Balkan Express 2019

A 14-day adventure by Ronny Read more

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Trip start
August 22, 2019
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Day 1
Thursday, August 22, 2019 at 2:10 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 305 m
Germany Langer Berg 50.98104, 14.7831950°58’52” N 14°46’59” E
Bärentanz
August 22, 2019 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Wir haben den Bär umarmt!
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Day 1
Thursday, August 22, 2019 at 2:24 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 232 m
Poland Kleinschönau 50.89256, 14.8503450°53’33” N 14°51’1” E
Our first country!
August 22, 2019 in Poland ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
We passed Poland right now!
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Day 1
Thursday, August 22, 2019 at 5:09 PM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 387 m
Czech Republic Oborský rybník 50.46488, 15.3063250°27’54” N 15°18’23” E
Prachovske skaly
August 22, 2019 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Our first break today. Time for a beer and typical Czech cuisine: Cevapcici with French fries.
Heyho, wir wünschen für heute eine gute restliche Fahrt. Viele Grüße aus Köln!
8/22/19Reply
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Day 2
Friday, August 23, 2019 at 9:07 AM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 475 m
Slovakia Bystrý Potok 49.10736, 19.2317649°6’26” N 19°13’54” E
Frühstück mit dem Hängebauchschwein
August 23, 2019 in Slovakia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Barbora shows me the world where she lives. Beautiful mountains, green valleys and cottages where you meet the meat that is in the pastry you buy tomorrow. We enjoy sweet croissants, pastries filled with fried bacon and plum marmalade (buchty). A must have tasted here!!
As we finished our new friend Beta was not longer interested in us and left for another promising couple, offering pastries.Read more
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Day 2
Friday, August 23, 2019 at 1:44 PM
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 150 m
Hungary Varga-tói-patak 48.04168, 19.0493548°2’30” N 19°2’58” E
Entering Hungary
August 23, 2019 in Hungary ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
We decided to pay for vignette as we could not find out if we need it when using motorway around Budapest.
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Day 3
Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 6:58 AM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 135 m
Hungary Kecskemét 46.90891, 19.6921746°54’32” N 19°41’32” E
City music festival in Kecskemet
August 24, 2019 in Hungary ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Yesterday we finished our road mission in Budapest and after a refreshment we escaped from the heavy traffic in the city. We found a lovely hotel in Kecskemet. Daimler produces cars here in Kecskemet. Coincidentally this weekend a city music festival takes place. After a delicious dinner in an original Hungarian restaurant (best beef paprikasch ever) we enjoyed a stroll over the festival places. Fortunately our hotel room window was in direction of the main stage with an highly motivated disc jockey. Music entertainment beyond midnight was guaranteed. :-(Read more
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Day 3
Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 11:05 AM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 188 m
Romania Deva Saulesti 45.85395, 22.9644645°51’14” N 22°57’52” E
Motel DHS - we will remember you!
August 24, 2019 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Today was a day to forget. Long drives, high mountains whose peak we didn't reach and roads that nearly killed suspension of my old lady.
We could not find a camping site nor a hotel. Finally a motel operated by Chinese who made our day!!! They offer Chinese cuisine and Tsingtao beer, my favorite when in Shanghai.
There is always a light at the end of a tunnel as Confucius used to say......Read more
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Day 4
Sunday, August 25, 2019 at 10:19 AM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 188 m
Romania Deva Saulesti 45.85398, 22.9645845°51’14” N 22°57’52” E
VIsit of Castelul Corvinilor
August 25, 2019 in Romania ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Today we will visit Castelul Corvinilor. There are a few legends and historical facts surrounding this castle. For example here was imprisoned prince Vlad of Wallachia (commonly known as Dracula or Vlad the Impaler). It's our plan to visit the castle and enjoy the day in Hunedoara (Eisenmarkt). But before we will refill our foodstock. Lidl is everywhere!Read more
Klingt nach spannender Abenteuerreise , viel Spaß und weiterhin gute Fahrt von allen Börgers
8/25/19Reply
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Day 5
Monday, August 26, 2019 at 7:42 AM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 228 m
Romania Hunedoara 45.76375, 22.9047745°45’50” N 22°54’17” E
Transalpina calling
August 26, 2019 in Romania ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
After an exciting party night with the other teams we spend the night well protected from rain and thunderstorm in the car.
