Kotor, Montenegro, December 2023

Choosing to come to the Balkans in November/December was the best thing I could have done. I enjoyed experiencing the beauty of Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro a great deal. Dubrovnik, Mostar and Kotor are all breathtakingly charming. The architecture and the surrounding environment make a nearly idyllic setting that essentially everyone falls for.

I actually enjoyed being here with the winter, where the temperatures are not high (but still very pleasant, as far as I am concerned), and there are no crowds of tourists. Very relaxing and rejuvenating! Each of the cities and their surroundings offer quite unique experiences. I am amazed that they are so closely to one another, yet they are so distinctly different. There is something 'Balkan' in all of the sites I visited, yet they offer their own character, which I appreciated very much (you may want to check my photo report, which can be accessed here).

However what I found the most interesting was my process of learning of its painful recent history of Yugoslavia. The recent cruel war has a visible impact on the way that various ethnic and religious groups within these three countries function, feel and perceive one another. Despite these recent horrors, people try re-inventing themselves, build new relationships and hopefully learn from the past so that the mistakes are not repeated and horrors are not re-lived. While I do not think that the healing process is over and that all difficult issues are dealt with, I somehow think that the Balkans offer good lessons for other warring groups that forgiveness, coexistence and in fact fruitful cooperation is possible. I am at awe and full of respect to the communities looking into the better future, while remembering the past. I hope that the prosperity will reign in this beautiful part of Europe for everyone who calls this place 'a home'.

Today, I am leaving Dubrovnik and heading to my Portuguese home in Obidos. I will spend there a week. Amazing news is that my wonderful colleague and friend, whom I got to know in Bangkok will come and join me for a few days. Also, I am very excited to be meeting my Portuguese friends. I am sure, I will have a great time with all of them, fully recharged and ready to return to Caracas for the end of the year.