While many travelers know about the alps in Switzerland, Italy and France, less are aware of the beautiful Transylvanian Alps in Central and Southeastern Europe. Like an open-air museum, this area showcases an untouched area of the continent, with natural landscapes and ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Serbia
Exploring The Transylvanian Alps In Europe
While many travelers know about the alps in Switzerland, Italy and France, less are aware of the beautiful Transylvanian Alps in Central and Southeastern Europe. Like an open-air museum, this area showcases an untouched area of the continent, with natural landscapes and ...Knocked Up Abroad: Lessons Learned From Traveling With A Baby
Long before I became a mother, people told me that the first six months is the easiest time to travel with a baby – before they walk, talk or require children's activities. Others told me to travel as much as possible before you have children, as it's too difficult ...A Traveler In The Foreign Service: Rooms By the Hour In Belgrade And An Insane Taxi Driver from Novi Sad
Have you ever met a taxi driver who was more interested in showing you staged photos of him with his cars than getting you to the airport to catch a flight? No? Well, you've probably never met Novica Jurisic, a Serbian taxi driver from Novi Sad, whose most prized possessions ...A Traveler in the Foreign Service: A birthday that went up in smoke in Belgrade
There's nothing like having a sealed train compartment full of Serbian farmers blowing smoke in your face on your 30th birthday. One of the strangest elements of expatriate life is that you sometimes find yourself celebrating major occasions with people you just met, rather ...The world's most ethical tourism destinations
Each year, non-profit organization Ethical Traveler conducts a survey of the world's developing nations, analyzing their progress toward promoting human rights, preserving their environment, and developing a sustainable tourism industry. The study, run by Ethical Traveler's ..."Food" preparation around the world: a video round-up
Every savvy traveler knows that meals that are considered taboo (pets), weird (ingredients that are still alive), or gross (insectia, specific animal innards) at home are likely what's for dinner elsewhere in the world. Even if the food or dish isn't unappetizing by our ...
Belgrade fortress besieged by flowers
Belgrade fortress is one of the toughest castles in Europe. In its 2,000 year history its stood against numerous invaders, been destroyed several times, and has always risen from the wreckage.
Despite such a proud history, Belgrade fortress is beginning to crumble from ...Five ways to get more European stamps in your passport
Lake Ohrid, Macedonia.
Yesterday, I wrote about the fact that European passport stamps have become harder and harder to get. The expansion of the Schengen zone has reduced the number of times tourists are compelled to show their passports to immigration officials. For ...Photo of the day - Lunch in Serbia
One of the best parts of traveling is indulging in a few vices. The "hey, I'm on vacation!" attitude enables you to order dessert, have a glass of wine with lunch, and not worry about the calories you're taking in, especially as you figure you'll burn them off walking ...Photo of the Day (9.25.2010)
I did a double-take when I saw this photo; my first thought was that the train had very strange windows (for a train). Then I realized that it's a reflection of the building it's passing, which I think is totes rad because one of my favorite things is watching buildings ...Kosovo: ICJ ruling a bridge to increased tourism?
Today, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague issued a nonbinding advisory ruling on the question of Kosovo's independence.
The court ruled that Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence did not violate international law. Kosovo's independence, in other ...Trade Mocked
You were a cheerleader, you dated a cheerleader, or you hated the cheerleaders. As I recall, that's how high school worked.
Thanks to travel PR, that same primeval paradigm lives on long after graduation. That miniskirts-shouting-slogans thing still works, whether you're ...Gadlinks for Wednesday 12.2.2009
I hope you're all having a good start to the final month of the decade! It's time to look ahead -- not back. So let's look to the future by taking a peak on the world's newest destinations, shall we?
How cool would it be to take a green break to start the new decade? ...United Nations report: Balkans the safest region in Europe
When I arrived in Montenegro three months ago, one of the things that struck me first was how safe things felt. What was I expecting? Well, not a lot of armed thugs or anything. But I'd traveled enough in the former communist corners of Europe -- including past trips into ...Spain to "dance the chiki chiki" at Eurovision 2008
What's a country to do when two million residents vote for a man who calls himself Rodolfo Chikilicuatre and looks like an exaggerated (not to mention distorted) version of Elvis, to represent their country in this year's Eurovision? Although condemned by the press, there is ..."Swapping Kosovo for a pair of sneakers"
The person who posted the YouTube video of two young woman looting with glee in Belgrade described their actions thusly: "Belgrade bimbos exploit unrest to steal from smashed-up boutiques without the slightest shame. They are so greedy they even have to carry things in their ...
Breaking: Rioters set fire to US Embassy facade in Serbia
Protesting US support of Kosovo's recent declaration of sovereignty, today Serbian rioters set fire to the facade of the US Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. Some protestors also broke into the building, which is apparently unoccupied today, except for some Marines and security ...Kosovo: The world's newest country?
Those of us who like to show off at parties with our knowledge of world capitals apparently have another city to commit to memory: Pristina, Kosovo.
Today, the speaker of Kosovo's Parliament declared that "Kosovo is a republic-- an independent, democratic, and sovereign ...Concierge's IT List: Places for upscale tastes, but maybe cheaper
There's The New York Times list of 53 places to go in 2008 (see post), the 40 travel tips and suggestions from London's Times (see post )and now Concierge.com has an IT List of 10 more suggestions, all with sound reasoning behind each one.
The way a destination ends up on ...Gypsies of Serbia
I've recently been in touch with a Serbian anthropologist who studies the Gypsies there. Chatting with her has given me an intriguing glimpse into everyday life and culture of these mysterious folks. She mainly focuses on their reproductive behavior. In short, they have lots ...
