An Increasingly Stable Spread Of Independent Countries Based Rather On Ethnic Populations, But Also On The Industrial Imperatives Of NewFound Autonomy : Capitalism, Development And Tourism!
Stumped? It’s really a little bit of a trick query. Geographically, the Balkan Spur is regarded as Southeastern Europe – the landmass south of Austria and Hungary and east of Italy. It’s famous for rugged and remote mountains, spectacular shore and furiously partisan populations. The Adriatic is to the west, the Black Sea to the east, Greece at the southernmost tip.
But politically, the answer is dependent upon the year. 5 centuries of war, oppression and ethnic conflict have dissolved and created countries on the Balkan Cape several times over. If you answered Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania or Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH) – A-plus! They all have shore on the Adriatic Sea. If you presumed Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, or Kosovo – C-plus. Balkans, although not Western Balkans. Yugoslavia? No go. It slumped over a decade ago.
The better news for travelers? An increasingly stable array of independent countries based somewhat on ethnic populations, but also on the commercial imperatives of newly found independence : capitalism, development and tourism!
Dubrovnik, Croatia, is now a top destination on Eastern Mediterranean cruises, like the one Bud and I did in 2003. Our Dubrovnik guide lived through the 1991-92 Serbian siege, and bullet holes were still everywhere. But Maria’s positivism was transmissive. “Come back,” she encouraged. “After the roads are fixed and borders opened, you’ll adore it.”
Seven years on we landed in Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia, on the 1st leg of a four-country Western Balkan trip. Customs and immigration were smooth and efficient and our rental automobile, a Czech Skoda Fabia, waited just steps from the terminal.
We would drive northeast through Slovenia’s Julian Alps, south along coastal Croatia and down to Montenegro’s beaches. We would finish over Montenegro’s mythical mountains and into BiH to finish in Sarajevo. Maybe best, we were flying solo – no package tours, no booking agent. Just us!
Euro-GPS
We brought a GPS with a pre-loaded Eastern European chip. First stop : classic Lake Bled. Our GPS let us choose : back roads or highway. We took the smallest roads and were instantly smitten. Each home sported lush window boxes. In the foothills of the Julian Alps, each village reached higher, with taller traditional pines, and roads narrowing to single lanes, regularly weaving thru steep pastures. Around one corner a spotless church sat atop a brilliantly green hill.
Lake Bled’s Grand Hotel Toplice was magnificent and historic. It housed Fascist Officers during World War Ii, and was so renowned the officers had to pay for rooms, although they were the occupying forces. The Toplice was full of talkative Brits and sporty Germans, and life revolved round the lake – shaded walkways along the coast, swans paddling about, boats with brightly colored covers to ferry visitors around. Beautiful!
Our next stop took us even higher, to a sporthotel in Kranjska Gora. Sporthotels are distinctly European : spare decoration, few luxuries, but large rooms to hold skis and bikes. At the Toplice we were told that Americans visit infrequently. In Kranjska Gora, USA citizens aren’t common. We were treated like stars and entreated to visit the ski jump at nearby Planica where the world record for ski-flying was set in 2005 : 717 feet “airborne” coming off the end of the jump.
We were warned about the drive over Slovenia’s 9,300-foot peak, Mount Triglav, at the eastern end of the Alps. It was stormy and foggy. The route was really steep and narrow with fifty or more switchbacks. “Follow a bus,” they revealed. “It will lead you.”
Great guidance! We appeared at our next stop, Lipica, in fine shape and ready to visit the legendary Lipizzaner Stud Farm in its 430th year of breeding and coaching the enchanting white stallions. We caught the dramatic “Airs Above the Ground” equestrian show and marveled at the elegant facility with dressage schools, lodging, diners and marriage chapel as reported tagza.com.
