The place evoked a deep feeling of peace and calmness, a sensation which is natural in this kind of landscape. The breeze, gentle as it was, along with the calm sea and the deep, vibrant blues that collided with each other out to the horizon, reminds me of nothing but the pleasure of being in such pristine surroundings, and our profound connection to nature as human beings.

A link to this interesting set of photos on Flickr titled ‘Locals and Tourists’ has cropped up in a few places now so you may well have already taken a look; if you haven’t it’s worth a glance. The images are maps of cities around the world that show the location of all photos currently available in public Flickr and Picasa search APIs.

This photo was taken when our friend Vere from Arizona – who belongs to the Navajo nation – was visiting Slovenia. She adores pleasant walks through quiet main market and old part of Ljubljana. We were standing by the statue of our greatest Slovenian poet, Mr. Preseren, enjoying a slow morning on a quiet March day. March is still low season in Ljubljana. There are not a lot of tourists, so you can observe local life without bumping into the groups who descend on Ljubljana during summer time.

The cool climate and relatively small size of Darjeeling, India, make it a perfect getaway from the sultry temperatures and urban sprawl of India’s other major urban centres. Mountaineers and outdoor enthusiasts will love the numerous trails to and through the Himalayas, as well as the different adventure activities. But, of course, there is so much more to Darjeeling than its list-topping tourist attractions, like new opportunities to interact directly with the local community.

This photo is taken on a floating cycle path on the Brisbane River in this capital city of the Australian state of Queensland. It is near the Story Bridge (on the way to Newfarm), which sometimes wriggles and contorts with the small waves moving under the pathway.