Today the TransAlpina is our road mission. It is winding its way through valleys and plateaus up to 7,038 feet – a height not reached by any other mountain passage in Romania – the TransAlpina road offers breathtaking views together with lots of driving excitement.
TransAlpina Facts:

Begins: Saliste (Sibiu county) or Sugag (Alba county)
Ends: Novaci (Gorj county)
Distance: 139 kilometers
Road condition: paved !!
Highest point: 7,038 ft. (2145 m) - Urdele Pass
Route time: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Before heading to Sebes, the start of TransAlpina, we go to fulfil the task of the day: finding and eliminating Dracula! We got him in Hunedoara. Before he could draw the sword, we attacked with garlic, wooden flock and crucifix. No mercy! We attacked him until he was done.
Mission accomplished! Let's go for sightseeing in the mountains.Read more
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Day 6
Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 10:04 AM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 118 m
Romania Bariera Vâlcii 44.34866, 23.7892544°20’55” N 23°47’21” E
Golden Bridges (not) waiting
August 27, 2019 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Coming from Craiova we plan to cross the border at Calafat.
Had an awesome hotel in Craiova.
Crossed border without any complications. Bought vignette and decided not to visit golden Bridges but Kloster Rila which is one of Bulgaria's most famous monasteries and the seven lakes close to it.
Lunch break in Montana.Read more
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Day 6
Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 9:27 PM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 1,178 m
Bulgaria Kloster Rila 42.14057, 23.3539342°8’26” N 23°21’14” E
From Rila monastery to Albania
August 27, 2019 in Bulgaria ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
After visiting fantastic Rila monastery we decided to stay at the nearby located camping site Bor. A cosy site with beautiful nature around, a wild river passing by. Perfect stay for the night. In the morning we decided not to go for the road mission and daily task, but drive to the Orith lake directly, as it's a long ride and we would like to experience swimming in the lake.
A chilly morning in the mountains welcomed us and made it somewhat difficult to enjoy morning toilet.
Entered North Macedonia without any problems. Nice guys from border police were highly interested in our rallye.
Stop over in Stip, center of textile industry.
We were told that today here is a bank holiday. No parking fees fortunately and no risk to find a wheel blocked when coming back from lunch.

Arrived at Ohrid at 4pm. Lunchtime!Read more
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Day 7
Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at 6:26 PM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 687 m
North Macedonia Kališta 41.15615, 20.6506741°9’22” N 20°39’2” E
RIno 2 Camping Site
August 28, 2019 in North Macedonia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Arrived at Rino camping site, close to Ohrid lake and took a bath in the lake. Over the time the place has been filled with Balkan Express participants. Lively atmosphere here.
Totally different to the place we spent last night.Read more
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Day 8
Thursday, August 29, 2019 at 6:51 AM
☀️ 13 °C
Altitude: 581 m
Albania Përrenjas 41.0708, 20.54741°4’15” N 20°32’49” E
Im Land der Skipetaren
August 29, 2019 in Albania ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
We said Good Bye to Ohrid lake and leave North Macedonia at Kafasan heading for the country of the "Skipetaren", the Albanian seaside. Won't stop at Tirana as it would be too time consuming going for a sightseeing tour there. Just a short stop over doesn't make sense. Today's final destination is a monastery at cape Radon.
Made road task, changed device and washed car - no Mercedes, but a police car :-). You never know ....Read more
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Day 9
Friday, August 30, 2019
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 3 m
Albania Mullini i Danit 41.50401, 19.5321241°30’14” N 19°31’56” E
Good bye Albania!
