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Friday, 03 September 2010

Balkan Coasts & Mountains


Biking Along the Adriatic Coast

A group of four self-proclaimed ‘Yugo-nostalgics’ ride their bikes from Trieste through Croatia to Ulcinj in Montenegro in 12 days, covering approximately 1,200 kilometres. Full Story



Macedonia
Macedonia: Nearly 50 Years Later, Lake Ohrid Overflows Again

As spring arrived and temperatures rose, increasing the water level of Lake Ohrid, many Ohrid residents recalled the dangerous water levels of the lake 50 years ago. In 1963, Ohrid Lake spilled over and flooded the old road between Ohrid and Struga. Full Story


Croatia
The Island of Vis in Croatia: From Isolation to Tourist Destination

Although reaching the island of Vis is a challenge, the nature, colourful Mediterranean streets and squares packed with fish restaurants are worth visiting.

Full Story


Bulgaria
Skiing in Bulgaria: Bansko? Try again

As you drive south of Sofia, first you see nothing. Wide fields, some hills, covered with trees and bushes, over a dozen of unremarkable villages that, seen from the road, even look ugly. Then, you turn east and in a moment Full Story


Bulgaria
Three Weekend Getaway Destinations in Bulgaria

Never spend a free day in a place you've already been is a rule many of us abide by – forcing us to take risky roads and end up in places we never knew existed, to get involved in conversations with strangers we never thought we'll be having one... Full Story


Bulgaria
Perperikon, Bulgaria's Delphi: the Ancient City of Excessive Pleasures

A rival of Delphi or the fruit of archaeologists’ fantasies, the half-ruined Thracian city of Perperikon is one of Bulgaria’s most interesting destinations. Discovered 20 years ago, it is still undergoing excavations and every consecutive step of... Full Story


Albania
The Blue Eye Water Spring in Southern Albania Beckons with Coolness

Once reserved for the communist élite, the Blue Eye water spring in southern Albania now beckons all visitors, regardless of their political leanings, with its cool waters and the shady grounds that surround it.
Full Story


Turkey
Ararat: The Mountain Where Noah’s Journey Ended

Eastern Turkey, 10 kilometres from the Iranian border. The raven-strewn landscape is a barren yellowish red. On one side rises Ararat, the twin-topped dormant volcano that is rightly considered as one of the world’s most impressive sights. Full Story


Bulgaria
Balchik: Here Queen Marie Left Her Heart. In a Jar

It was in 1940. In a glass jar in a chapel in Balchik on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast rested the heart of Queen Marie of Romania. It was her last wish before she died. She had loved Balchik. Full Story


Bulgaria
Just like in the Movies: Treasure-Hunting in Bulgaria's Rodopi Mountains

While Bulgaria’s seaside and mountain resorts continue to attract the bulk of both domestic and international tourists, more unconventional destinations around the country are also starting to become popular with travellers. Full Story




Epicure


Turkey
Sherbet or Sorbet? An East-West Beverage Tradition

Sherbet and sorbet are a pronounced example of the contemporary gastronomic approach to the “Eastern-Western” synthesis. Full Story



Curiosity Chest


Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia’s Bitter Bouquet: the Sarajevo Rose

Sarajevo carries all kinds of traces of its past in its cityscape. And while some of them are easy to notice, one – despite its prevalence, can be missed quite easily: the Sarajevo Rose, a scar in the ground and a daily reminder of the horrors of the recent war. Full Story



Useful Reads


Greece
In Sfakia: Passing Time in the Wilds of Crete (2008) | By Peter Trudgill

Crete has long been acknowledged as one of the most singular and unique parts of Greece. Its people keep a fierce hold on their traditions, customs and history. Practically a country of its own, this vast island looms over all others in Greece. Nevertheless, as In Sfakia author Peter Trudgill aptly notes in his preface, “some parts of Crete are more special than others, and Sfakia, on the remote south coast, is certainly one of those.” Full Story




Music


Macedonia
Macedonia: Esma Redžepova's Passion for Humanity

"A Gypsy from the city of Skopje", as she calls herself, Esma Redžepova has more than 40 years of singing and humanitarian efforts under her belt. Full Story