Posts Tagged ‘Balkans’
Enjoying sunrises and sunsets on Albania’s coast
I was just in the Albanian coastal city of Durres, Albania for work. To be fair, there’s not that much to see in this city that served briefly (from 1913 to 1920) as the Albanian capital following Albanian independence. Unfortunately, the modern city seems to have forsaken any pretense of urban planning. It’s been built, quite…
Read MoreEat at the Three Little Pigs’ house of straw in Kolašin, Montenegro
Well, okay. It’s not really the lazy little pig’s house of straw, but that’s what I told my four-year-old when we stopped to eat here while travelling in Montenegro. And it’s certainly a dead ringer for the version you see in illustrated children’s stories. The restaurant, Savardak, is located less than 3 km from the…
Read MoreMy short story, Stari most, is now online at Milk Sugar Literary journal
One of my short stories, Stari most, had been accepted in the online literary journal, Milk Sugar, and is now available online in the October/November 2013 issue. I always enjoy reading Milk Sugar, so I’m pleased to have my story included here. My story title is the Bosnian word for Old Bridge, the name for…
Read MoreEnjoying National Revival architecture in Plovdiv, Bulgaria
The town of Plovidov is located in southern Bulgaria, along the Maritza River, just a two-hour drive from the capital Sofia. When we were in Sofia this spring (see my earlier posts about the Boyana church and the Pod lipite restaurant), we were looking at various trips from the capital. What struck us most were…
Read MoreEnjoy traditional Bulgarian food at the Pod Lipite restaurant in Sofia
We loved this traditional country tavern, just on the edge of the Borisova Gradina Park, while we were visiting Bulgaria’s capital. Pod Lipite, which means ‘under the linden trees’ opened as a pub in the 1920s. The cozy, casual environment, with its wood and stone interiors and long tables, is a great place to enjoy…
Read MoreStunning frescoes in Bulgaria’s Boyana Church
On a recent trip to Bulgaria’s capital of Sofia, I set aside some time to visit the area of Boyana, on the outskirts of the city, to visit the not-to-be-missed Boyana church. Last week I wrote about the spectacular Orthodox monasteries of Kosovo, but Bulgaria’s Boyana church is another impressive example of Balkan Byzantine art that is…
Read MoreVisiting the monasteries of Pejë/ Peć in Kosovo
My family and I were on holiday in beautiful Montenegro, when we decided to take a daytrip into Kosovo – to the town of Pejë (in Albanian) / Peć (in Serbian). Of special interest to us were two spectacular Serbian Orthodox monasteries: the 14th century Dečani Monastery and the 13th century Patriarchate Monastery. Travelling in…
Read MoreMy story, Stari most, has been accepted in an online journal
I just received the good news that one of my short stories, Stari most, has been accepted by Milk Sugar: A Literary Journal. I enjoy reading the stories in this online journal, so I was very pleased to learn that my story was accepted for publication in its October/November 2013 edition. Much of my inspiration…
Read MoreThe ruins of Stari Bar, Montenegro
If you arrive by ferry to Montenegro, you’ll most likely be arriving in the port city of Bar. Although Bar itself is not worthy of exploration, the old town – Stari Bar – is just 5 kilometers from the port and it is a wonderful place to visit. The picturesque ruins are located on a…
Read MoreLake Skadar – the Balkans’ largest lake
The Montenegrin Skadarsko jezero goes by many names: Skadar (from the Montenegrin), Shkodër (from the Albanian) and Scutari (from the time when it was an Italian protectorate). It’s the largest lake in the Balkans – part of the lake is in Montenegro and part in neighboring Albania. The lake itself is well known for its…
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