The Tweesters Travel with Tito: 2 weeks in Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia
May 28th, 2015, 08:11 PM
#43
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geenance and sis:
Thoroughly intriguing TR....wanna see some reminiscences of my old days traveling to the former Yuoslavia, peppered with some newer shots of Croatia and Slovenia? Very few westerners traveling there back in them olden days. Americsns..just once we met a Texas couple at Sveti Stefan, the old fishermen's village turned into Tito's luxury hotel (see pics)
We once stayed at the old version of the Europa Hotel in Sarajevo, right before the 1984 Winter Olympics, when Sarajevo was literally washing the streets and buildings in preparation. A "new" Holiday Inn had opened, painted mustard yellow and red! It was November 1983. We spent more than a month at that time, driving all through what was Yugoslavia then and it was an illuminating experience. Roads were beyond disastrous and deeply potholed (see pics).Tito died shortly after a prior visit we made in the 70's. His name was painted everywhere.
Petrol was an ongoing problem and shortages were common... I never let the tank go below half full.
The 1980's pics included Serbia, Croaia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Makedonia...all regions within Yugoslavia. Food markets were scarce as was street food for sale, so we stocked up whenever we could.
None of our friends or family knew why in hell we ever went there..our pat answers..."because it's there!" Was it exciting and adventurous? Yes. Unforgettable. I'm sure you agree with that assessment after your marvelous recent trip. Thanks again, Tweesters, for such a detailed, informative, labor-of-love report.
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...Kq1odTr3IKLHA#
Thoroughly intriguing TR....wanna see some reminiscences of my old days traveling to the former Yuoslavia, peppered with some newer shots of Croatia and Slovenia? Very few westerners traveling there back in them olden days. Americsns..just once we met a Texas couple at Sveti Stefan, the old fishermen's village turned into Tito's luxury hotel (see pics)
We once stayed at the old version of the Europa Hotel in Sarajevo, right before the 1984 Winter Olympics, when Sarajevo was literally washing the streets and buildings in preparation. A "new" Holiday Inn had opened, painted mustard yellow and red! It was November 1983. We spent more than a month at that time, driving all through what was Yugoslavia then and it was an illuminating experience. Roads were beyond disastrous and deeply potholed (see pics).Tito died shortly after a prior visit we made in the 70's. His name was painted everywhere.
Petrol was an ongoing problem and shortages were common... I never let the tank go below half full.
The 1980's pics included Serbia, Croaia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Makedonia...all regions within Yugoslavia. Food markets were scarce as was street food for sale, so we stocked up whenever we could.
None of our friends or family knew why in hell we ever went there..our pat answers..."because it's there!" Was it exciting and adventurous? Yes. Unforgettable. I'm sure you agree with that assessment after your marvelous recent trip. Thanks again, Tweesters, for such a detailed, informative, labor-of-love report.
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...Kq1odTr3IKLHA#
May 30th, 2015, 07:26 PM
#45
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"because it's there!"
@tower: I love it! We certainly weren't adventurers, but you surely were. We stayed firmly on the tourist trail. In spite of that, people still ask us why in heck we went to Bosnia?? The only thing they know about Bosnia (or "the Balkans") is from the news back in the 1990s. They still think it is just landmines and mass graves.
I absolutely love your photos! you and Mrs T look like you had quite an adventure. Thanks for sharing!
(BTW, you won't recall this but you gave me some advice before the Tweesters went to Argentina and Chile last year.)
@tower: I love it! We certainly weren't adventurers, but you surely were. We stayed firmly on the tourist trail. In spite of that, people still ask us why in heck we went to Bosnia?? The only thing they know about Bosnia (or "the Balkans") is from the news back in the 1990s. They still think it is just landmines and mass graves.
I absolutely love your photos! you and Mrs T look like you had quite an adventure. Thanks for sharing!
(BTW, you won't recall this but you gave me some advice before the Tweesters went to Argentina and Chile last year.)
Jul 23rd, 2015, 04:05 PM
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Thanks for your trip report and pictures. I really enjoyed going along for the ride.
Stu Tower, thanks for sharing your pictures as well.
Both of you and Andrew brought back some good memories of travel in that part of the world.
Thanks to all!
Stu Tower, thanks for sharing your pictures as well.
Both of you and Andrew brought back some good memories of travel in that part of the world.
Thanks to all!
Sep 1st, 2015, 05:45 AM
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I also really enjoyed your trip report, Tweesters. My husband and I are planning to go to Sarajevo, Mostar, and Blagaj, and then up to Slovenia. We had a wonderful trip to Croatia in 2001. Your independent travel approach was encouraging to me, as that's what we like to do. I first considered group travel, but for various reasons decided to try this on our own.
Can you provide the name and contact information for the two Airbnb's you stayed at in Sarajevo and Ljubljana?
Also, if they are apartments, does that you mean you didn't have breakfast with others? I would like to do that in order to meet other travelers there.
Thanks!
Can you provide the name and contact information for the two Airbnb's you stayed at in Sarajevo and Ljubljana?
Also, if they are apartments, does that you mean you didn't have breakfast with others? I would like to do that in order to meet other travelers there.
Thanks!
Sep 14th, 2015, 05:59 PM
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@RebeccaM,
In Sarajevo we stayed at Luxhouse Orient. https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/1655776 It definitely had atmosphere, and it worked for us, but if you like things super polished then you might be disappointed. It had a great location right in the old town, which made it VERY convenient. The downside was that there weren't other apartments or hotel in the immediate area so that the area got a bit quiet and isolated (if that's possible in old town) when the shops on our little alley closed down. The locals at the the little shops always waved at us though.