August 30, 2019 in Albania ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
In the morning we visited Kept i Rodonit (Kap Rodon)
Roads had been in bad conditions partially and we complained about it, not knowing what will be ahead of us.
Cape of Rodon (in Albanian: Kepi i Rodonit), a rocky, 10 km long cape on the Adriatic Sea, north of Durres is a great place for camping with a beautiful beach. It offers awesome views, medieval cultural monuments, virgin sandy beaches and plenty of old bunkers from Enver Hoxha’s times.
Driving back we decided to take a shortcut to the motorway. This decision lead us to an unforgettable off road experience which brought our VW Sharan to it's limits.
Fulfilled mission, drive on country roads and visit of Stari Bar.
Finally heading for party site.Read more
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Day 10
Saturday, August 31, 2019 at 11:11 AM
⛅ 30 °C
Altitude: 578 m
Montenegro Stupne 42.5408, 18.6971742°32’27” N 18°41’50” E
Cetinje - Kotor - Mostar
August 31, 2019 in Montenegro ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Finished party at Rijeka Crnojevica without hangover and poor Sharan successfully managed escape from camping site up the hill.
Today's task was touring on P1 - Kotor - Perast - P11. One of the most marvelous roads since TransAlpina. Unique views over the bay of Kotor and most of the time nicely paved roads - getting pretty narrow from Njegusi. A challenge when a bus with tourist came opposite. Several times we had to drive backwards several hundred meters to give way. Without doubts a must not miss tour when in this region.
Joined M2 and crossed Kotor Bay North of Tivat by ferry.
Took R11 direction Virus. Again road nicely paved and maintained. Easy driving and swinging through the curves.
Lunch break at Stara Kuca restaurant. We did not go for Kuvana jagnjeca glava ( cooked lamp head).
Great day so far.
Finished our today's journey in Mostar. Joined a guided tour and learned a lot about the history of Mostar, the different ethnic groups living here and how people suffered through the war from 91 -94. Not so easy to understand how this could happen in the heart of Europe.Read more
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Day 11
Sunday, September 1, 2019 at 8:17 AM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 112 m
Bosnia and Herzegovina Radobolja 43.33861, 17.8190543°20’19” N 17°49’9” E
On country roads to lakes Plitvice
September 1, 2019 in Bosnia and Herzegovina ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Mostar would require staying at least one more day. However we have to say goodbye and are back on the road again, heading direction Split.
Finally we decided to take route to Bihac. Learned a lot about the terrible war from 91 - 95. Everywhere you find traces of it and people are still suffering from it.
We ended up at a camping place near Plitvice lakes. Good place to cure my stomach problems I had suffering from the entire day.Read more
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Day 12
Monday, September 2, 2019 at 8:33 AM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 384 m
Croatia Selište 44.94861, 15.6433444°56’55” N 15°38’36” E
Plitvicka Jezera
September 2, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Lake Plitvice are Croatia’s first national park. Plitvice Lakes were internationally recognised on 26 October 1979 with their inscription onto the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The lakes are our first mission of the day.
After this unique experience go for Rijeka region to find a nice high end camping site.
Finally ended up on Krk.Read more
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Day 13
Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at 6:35 PM
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 735 m
Italy Coccau di Sopra 46.51096, 13.604146°30’39” N 13°36’15” E
Italy here we come and go.
September 3, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Decided to take route to Austria via passo di predil and Traviso. Nice driving with a lot of motorbikers who enjoy the numerous curves and narrow bends.
By accident we ended up at a guesthouse close to Hermagor.
Sorted images and prepared them for printout.Read more
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Day 14
Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at 7:26 AM
☀️ 8 °C
Altitude: 627 m
Austria Micheldorf 46.61371, 13.4032846°36’49” N 13°24’12” E
Felix Austria!
September 4, 2019 in Austria ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Our first "Schnitzel mit Pommes" since two weeks. Have to say that I'm missing Balkan food already.
Arrived in Salzburg on schedule. Some time to explore the city.
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Trip end
September 4, 2019