Balkan Roadtrip

In May, 2025, I was itching to go on an adventure. I picked a spot on a map, bought a flight halfway around the world an hour later, and arrived in a new country less than a week after that. But to understand why I’d do something that crazy, you have to know my background.

As I kid, I was always interested in maps. In 3rd grade, I remember staring at the map of the United States up on our classroom wall for what felt like hours. I had just learned about the legendary, multi-century search for the Northwest Passage, and now I was obsessed with trying to find out if maybe that passage could be made using only inland waterways. I traced the Mississippi, Missouri, and Columbia rivers and discovered there was only 50 or so miles between them in Idaho. It sparked my curioisty about using maps to discover new things about the world.

Do you see how cool this looks?

For years, I liked to look at Google Maps on my phone and save spots that looked interesting - high alpine meadows, remote peaks, and other unique geographic features. One day, I stumbled upon the alpine meadows of the Balkan peninsula. One amazing mountain range after another dotted the landscape. I knew I had to go.

So I did! I decided to drive, and I flew into Dubrovnik, Croatia, to pick up my car. They gave me a manual, even though I had reserved an automatic, so I did my best to get out of the parking lot and then I learned how to drive it the rest of the week!

I explored Dubrovnik's walled old city, ran up to the top of the mountain, met new friends, visited Ston, Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and drove to Montenegro.

I had no idea Montenegro would become my favorite country to visit in short order. It was amazing - off the beaten path, full of natural wonders and incredible people. I loved it.

I went to Fortress Gorazda above the Bay of Kotor, and Durmitor National Park (above and below). It was all so amazing.

I finished up my trip by crossing Serbia, visiting Pristina, Kosovo (incredibly kind and amazing people there), and Shkoder, Albania. What a gift!

• Jack