Vampire Weekend – Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
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Cape Cod Canvas Hammock $47.50 |
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CAPE COD COTTAGE STYLE GARDEN YARD BIRD HOUSE CONDO $17.68 |
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Mayne 20″x20″ Cape Cod Planter / Lightweight Outdoor Pot / Garden Container $64.00 |
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Cape Cod Canvas Hammock $57.65 |
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CAPE COD CANVAS HAMMOCK Comfy Canvas Wood Frame Maximum weight: 264 lbs $89.95 |
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Mayne Inc. Cape Cod Rectangular Window Box Planter 48″ Black 4841-B $129.99 |
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Mayne Inc. Cape Cod Rectangular Window Box Planter 48″ Black 4841-B $129.99 |
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Mayne Inc. Cape Cod Rectangular Window Box Planter 48″ Black 4841-B $129.99 |
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Mayne Inc. Cape Cod Rectangular Window Box Planter 48″ Black 4841-B $109.99 |
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Mayne Inc. Cape Cod Rectangular Window Box Planter 48″ Black 4841-B $109.99 |
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Mayne Inc. Cape Cod Rectangular Window Box Planter 48″ Black 4841-B $109.99 |
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Cape Cod Bird Condo $14.95 |
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CAPE COD BIRD CONDO MAKES A NICE HOME FOR YOUR FEATHERED FRIENDS FREE SHIP NEW! $24.99 |
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Thomson Pottery 16âpc. Cape Cod Set AQUA BLUE $29.99 Add a touch of Coastal Living to your table with this 16 piece Cape Cod set by Thomson Pottery. Cape Cod design dinnerware features an embossed shell & starfish design with an aqua wash finish. Set includes 4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates, 4 mugs, and 4 bowls…. |
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Thomson Pottery 16 piece Dinnerware Set Add a touch of warmth to your table with this 16 piece set by Thomson Pottery. Soothing color and generously-sized pieces will enhance your table setting. Pottery dinnerware features Seashells, an embossed shell and starfish design with a solid white glazed finish or choose to add a touch of contemporary simplicity with Sonoma Haze…. |
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Kay Dee Designs Driftwood Crab Cork-Backed Placemat, Set of 2 $12.99 Care Instructions: Wipe clean with damp cloth. Dry thoroughly. Do not immerse in water and do not place in dishwasher. Not for use with hot dishes taken directly from the oven. Note: The MDF board used in this product complies with P1 formaldehyde requirements according to Section 93120.2 Title 17 California Code of Regulation…. |
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Vampire Weekend [Vinyl] $12.82 It would take a lot for Vampire Weekend’s debut to rise above the stench of privileged hype that surrounds it. A bunch of kids who formed the band in their Columbia dorm room borrow wholesale from Afrobeat and angular ’80s stuff, and they quickly become an online buzz band before releasing a single album? Thankfully the record, and the band, are great fun: playful, pop-wise, and smart enough to pu… |
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The pH Miracle Video: Balance Your Diet, Reclaim Your Health $17.55 15 minute scientific introduction to the pH Miracle. Dr. Robert Young explains how you can lose weight, prevent disease and reclaim your health. Forget cholesterol counts, calories and fat grams, blood pressure, blood sugar or hormone levels. It’s all about balance – the pH balance in your body’s blood. Sit back and watch as Robert O. Young, Ph.D., a leading microbiologist and nutritionist, in… |
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Cape Cod : The Sands Of Time The Sands Of Time tells about the formation of Cape Cod by ice, wind and waves . It accounts for the forces of erosion and how this give-and-take process is a vital component of what makes Cape Cod what it is today…. |
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Autumn on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard [VHS] Enter a world of peaceful, deserted beaches fringed with golden marsh grasses, crisp Autumn breezes, and endless waves shimmering in the billiant October sunshine. Relax and forget your worries and stress as we bring you the artistic beauty of quiet beaches, tidal pools, quaint fishing villages, fall foliage and the feeling of the Cape that refreshes even the most weary of spirits! All with no n… |
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Hardware House 544452 Bristol 5-Light Chandelier, Brushed Nickel $49.45 Glass:Alabaster, Finish:Brushed Nickel, Light Bulb:(5)60w A19 Med F Incand Hardware House LLC offers many high quality products and our standards are high and have to meet or exceed other leading brands in laboratory tests…. |
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Cape Cod Mirror $95 Simple clean lines for this mirror that goes with the Cape Cod dresser. Made of select solids and wood veneers in a Rustic Pine colour. Other pieces also available in the Cape Cod collection. |
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Cape Cod National Seashore, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. – Michael Melford $99 A fence-lined path to the beach at Cape Cod National Seashore. |
