Blogs from Osijek, Slavonia, Croatia, Europe

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Europe » Croatia » Slavonia » Osijek August 29th 2023

We spent yesterday afternoon confirming our route to Belgrade. We'll take 4 riding days to get there including a big day of 85kms. Unless we change our minds - again. We asked the lady at our accommodation for some dinner recommendations. She mentioned Bongo Bongo and Romana's and then said she preferred Romana's. So we ambled the 1.3kms to Romana's in the still very hot evening air. When we got there it was closed. There was red tape across the doors which looked a bit weird. I got the translator out, took a picture and read the translation. "Tax Administration". They had been closed down for not paying tax. We were in hysterics (and still hungry). We walked the 1.3kms back to Bongo Bongo and it was closed (because it was Monday). The best we could ... read more
Closed for Tax Evasion
That was one huge pizza
The Serbian Border Crossing

Europe » Croatia » Slavonia » Osijek July 21st 2014

On July 18th I set off on another solo trip through the balkans. A bit of background info to this trip is necessary. M and I were supposed to go on solo trips at the same time, her to the Alps and me to Bosnia. Hers was to do some serious mountaineering and mine was for background research for my next book. My trip was delayed because I was waiting for a new passport and some 400,000 applications were piling up in a conference room somewhere in the Scouse Republic, mine being one of them. Finally, a week ago, I set off on a train for Budapest and checked into the grimmest and most cheap and spiteful hostel I've ever seen, though for 10 euros for a private room one can hardly complain. The next morning ... read more
Crossing the border at Barcs
Entering Croatia
Church in Gornje Bazije

Europe » Croatia » Slavonia » Osijek June 19th 2012

After spending a fair chunk of time wishing the weather would be more summery, my wishes have finally come true! It has been nearly 35 every day for the last four or so days, which although makes sightseeing a little more challenging and the local food a little heavy, does make it feel like a summer holiday. After rendezvous-ing with my new group (who have a much different demographic, I am the second youngest!), there was one more day in Budapest. Given the weather, I carefully considered my options and decided on a trip to the edge of the city to some Roman ruins. This involved a simple change to a suburban train from a metro station. Well not so simple after all, as they were doing track work. So it was on to a packed ... read more
Sun finally sort of sets
Getting my Croatian support on
Eco farm

Europe » Croatia » Slavonia » Osijek May 7th 2012

So we leave the hot and deserted beaches of the Venetian coast behind, having not actually seen the City! It was several hours of bus and ferry travel into the city (no cars allowed) so we pass over the city tour and vow to take a break here in the future sans Horace to see it. We head for the Slovenian border looking for a place to buy the famous vignette. A word about tolls, they can be expensive but that’s because we don’t have them much in UK. The alternative is usually a lot worse so we normally pay. It’s like using the A4 and having all the hassle of negotiating towns like Marlborough and Hungerford or paying to use the M4 and moving quickly on your way. The tolls are either paid at a ... read more
Croatia at night.
Horace hanging out in the harbour
Happy Dees

Europe » Croatia » Slavonia » Osijek May 5th 2012

Since the last ramblings of our travels we have had mixed fortunes with weather but have finally landed on our feet at a site just outside Venice on the Adriatic. The weather is perfect and we have achieved one ambition of the trip – to swim together in the sea with Horace. It is a perfect coast for swimming, shallow beaches that get deeper very gradually, as it is shallow it warms quickly in the sun and so clear that you can see your feet until you’re out of your depth (don’t want to tread on any nasties!) We travelled from our last stop in the Riviera dei Fiori just north of San Remo to a small town called Iseo on a lake of the same name. Placed between it’s more famous neighbours of lake Garda ... read more
The beach, nr Chioggio
coffee morning
go get that ball!

Europe » Croatia » Slavonia » Osijek October 13th 2007

I got a ride back to Slavonski Brod this morning with Vesna. It was a bright day with a crisp breeze, perfect for strolling through the vineyards. I wished I had another day to spend there but I was keen to move on. Vesnja arrived in a dark suit. She on her way to a funeral in Slavonski Brod and I felt a little guilty for bumming a ride. We listened to a radio program about an international cooking competition that a Croatian chef had just won which, frankly, shocked the hell out of me. I felt a little uncomfortable alone in the car with her. She had a way, like so many other Croatian women, of looking at me like she didn’t trust me. Like she could see right through any smiling bullshit I gave ... read more
Osijek Cathedral
Osijek Cathedral
Osijek




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