Author: Brian
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Istanbul: From the Bosphorus to the Bazaar
Sep 18-25 We delved into the unique character of the city, immersing ourselves in its culture and historical landmarks. Our apartment was conveniently situated in the Sultanahmet District (European side), within easy reach of the major attractions. Moreover, the apartment was nestled among three mosques, enveloping us in the harmonious call to prayer five times…
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Tranquil Escape: Kotor Bay Montenegro
Sep 12-18 Spent a wonderful week just outside of Kotor, Montenegro in a little town named Dobrota. We had a wonderful apartment with a view of the bay. We relaxed and enjoyed the environment situated between the mountains and the bay. We also did the 45 km drive around the bay. This was our final…
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Herceg Novi: City of a Thousand Steps
Sep 8-12 Our next destination in Montenegro was Herceg Novi, chosen based on a recommendation from my friend Alex, whom I know from my Beckman days. Herceg Novi is his hometown, and fortunately, he was in town during our visit, providing us with a personal tour of the old town and the seafront promenade. Herceg…
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Discovering Sutomore: 7 days of Adriatic Bliss in Montenegro
Sep 1-8 Nestled along the Adriatic Sea, between Bar to the south and Petrovac to the north, lies the hidden gem of Sutomore. To reach this delightful destination, we embarked on the Montenegro Express, a train journey from Belgrade to Bar. This route, an engineering marvel conceived by Tito, features 254 tunnels and 243 bridges…
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Scandinavia, British Isles and the Balkens – weeks 17-25
Here is the recap of our travels for weeks 17-25 Travel Mode Throughout our 9-week journey, we experienced a variety of transportation modes: Cities & Stays We visited 8 countries and stayed in 19 different places: Budget vs. Actual for Jul-Aug Our budget overruns continued into July and August. July had 5 weeks which explain…
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Serbian Sojourn: A Weekend Adventure in Belgrade
Aug 29-Sep 1 Our Balkan adventure continued with a weekend stop in Belgrade, Serbia’s vibrant capital. Coincidentally, our arrival overlapped with that of French President Emmanuel Macron, who was in town for discussions with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The only impact for us was a brief delay at the airport due to road closures for…
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Constanta on the Romanian Black Sea
Aug 24-29 After a long delay at the Moldova-Romania border, the rest of our journey was smooth. However, our arrival in Constanta was quite chaotic. The bustling seaside city was packed with holidaymakers. To make matters worse, our reservation at the Crowne Plaza Constanta-Mamaia had been unexpectedly cancelled! Luckily, the General Manager, Robert, was there…
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Off the Beaten Path: Adventures in Moldova
Aug 21-24 We decided to add a short trip to Moldova, figuring we might never be closer. I found an overnight train from Bucharest Nord station to Chișinău, Moldova, for just $115 roundtrip for the two of us—a great deal! The entire 360 km journey takes about 13 and a half hours. We were aware…
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Bucharest: Paris of the East and Transylvania, Land of Dracula’s Legend
Aug 17-21 Bucharest In the period between the two World Wars, the city’s elegant architecture and the sophistication of its elite earned Bucharest the nickname “Paris of the East”. Today it is a growing city with an optimistic future. We took on the city using the very convenient and economical Metro ($0.67 per 1 way…
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Exploring Hastings: Coastal Charm and a Journey Through History
Aug 12-17 This stop was a lovely place we both enjoyed. The town shows its wear but also its charm. We found the people very friendly and engaging. The place is famous, of course, for William the Conqueror coming ashore here in 1066 to confront King Harold at the “Battle of Hastings”. The battlefield is…