Spomenik
July 5, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 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 theRead more
Campsite
July 6, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 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 didRead more
Fairy fortress
July 7, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 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 castlesRead more
Pyramid schemes
July 8, 2019 in Bosnia and Herzegovina ⋅ ⛅ 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 underlinedRead more
Another bridge too far
July 9, 2019 in Bosnia and Herzegovina ⋅ ⛅ 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 SerbianRead more
Oriental meeting
July 9, 2019 in Bosnia and Herzegovina ⋅ ⛅ 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 ofRead more
In Burton's footsteps
July 9, 2019 in Bosnia and Herzegovina ⋅ ⛅ 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" -Read more
Gorge ous
July 9, 2019 in Montenegro ⋅ 🌧 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 theyRead more
Onogost
July 10, 2019 in Montenegro ⋅ 🌧 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 OstrogRead more
Most na Mostanici & lakes
July 12, 2019 in Montenegro ⋅ ⛅ 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. SpanoRead more
Kotor
July 12, 2019 in Montenegro ⋅ ⛅ 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 cruiseRead more
Kotor town
July 12, 2019 in Montenegro ⋅ ⛅ 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 touristRead more
Kotor cruising
July 12, 2019 in Montenegro ⋅ ⛅ 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 hungRead more
Stuck in the Perast
July 12, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 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 byRead more
Risan from the sea
July 13, 2019 in Montenegro ⋅ ⛅ 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 forRead more
Game of marketing
July 16, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ☁️ 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 sightseersRead more
Dub
July 16, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
How did I avoid the masses?
Arboretum Trsteno
July 16, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 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 ofRead more
Feeling the squeeze
July 17, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Some roads are a little narrow.
Best pub so far!
Every hill has one
July 17, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Walked around Sinj.
Phoenix in Kijevo
July 17, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 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 inRead more
Knights of Knin
July 17, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 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 theRead more
Crowd funding nature
July 18, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 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 theRead more
Lozenge for the soul
July 21, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 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 beenRead more
Big lozenge
July 21, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 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 theRead more


















































































































Tony HammondAn extraordinary looking monument....