THE guard booth at an Italian border crossing sat empty yesterday. Slovenia is now almost without border checks: Last month it joined the Schengen Zone, a 24-country free-travel area. Land border posts with Austria, Italy, and Hungary are now unmanned; air passengers from member countries can travel passport-free beginning March 30. Passports (or for locals, ID cards) are still needed for travel between Slovenia and Croatia.
Jennifer Dorroh 