In Ljubljana we were very pleased with the little house we rented. Another good location. We felt we were in a cute little quirky neighbourhood. It was only steps to the river and a couple of blocks to the main tourist old town stretch of restaurants/bars along on the banks. The house was roomier than it looked in the photos. https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/979097?locale=en
Regarding staying in apartments versus B&Bs....I have to say that if I can find a great B&B, with lots of character and cool hosts, at a reasonable price, then I would go with the B&B first. I think fondly of the B&B we stayed at in Santiago Chile last year. The hosts and the other guest absolutely made it! We had a hoot and met some great people. What I don't like is a stuffy, lonely B&B where we feel like we are invading someone's home and feel like we are 'trapped' in our room. When we look for an Airbnb apartment we carefully look at the reviews to get a feel for the hosts, particularly ones that seem to connect with their guests.
In the Balkans we didn't luck out as much as in Chile. We did stay at a guesthouse in Mostar, and we loved the hosts, but didn't really have much opportunity to interact with the other guests. It was a great place to stay though. Unfortunately we had difficulty finding a great B&B at a great price in Sarajevo or Lljub. We wanted to stay at Hotel Hayat in Sarajevo, but they didn't have the appropriate bed set up for us, other than in a crowded room.
I hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!
In Sarajevo we stayed at Luxhouse Orient. https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/1655776 It definitely had atmosphere, and it worked for us, but if you like things super polished then you might be disappointed. It had a great location right in the old town, which made it VERY convenient. The downside was that there weren't other apartments or hotel in the immediate area so that the area got a bit quiet and isolated (if that's possible in old town) when the shops on our little alley closed down. The locals at the the little shops always waved at us though.
In Ljubljana we were very pleased with the little house we rented. Another good location. We felt we were in a cute little quirky neighbourhood. It was only steps to the river and a couple of blocks to the main tourist old town stretch of restaurants/bars along on the banks. The house was roomier than it looked in the photos. https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/979097?locale=en
Regarding staying in apartments versus B&Bs....I have to say that if I can find a great B&B, with lots of character and cool hosts, at a reasonable price, then I would go with the B&B first. I think fondly of the B&B we stayed at in Santiago Chile last year. The hosts and the other guest absolutely made it! We had a hoot and met some great people. What I don't like is a stuffy, lonely B&B where we feel like we are invading someone's home and feel like we are 'trapped' in our room. When we look for an Airbnb apartment we carefully look at the reviews to get a feel for the hosts, particularly ones that seem to connect with their guests.
In the Balkans we didn't luck out as much as in Chile. We did stay at a guesthouse in Mostar, and we loved the hosts, but didn't really have much opportunity to interact with the other guests. It was a great place to stay though. Unfortunately we had difficulty finding a great B&B at a great price in Sarajevo or Lljub. We wanted to stay at Hotel Hayat in Sarajevo, but they didn't have the appropriate bed set up for us, other than in a crowded room.
I hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!
Sep 14th, 2015, 06:17 PM
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@teadrinker -- ha ha! My sister and I still laugh about how much time and sweat we put into figuring out what shoes to bring! We were trying to travel light, but we were going at a time when the weather would vary between cold/wet and reasonably warm. I ended up taking:
1) a good pair of walking shoes (Cobb Hill) with closed toes, but in a lighter colour and not too heavy. (Perfect for touring, no matter the weather and were a blessing on cobbled streets. Looked good with skinny leg jeans.)
2) a pair of shiny gold casual flats. The gold allowed them to be a bit dressier. Good for shorter walking distances, shopping in town, going on the ferry, etc. (looked great with capris.)
3) a pair of gold/platinum wedge-heeled sandals for dinner time. (modest heel and stretchy straps).
If my sister didn't have a bad knee and we were considering hiking or more active pursuits I would have thrown in my light runners.
Everything was neutral in colour and the gold tones could go casual or dressy. If we were going in definitely colder weather I would have brought a cute little pair of booties, with a modest heel.
That's probably more than you wanted to hear! Good luck! Shoe selection is always a challenge!
1) a good pair of walking shoes (Cobb Hill) with closed toes, but in a lighter colour and not too heavy. (Perfect for touring, no matter the weather and were a blessing on cobbled streets. Looked good with skinny leg jeans.)
2) a pair of shiny gold casual flats. The gold allowed them to be a bit dressier. Good for shorter walking distances, shopping in town, going on the ferry, etc. (looked great with capris.)
3) a pair of gold/platinum wedge-heeled sandals for dinner time. (modest heel and stretchy straps).
If my sister didn't have a bad knee and we were considering hiking or more active pursuits I would have thrown in my light runners.
Everything was neutral in colour and the gold tones could go casual or dressy. If we were going in definitely colder weather I would have brought a cute little pair of booties, with a modest heel.
That's probably more than you wanted to hear! Good luck! Shoe selection is always a challenge!
Sep 15th, 2015, 03:53 AM
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In Mostar we really enjoyed our stay at the Bosnian National Monument Muslibegovic House--an historic hotel/house museum. There was a breakfast room and it was easy to meet/talk to other people there. We ran into one couple again at the Sarajevo airport when we were leaving BiH.
Sep 20th, 2015, 04:58 PM
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Thank you for the information on the Airbnb's and also the way you assess them. I appreciate the idea of really checking out what kind of bnb it is. Also, we don't need things "super polished."
And thanks to Vttraveler for the recommendation of Muslibegovic House. It sounds great and just the type of place we're looking for. The Bradt guide has a wonderful description of it.
More questions to come, I'm sure!
And thanks to Vttraveler for the recommendation of Muslibegovic House. It sounds great and just the type of place we're looking for. The Bradt guide has a wonderful description of it.
More questions to come, I'm sure!
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