Monday 29 April 2024 Highlights: Exploring Dubrovnik
Today was the ninth country of this G Adventure tour and the tenth of this trip as we near the end of this adventure. Today we re-enter the European Union and visit Croatia.
Sunday 28 April 2024 Highlights: Sea kayaking in Kotor Bay, Hiking up Kotor Fortress Wall
Today was to be a strenuous day of activities, with an included sea kayaking in Kotor Bay and an optional hike up Kotor Fortress wall in the plan today.
Saturday 27 April 2024 Highlights: Mostar Old Bridge, The Bay of Kotor, Exploring Kotor Old Town.
A later start was the plan for today to allow two new tour members to join us Susanna and Steve (after Dubai floods cause major delay) and Rich and Cynthia to catch up after staying in Sarajevo due to ill health.
This meant that after breakfast we could go back to Mostar old city and explore again but this time with the sun rising. The Old Bridge was effectively empty making for a different experience.
The Old Bridge – Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina(more…)
Our thoughtful CEO Nadya suggested that today we do a side excursion on our way to Mostar and visit Atomska Ratna Komanda, or more commonly referred to as Tito’s bunker. This bunker was constructed between 1953 and 1979 by the Yugoslavian Government protect Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito and up to 350 members of his inner circle in the event of an atomic conflict.
Thursday 25 April 2024. Highlights: Sarajevo Tunnel of Hope, Walking the 1984 Olympic Bobsled track, Viewing Sarajevo from Cable Car, Viewing the eternal flame.
We commenced an included morning tour to learn about the Sarajevo Tunnel aka the Tunnel of Hope. The tunnel was constructed between March and June 1993 during the Siege of Sarajevo (1992 to 1996) in the midst of the Bosnian War. This tunnel under the UN controlled airport bypassed the Serbian siege allowing for food, water, weapons, other supplies, and people to escape making it critical during that war.
Wednesday 24 April 2024 Highlights: The mountains of Bosnia, Exploring the history of Sarajevo
Today we left Belgrade at 8.30 am for a long travelling day to Sarajevo and visiting a new country Bosnia and Herzegovina with a complex and bloody history with their neighbour in Serbia.
Tuesday 23 April 2024 Highlights: Yugo Car Tour, Semlin Concentration Camp, Genex Tower, Learning about Josip Broz Tito leader Yugoslavia, Nikola Tesla Museum
Today we had booked two optional activities, a Yugo Tour (6,000 Dinars / 50 Euros) and a tour of the Nikola Tesla Museum (500 Dinar). These activities would take most of the day starting from 9 am. Rain was forecast in the afternoon so the hope was we would miss it.
Monday 22 April 2024 Highlights: Exploring Novi Sad, Exploring Belgrade, The bombed NATO buildings, Statue of Gavrilo Princip (starter of WW1), Belgrade Fortress
We had a late departure from Novi Sad today at 1 pm which meant time to explore the city a little more. Probably the biggest highlight was Eparhy of Backa, which is a Serbian Orthodox Church. This was closely followed by eating some more of the local ice cream 🙂
Sunday 21 April 20224 Highlights: Exploring the Petrovaradin Fortress, discovering Novi Sad.
Today we left the relative comfort of Eastern Europe and moved further east into the Balkans. G Adventure had upgraded the transportation today from public bus to private minivan which was very welcomed.
Saturday 20 April 2024 Highlights: Visiting the Cave Church on Gellert Hill, meeting new tour members
Today was the end of the Best of Eastern Europe Tour and the start of the Croatia and the Balkans tour. While I booked this as one tour this does mean a new Chief Experience Officer (CEO), some tour members departing (Anne, Mary, Andres, and Doug) and some new tour members joining as we start the second leg.
Nathan's Insights 