Safety in the Balkans

When you tell someone you're going on a trip through the Balkans or on a holiday to Serbia, you might get some funny looks. A lot of people still have funny ideas about these countries, that they're still war-ridden or unsafe. Fortunately the 1990s are long gone, and so is the violence with it. The truth of the matter is, the Balkans are the safest places to travel in Europe! Did you know?

In a UN report, it shows a steady decline in crimes such as homicide, robbery, rape and others against foreigners and in general. In Western Europe, these crimes are on the rise. There can be however local politics that can cause trouble and even danger. So just to be safe check out these tips before booking any airline tickets to the Balkan countries. These aren't however Balkan-only travel tips, they're pretty general and should be used consciously anywhere in the world.

1. Don't dress like a tourist. Leave the bling: gold watches, jewellery, etc. at home or in your hotel safe where it cannot be stolen. Fitting in with the locals isn't hard to do, you will want to find a less conspicuous place for your DSLR than slung around your neck though.

2. Avoid confrontations at all costs, especially in public disagreements with local citizens. If you do see a protest or riot, walk the other way and find safety either in a bar, restaurant, hotel, etc. Getting involved in the wrong crowd at the wrong time could land you in a Balkan jail.

3. Don't discuss travel plan details with anyone in a public place. Never give out your hotel room number or the details about your stay. Pretty self-explanatory, right?

4. There is a lot of pick-pocketing going on everywhere in Europe, Barcelona being the worst for it in the world. So keep it close and walk around in groups as much as possible. At night, it's to your best interest to avoid dim-lit tunnels and walkways.

5. Some Balkan regions lack the medical emergency care that we're used to. Always make sure that your traveller's insurance covers emergency medical evacuation, just in case.

6. If you hire a car, make sure it is from a reputable company and that their insurance will take care of you in case of accident or breakdown. In Bosnia for example, there are many roads without guard rails and frequent fog, so drive with caution when the weather turns.

It all comes down to being aware of yourself and your surroundings. If you travel with a level head, you shouldn't run into any trouble. As mentioned earlier, the Balkans is one of the safest regions to travel in Europe, so enjoy it!

Albania's Ionian Coast, an adventure into the wild

Wouldn't it be nice to go swimming here? Dark blue waters and rugged shorelines, Albania is just a child when it comes to outdoor tourism but it's something that is picking up which means the Ionian Coast is going to be where it's at in a few years. Wild landscapes and ancient ruins, turquoise pools and lone wolves. So beat the crowds and enjoy it while you can!

How to get there:

You can find cheap flights from Belfast to Tirana, the capital of Albania, from a number of airlines like British Airways, Lufthansa and SAS. Albania's main international airport is Rinas International Airport (TIA) which is located just 10 km north of the city.

What to see:

 Llogaraja Pass

If you're an outdoors junkie who seeks thrilling heights around the world, then need you head to Llogaraja Pass. It is a road that travels south from Vlora and reaches 1000 m in height. Albania has never looked to beautiful than from above. From the top you can see mountains disappearing into the clouds, the steep cliffs that effortlessly fall into the sea and thick forests that are home to wolves and wild boar. Albania is majestic and completely wild.

Syri i Kalter

Lose your sense at the Blue Eyed Spring, a pool of water that is surrounded by vibrant blue edges, like the iris of an eye. The pool flows into the Bistrica River and no one knows exactly how deep it is, adding to the mystery. Enjoy a picnic, take a dip and relax under the shade of an oak.

Butrinti

Butrini is both home to some of the country's most renown ancient ruins and part of a national park. It is the perfect place to spend an afternoon exploring the place once inhabited by Greeks centuries past. It was later occupied by the Byzantines and then abandoned until the late 1920s when it was discovered by archaeologist.

Have you ever been?

The Adriatic Coast of Montenegro

Mountains dropping into the sea, wispy waves crashing into the rock; Montenegro's coast is dynamic and far less tread than it's neighbour's in Croatia. Along the coast you won't find resort towns or 4-star all-inclusive hotels. What you will find however are castles, churches, medieval walls, mansions and spectacular gardens. The Bay of Kotor is one of the most beautiful bays in the Mediterranean but is still yet undiscovered by the hoards of tourists which make it still one of the great treasures of the Balkans.

