Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas


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Flight Reviews | Lounge Reviews | Destinations | Short Breaks | World Trip 1986 | World Trip 1998 | World Trip 1999-2000 | World Trip 2006 | World Trip 2009 | World Trip 2009-10 | World Trip 2010 | World Trip 2011 | World Trip 2012-13 | World Trip 2015 | World Trip 2016 | World Trip 2017 | World Trip 2017-18 | World Trip 2018 | World Trip 2019 | Australia 2022 | World Trip 2023 | World Trip 2024 | World Trip 2024-25 | World Trip 2026-27

  • Destination: Croatia

    Official Name: Republic of Croatia
    Established: 925 (Kingdom), 1527 (Joined Habsburg Monarchy), 1918 (Part of Yugoslavia), 1991 (Independence)
    Population: 3,855,641 (2022 estimate)
    Country Size: 56,594 square kms
    Religion: 79% Catholic
    Language: Croatian
    Currency: Euro
    Capital: Zagreb
    Order of Visit: Eighty Third
    First Visit: 29 April 2024
    Last Visit: 04 May 2024
    Duration: 6 Days
    Highlights:
    Dubrovnik     – Exploring the historic and picturesque town.
    Other     – Exploring the islands of Elaphiti, Kolocep and Sipan
    Hvar –     Ferry crossing, Exploring Palmizana Island, swimming in the Adriatic Sea
    Split     -Diocletian’s Palace, Visiting local markets
    Cities: Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split.
    Croatia Journal Entries

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  • Destination: Montenegro

    Official Name: Montenegro
    Established: 21 May 2006
    Population: 633,158 (2023 census)
    Country Size: 13,812 square kms
    Religion: 72.1% Eastern Christian Orthodox, 19.1% Islam    
    Languages: Albanian, Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian
    Currency: Euro
    Capital: Podgorica
    Order of Visit: Eighty Second
    First Visit: 26 April 2024
    Last Visit: 28 April 2024 
    Duration: 3 Days
    Highlights: Sea kayaking, Exploring historic Kotor, hiking to Kotor Fortress
    Cities: Kotor
    Montenegro Journal Entries

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  • Destination: Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Official Name: Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Established: 1377 (Kingdom of Bosnia)
    Population: 3.4 million (2022 estimate)
    Country Size: 51,209 square kms
    Religion: 51% Islam, 46% Christian 
    Language: Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian
    Currency: Convertible mark (BAM)
    Capital: Sarajevo
    Order of Visit: Eighty First
    First Visit: 24 April 2024 
    Last Visit: 26 April 2024
    Duration: 3 Days
    Highlights: Latin Bridge (Sarajevo), Tunnel of Hope (Sarajevo), Assassination spot of Archduke Ferdinand (Sarajevo), Ottoman Influence (Sarajevo), Cable Car view (Sarajevo), Tito’s Atomic Fallout Bunker (Konjic), Koski Mehmed Pasa Mosque & Minaret (Mostar), Stari Most Bridge (Mostar), Exploring picturesque Mostar
    Cities: Sarajevo, Konjic, Mostar
    Bosnia and Herzegovina Journal Entries

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  • Destination: Serbia

    Official Name: Republic of Serbia
    Established: 1217 (Kingdom)
    Population: 6.6 million (2022 census)
    Religion: 86.8% Christian (81.1% Serbian Orthodoxy), 4.2 Islam 
    Language: Serbian
    Currency: Serbian dinar
    Capital: Belgrade
    Order of Visit: Eightieth
    First Visit: 21 April 2024
    Last Visit: 24 April 2024 (planned)
    Duration: 4 Days
    Highlights: Petrovaradin Fortress (Novi Sad), Belgrade Fortress, Yugo Car exerience, buildings bombedby NATO in 1990s, Josip Broz Tito Memorial, Semlin Concentration Camp (or rather the lack of acknowledgment of this camp)
    Cities: Novi Sad, Belgrade
    Serbia Journal Entries

