Spomenik
5 juillet 2019, Croatie ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
30 km off the main highway I entered a secluded valley where anti-Axis partisans had a large base and hospital. From Podgaric Tito launched his uprising against the despised Ustase forces of theEn savoir plus
Campsite
6 juillet 2019, Croatie ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
After the Independent State of Croatia was established by the force of the Axis powers behind it, the first thing the Croat leaders did was to clear the decks of undesirables: that is anybody who didEn savoir plus
Fairy fortress
7 juillet 2019, Croatie ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Another 40 km diversion took me to Duzluk a pleasant provincial Serbian town in the mountains of NW Croatia. I came to see this old ruin, Ruzica Grad, (Rose Town,) one of the largest mediaevil castlesEn savoir plus
Pyramid schemes
8 juillet 2019, Bosnie Herzégovine ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Entering Bosnia was easy enough, presumably their application to join the EU helps, even though their application has been returned yet again for completion, and the change in Country was underlinedEn savoir plus
Another bridge too far
9 juillet 2019, Bosnie Herzégovine ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
The second thing to see in Bosnia was the place where feudal times ended: the bridge at Sarajevo. The first curiosity I noticed was the sign on the library building, showing once again that SerbianEn savoir plus
Oriental meeting
9 juillet 2019, Bosnie Herzégovine ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
The old, touristic part of Sarajevo is also small and resembles the Middle East. As a predominantly Moslem environment perhaps it should not have come as a surprise, but it is definetely a relic ofEn savoir plus
In Burton's footsteps
9 juillet 2019, Bosnie Herzégovine ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
By now it must seem obvious that my tour of Europe is turning into a tour of Hollywood film sets. In this case I turned right instead of left and arrived at Richard Burton's - "The Partisan" -En savoir plus
Gorge ous
9 juillet 2019, Monténégro ⋅ 🌧 21 °C
The road from Sarajevo to Pluzine in Montenegro steadily grew worse, that is narrower and rougher until it was virtually one at a time. The TIR lorries had to travel at less than 20 kph since theyEn savoir plus
Onogost
10 juillet 2019, Monténégro ⋅ 🌧 21 °C
Yes, as advertised (just) over the entrance door in this town now known as Niksic, there really is a restaurant inside!
Cigarette stalls mark many crossroads.
The Serbian Orthodox St Basil of OstrogEn savoir plus
Most na Mostanici & lakes
12 juillet 2019, Monténégro ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
The Romans built a bridge across the Mostanica river in 4 BCE but it moved, or maybe the water did. Now it is stuck out in a farmers field all by itself.
Montenegro seems to be full of lakes. SpanoEn savoir plus
Kotor
12 juillet 2019, Monténégro ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
To counter the magnificent mountains of Montenegro, the bay of Kotorska offers a beautiful harbour setting that attracts the mega-rich in their mega-yachts as well as the medium rich on their cruiseEn savoir plus
Kotor town
12 juillet 2019, Monténégro ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
It is believed to have started as the Roman town of Acruvium but owes most of its current beauty to 400 years of Venetian rule as Cattaro.
The ambience is laid back without any significant touristEn savoir plus
Kotor cruising
12 juillet 2019, Monténégro ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
There is no escape from the looming presence of the cruise liner, except perhaps by climbing the city walls which stretch up the cliffs behind the town.
Have to include the image of the laundry hungEn savoir plus
Stuck in the Perast
12 juillet 2019, Slovénie ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
A few km up the bay, Perast used to be rich and famous, boasting 16 churches and 17 grand palazzos. Well they used to be grand and some of them will be again as properties have been snapped up byEn savoir plus
Risan from the sea
13 juillet 2019, Monténégro ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
The Romans had their capital here but everything has gone except a few mosaics in the museum: there are no visuals of ruins.
I took the photo from the huge concrete hotel which has been abandoned forEn savoir plus
Game of marketing
16 juillet 2019, Croatie ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Separated from the main part of Croatia by a tiny Bosnian finger pointing to the Adriatic, the area around Dubrovnik seems just like Montenegro to me. I felt obliged to brave the hordes of sightseersEn savoir plus
Dub
16 juillet 2019, Croatie ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
How did I avoid the masses?
Arboretum Trsteno
16 juillet 2019, Croatie ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Trsteno is a charming little harbour good for an afternoon swim; but the house is empty and falling down. Probably the owners can't afford fixing it and want too much money to sell it.
In 1494 one ofEn savoir plus
Feeling the squeeze
17 juillet 2019, Croatie ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Some roads are a little narrow.
Best pub so far!
Every hill has one
17 juillet 2019, Croatie ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Walked around Sinj.
Phoenix in Kijevo
17 juillet 2019, Croatie ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Spotted the towers and thought maybe it was from the series "Twin Peaks".
But no, this time no Hollywood connection. The Crkva SV Mihovila was first built at the beginning of the 13thC and is now inEn savoir plus
Knights of Knin
17 juillet 2019, Croatie ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Haven't seen a decent castle for at least 20 km so here is one. Settled since the Neolithic times, its first mention as a city was in Strabon's Geography in the 7th C Before the Common Era. And theEn savoir plus
Crowd funding nature
18 juillet 2019, Croatie ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
I counted about 20 buses and estimated about 200 cars on the day I visited the Plitvicka National Park. At 40 Euros admission and another 20 or so for parking, I had to do a little work to enjoy theEn savoir plus
Lozenge for the soul
21 juillet 2019, Croatie ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Took the 20 minute ferry from Brestova to Porozina on the island of Losinj in order to visit the ancestral (maternal) homelands.
There are two islands, but the 10m gap between them has long beenEn savoir plus
Big lozenge
21 juillet 2019, Croatie ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
The Leva family were one of the principal families in Veli Losinj and this is the inner harbour which is now flanked by one restaurant after another. Its one of the prettiest harbours I've seen on theEn savoir plus


















































































































Tony HammondAn extraordinary looking monument....