The town of Kotor is located in the inner most part of the bay, protected from wind and storms. It is surrounded by walls which have stood for centuries now. Within the city walls you'll find tiny streets leaving to picturesque squares and plazas, a labyrinth of homes and shops. The only landmark one can see from the whole city is St. Tryphon's Cathedral. Recognized by its two square towers built in a mix of Byzantine, Roman, Venetian styles.

A must-do in this area is a climb to the top of the city's walls at the Fortress of St.  Ivan. From here you'll be able to see most of the bay, the city below you, and the dome of the church in the next village in Perest.

From Kotor there are a number of great day trips you can take, Perest for example, is known for its "floating churches." Out in the bay you can find two churches sitting atop small islands and appear in certain light to be floating on the water. 

Herceg Novi is the one place in the area where you'll actuallly find a resort, the trickling over from Croatia's border. The old town that sweeps up the hillside is very aattractive and quaint, a nice spot to enjoy the sunshine.

If you're looking for a place to bathe and soak in the sea, Budva is a better place to head. It is no more than a half hour drive from Kotor and you'll find a city that still keeps it's medieval charm despite having been almost completely demolished in an earthquake in the last 1970s. Just south of Budva is Sveti Stefan, an old and popular fishing village on an island which has been invaded by hotels and is often crowded by tourists, especially in the summertime.

Details:
You can reach Kotor by plane. Trivat Airport is only 5 km away and there are regularly scheduled flights from Belgrade and Zurich arriving daily. A little further away is Podgorica Airport (65 km) which is serviced by many airline flights from all over Europe.

Some first thoughts on Turkey

I put it on my list of resolutions so I figured I would start to think about this possible vacation destination Turkey. From what I've read so far is that Isanbul, being the capital, is the easiest place to start from. Finding out if there are cheap flights to Turkey was easy and its a good option since the buses and trains can be slow and have hold-ups at the border. In particular Sultanahmet where some of the city's major sights and monuments are located near each other. From the main square, the Blue Mosque and the Haghia Sophia are both a stone's throw away. There are thousands of years worth of history in this square kilometre alone, its incredible even though I live in Budapest at how much this area is saturated in politics, culture and world-changing events. You can just breathe history here. From here it is easy to explore the Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar.

I realize the more I travel that not only does the capital city not give a real representation of the country as a whole but that most of the really touristy sights also don't represent the capital city. They are mandatory to visit in my opinion, usually just to see what the hype is all about, but it is certain that tourists crowd the Blue Mosque and that they outnumber the locals at the Grand Bazaar. I like to get to know the locals when I travel and to do this I usually have to find the more outer districts of the city and lose myself in neighborhoods where English-speakers are harder to find.

Balkinology, a travel site, suggests taking a walk along the south shore of the Golden Horn from Galata Bridge. Checking out Fener and Balat will be helpful too in getting a more realistic and cultured impression of Istanbul. The city walls were built in the fifth century and it is possible to trace them along the outskirts of the city. I can't even imagine how long it took to build them and by how many men.
Another site I think is a must-see especially for art-lovers and architect admirers is the Church of Saviour in Chora which has frescoes in classic Byzantine style.Thinking about travelling again is exciting, especially to a location like Turkey which is really geographically close but can feel so exotic at the same time.

2010? travel travel travel

Well, its the eve of the New Year and I think everyone is making their resolutions to put in ink and sign at the strike of midnight. So I've been thinking about mine. Even though Budapest is beautiful and historical, there is so much more to explore. Hungary is the best starting point to discover the Balkans and although I have been getting around a little bit, there is still so much more to see, agreed?

Some of what I have come up with, the less personal and travel-related resolutions include:
-find cheaper flights  to the places I want to visit
-get out of the city more and breathe some fresh air
-set up a couchsurfing account because even though it is sometimes easy to find cheap hotel stays, there is nothing cooler than sleeping at local's houses and learning a thing or two about culture and lifestyle when travelling
-turkey turkey turkey! (and its not the bird that I've got on my mind)

New Years is the perfect time to think about the next year's travels and reflect on the trips I've taken this past year. It is pretty incredible thinking of all the possibilities that that Balkans offer. I'm not even quite sure how I got started on all of this but I am ready for a new year and more travel adventures, with fresh air and cheap flights. :)

Happy New Year!