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  • Destination: Hungary

    Official Name: Hungary
    Established: 895 (Principality of Hungary)
    Population:  9.6 million (2023 estimate)
    Religion: 42.5% Christian, 16.1% no religion, 40.1% unknown 
    Language: Hungarian
    Currency: Forint
    Capital: Budapest
    Order of Visit: Seventy ninth
    First Visit: 18 April 2024 
    Last Visit: 21 April 2024 
    Duration: 4 Days
    Highlights: Hungarian Parliament, St Stephen’s Basilica, USA President Statues, Buda Castle, Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion, Great Market Hall, Chain Bridge, Gellert Hill Cave Church, Funky Ruin Bars
    Places Visiting: Budapest
    Hungary Journal Entries

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  • Destination: Austria

    Official Name: Republic of Austria
    Established:     976 (Margraviate of Austria)
    Population:     8,902,600 (2020 estimate)
    Religion:     57% Catholic, 8.7% Eastern Orthodox, 7.9% Muslim
    Language:     German
    Capital:     Vienna
    Order of Visit:     Fifteenth 
    First Visit:     21 May 2006
    Last Visit:     18 April 2024
    Duration:     7 Days
    Visit Highlights:      The beautiful Austrian countryside, a brilliant wine and bike tour of Wachau Valley, enjoying performances at the Vienna State Opera (Opera in 2006, ballet in 2024), Habsburg’s Winter and Summer Palaces
    Places Visited:     Vienna, Wachau Valley
    Austria Journal Entries  

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  • Destination: Czech Republic

    Official Name: Czechia
    Established: 1198 (Kingdom of Bohemia), 1918 (Czechoslovakia), 1993 (Czech Republic)
    Population: 10,693,939 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 75% No Religion, 10.3% Catholic
    Language: Czech
    Capital: Prague
    Order of Visit: Fourteenth 
    First Visit: 14 May 2006
    Last Visit: 17 April 2024
    Duration: 12 Days
    Visit Highlights: Terezin Small Fortress, Prague Palace, St Nicks Cathedral, Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church),  hiking a mountain, Exploring Moravsky Kras Caves, Cesky Krumlov Castle, Castle Gardens, Historic and beautiful Gardens
    Places Visited: Prague, Dalecin, Cesky Krumlov, Moravian Krast
    Czech Republic Journal Entries  

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  • Destination: Poland

    Official Name: Republic of Poland
    Established: 960 (Duchy of Poland)
    Population:  38 million (2022 census)
    Religion: 71.3% Catholic
    Language: Polish
    Capital: Warsaw
    Order of Visit: Seventy eighth
    First Visit: 09 April 2024 (planned)
    Last Visit: 11 April 2024 (planned)
    Duration: 3 Days
    Expected Highlights: Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum Visit, Wawel Royal Castle
    Places Visited: Krakow
    Poland Journal Entries

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  • Destination: Finland


    Official Name: Republic of Finland
    Established: 6 December 1917 (Independence from Russia)
    Population: 5,528,737 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 68.7% Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, 26.3% no religion
    Language(s): Finnish, Swedish 
    Capital: Helsinki
    Order of Visit: Twenty-First   
    First Visit: 08 July 2006
    Last Visit: 7 April 2024
    Duration: 5 Days
    Visit Highlights: Parliament Building, ice breakers ships, Suomenlinna Island, Lutheran Cathedral, the sun high in the sky at 1 am in the morning!
    Places Visited: Helsinki
    Finland Journal Entries  

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  • World Trip 2024: Day 33 – Singapore to Melbourne

    Tuesday 07 May 2024
    Highlights: Reunion’s – Darby with Lana, me with Boots and Juno

    The journey home can be a long one, especially from Europe and today was the end of that journey that start on Saturday 4 May back in Split. Today started with an overnight flight from Singapore (review here).

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