Balkans reflections

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In general, on this trip, there were several things that were consistent. People were very friendly everywhere. It's hard to believe they have problems with each other (politically) since they are overall so nice. There was a heavy meat-based cuisine, with very few vegetables on offer. Food, transport and accommodation were cheap. There were street dogs, and cats, everywhere. Lots of them. But a nice thing was that they were all treated well, it seems, and therefore nice. In many other parts of the world, street dogs are treated badly and are therefore mean. Girls in short shorts were everywhere. The Cyrillic alphabet was fairly common, making it hard to read anything (or Greek, when I was in Greece). The scenery was beautiful.



Country specific notes:



Serbia

1. seems like there was a high number of dead animals on the road - dogs, foxes, etc

2. lakes and rivers had a vacation feel

3. had McD, KFC, Vapiano, Swarovski



Bosnia

1. poor

2. people are more secular (both Christian and Muslim)

3. lots of mosques



Montenegro

1. 30-40 years behind western Europe (though this is not just Montenegro)



Albania

1. terrible roads

2. If you "lost: your Mercedes in the 90s, chances are, it's here

3. lots of half built houses



Macedonia

1. double-decker buses in Skopje

2. buildings are really old and falling apart

3. everyone claims relatives in America



Bulgaria

1. seemed the most expensive

2. EU influence obvious (more chain restaurants)

3. casinos everywhere

4. fresh milk available in stores

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