Balkan you believe how things have changed here

For lager lovers out there (the decent kind, not anything served within the British Isles), Ljubljana-brewed “Union” was our favourite and is an unmissable tipple if travelling through Slovenia on any sort of Balkan adventure. (Image | Chris King)

The Balkans, for all their beauty, varied landscapes, and wonderfully inviting people, have had a deeply troubled history. No more than 20 years ago, the city of Vukovar in Croatia was being pounded into rubble by the guns of paramilitaries and the tanks of the Yugoslav National Army (JNA), working on behalf of the disintegrating Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which once spanned these scarred lands. Sarajevo, the enchanting capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was on fire and the United Nations’ “protection” it was receiving never once prevented the continual encirclement and besieging of the city.

Back from the Balkans

The Ljubljanica river in late afternoon, looking resplendent in Spring guise.

So, three weeks, five countries, eleven towns and cities, three languages, four currencies, many different dialects and a whole host of beers later, and my epic trek around the Balkans is at an end.

I feel particularly lucky to have been able to traverse this region of Europe, with its incredible diversity, welcoming nature, spectacular scenery and enthralling history, in the company of a great friend and for less than a grand. There is far too much to say here so all I’ll add is, keep an eye on This Chemical World for a full write up of my adventures, with many a terrible pun, historical observation and classic quote in toe. For now, hurry up 8.30 train, I’d like to get home.