned.

And that means there is always another reason to keep exploring.

Different places.

New experiences.

More learning.

More memories.

A brighter me.

Until the next adventure. ❤️✈️

Mary Lou.

© 2026 Mary Lourdes Bonnici. All Rights Reserved.

Original personal travel narrative, photographs and reflections by Mary Lourdes Bonnici. Unauthorised reproduction or republication is prohibited.