We did not really know what to expect on this trip. We were just glad to be traveling again. But whatever expectations we had…..they were GREATLY exceeded! I don’t know if we had a “most memorable moment!” It was an advantage to learn about the Balkan Peninsula by visiting 6 of its 11 countries. (Well, there MAY be 11; as with everything else in the Balkans, no one seems to agree on anything!)
Some of this history happened in our lifetime, and we needed to review and appreciate it. Glimpsing the hardships people have endured here was an important eye-opener. But the trip overall was absolutely one of our travel highlights…..and we have had SO many great trips! Of course, we remain somewhat confused, even after all this education!
Just a few of the major differences in our cultures:
- “Coffee to go” is a rare event! Coffee is a sit-down and-talk event!
- Serbia allows smoking in restaurants….hard to take!
- RAKIA is a type of brandy…..it was in every country, and we had never heard of it before. It comes in many flavors, but the natural flavor, for us, tastes just like moonshine!!! It is a daily drink for many in this region….starting at breakfast!
- Most, if not all, of our food, was freshly grown, baked, cooked, and prepared….if there was processed food, we did not recognize it (well, except for those peanut-butter-tasting Cheeto-type things we had one night!!!!)
September, 2021, Traveling with Overseas Adventure Travel