In the summer of 2012 Kristen and I embarked on a sojourn through Southeast Europe. We visited Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Serbia, and Romania. On our trip we played in the balmy waters of Dalmatia, explored the mountains of Bosnia, meandered over the fertile plains of Romania and Hungary, and enjoyed the cosmopolitan lifestyles of the capitals of Slovenia and Serbia. Below we recount our journey in photos, videos, and words. Come along for the ride!

Hungarian Exposition

Morning stroll around Budapest – Our first morning in Southeast Europe was occupied with strolling around the city of Budapest.
Budapest-Keleti Railway Terminal – We stopped by the station to buy tickets for the train to Slovenia.
The Great Market Hall – An interesting indoor market space with many interesting smells.
Along the Danube – Walking along the majestic Danube River.
The Hills of Buda – We wandered around the Citadella and other interesting areas up on the hills of Buda.
The Hungarian National Parliament – The parliament of Hungary meets in this building.
The Ruin Pubs of Budapest – Kristen and I explored some of the more trendy bars in Budapest.
The Train Ride to Slovenia – We hopped on a train and headed off to Slovenia.
On the Square by the Central Train Station in Zagreb at Sunset – The golden rays of the setting sun lit up the beautiful heart of Zagreb.

Slovenia’s Cute Capitol City

Morning in Ljubljana – Our first morning in Slovenia found us wandering around town.
Ljubljana Castle – The old castle on the hill above town.
Afternoon in Ljubljana – We strolled around town taking in the sights of the capital of Slovenia.
Evening Ljubljana – It is gorgeous along the river through the middle of town at night.
Rainy Day Waiting for the Train in Ljubljana – After taking the wrong train in the wrong direction, we bummed around in Ljubljana in the rain.
Train to Croatia – On the way to Zagreb and Croatia.

Zagreb Wanderings

Apartment in Zagreb – We had a well-appointed apartment in Zagreb.
The Parks of Zagreb – The main parks of Zagreb are gorgeous in the summer.
On the Way to the Zagreb Cathedral – The downtown streets of Zagreb are beautiful.
The Zagreb Cathedral – The beautiful old Zagreb Cathedral is a charming building.
Up and Down the Stairs of Zagreb – Zagreb is full of stairs ascending and descending the hills of the capital of Croatia.
The Croatian Parliament and Nearby Places – The halls of power in Croatia and nearby streets are interesting places.
Views Over the Streets of Zagreb – Zagreb in the evening light is absolutely beautiful.
Down the Stairs of Zagreb – There are stairs all over Zagreb. We went up and down so many of them.
Nikola Tesla in Zagreb – Nikola Tesla is revered throughout the southern Slavic lands.
The Train to Split – The long train ride to Split was beautiful and interesting. Croatia is a long, skinny country.

The Croatian Coast and Dalmatia

Wandering Around Split – We took a day to wander around the old downtown of Split.
Ferry to the Island of Vis – We journeyed across azure waters and past the islands of Dalmatia to reach the sandy beaches of Vis.
24 Hours on the Island of Vis in the Town of Komiža – The little island of Vis isn’t a state military secret anymore.
Stari Grad on the Island of Hvar – The party island of Hvar has some beautiful secrets.
Trojir – The little island that old town Trojir sits upon is adorable as is the town itself.
Transit to Dubrovnik via Bosnia – A small strip of land juts out from Bosnia and Herzegovina, interrupting the Croatian coastline.
Dubrovnik Day One – Walking around old town in the afternoon and at night.
Dubrovnik Day Two – The grand walltop walk and wandering through the narrow streets of old town.

Montenegro Excitement

Into Montenegro – The drive from Dubrovnik into the Bay of Kotor is breathtaking.
Kotor – The beautiful medieval and Venetian old city of Kotor is a sight to behold.
Budva Old Town and Around – The seaside town of Budva is a beautiful sight to see but also has a very odd amusement park.
A Ferry in Montenegro on the Way Back to Dubrovnik – The road back to Dubrovnik took us across a ferry at a narrow point in the Bay of Kotor.

One More Day in Dubrovnik

One More Day in Dubrovnik – One more day and night in Dubrovnik before heading east.

Bosnian Blowout

Mostar – The famed Stari Most and the ravages of the recent civil war were sights to behold.
Sarajevo – A once proud city is slowly rebuilding itself. Sarajevo has seen many injustices and tragedies during its many centuries of existence.
Transit to Serbia – The long drive through the mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the four lane tarmac that links Zagreb with Belgrade.

Cosmopolitan Serbia

Early Morning Belgrade Stroll – We strolled through downtown Belgrade on the way to the Nikola Tesla Museum.
The Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade – An outstanding tribute and monument to Nikola Tesla.
Downtown Belgrade – Walking through the capital of Serbia.
Belgrade Fortress – A key point of control on the Danube River for many centuries.
Belgrade in the Afternoon – Strolling through town, seeing the sights.

Western Romania

Driving to Romania – A drive through the countryside of Serbia and into Romania on the way to Timișoara.
Timișoara – A beautiful town on the plains of Romania where the Romanian Revolution of 1989 started with a student protest.

Back in Hungary One Last Time

Train to Hungary – A train ride through the countryside of Romania and Hungary.
One Last Day in Budapest – Kristen and I have one last day in Budapest together before we go our separate ways.

Overnight in Amsterdam

Wandering Around Amsterdam – On a day-long layover in Amsterdam, I wandered around through the beautiful downtown and strayed out into the suburbs to find a Canadian named Duane.
Eating at Pyongyang – At the time, Amsterdam had a Pyongyang Restaurant staffed entirely with North Korean workers and serving delicious dishes. I of course took the opportunity to sample the cuisine.

And thus ends my trip through southeast Europe. And what a trip it was!