{"id":3091,"date":"2022-11-05T11:57:14","date_gmt":"2022-11-05T18:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelthefourcorners.com\/?p=3091"},"modified":"2025-06-23T12:06:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T19:06:41","slug":"road-tripping-on-the-balkan-peninsula","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travelthefourcorners.com\/road-tripping-on-the-balkan-peninsula\/","title":{"rendered":"Road Tripping on the Balkan Peninsula"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Come with us (virtually) on our road trip to Croatia and Slovenia with day trips to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Hiring a private driver was hands down the best way to travel.<\/p>

In this post, you’ll learn how we planned our trip to the Balkan Peninsula and saved valuable time and money. Most importantly, traveling with Croatian drivers gave us a local perspective.<\/p>

Click here on itinerary<\/a> for a ready-made plan, or read the post for our story and to learn about the region’s fascinating history.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Date of Visit:\u00a0September 17-29, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

When I began writing this post in October 2022, conga lines of packed jetliners and city-sized cruise ships were making their way to the Balkan Peninsula.<\/p>

Chris and I had just returned to the San Francisco Bay Area from a whirlwind 14-day private driving tour of Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina.<\/p>

It was our first international trip since the Covid-19 virus shut the world down in March 2020. I was bursting to tell anyone who would listen about our “discovery” of the New Europe.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Our\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Map of the Western Balkans. iStock.com\/ Cartarium<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Discovering the Balkan Peninsula<\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe is a relatively new tourist destination compared to neighboring Italy and Austria. But its popularity is growing. Of course, the Croatian towns of Dubrovnik<\/a> and Split<\/a> seem to be on the tips of everyone\u2019s tongues these days. But there is so much more to savor than those tourist hot spots.<\/p>

It seems all our friends, family, and neighbors have either been to Croatia or know someone who has visited or is going. And if that isn\u2019t how they know of Croatia, they likely heard it was the exotic backdrop for some of the HBO Game of Thrones<\/a><\/em> episodes.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Croatia and Slovenia Make Our Bucket List<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

It took us a while to jump on the bandwagon and add Croatia and Slovenia to our bucket list. Until 1991, they were part of Socialist Yugoslavia and not on the US tourist circuit. I hadn’t given them much thought until Game of Thrones<\/em> came along.<\/p>

What I do remember is watching television footage of Yugoslavia’s turbulent breakup. The 1990s Balkan wars left their mark on the landscape, historical sites, and people. No wonder these fledgling countries are only now becoming travel destinations.<\/p>

Revenge travel against the two-year pandemic began in earnest this past summer. As a result, word of mouth is spreading fast about Croatia and Slovenia’s sun-baked storybook castles, medieval fortresses, and picturesque towns.<\/p>

We now know these gorgeous countries offer wine, truffle, and olive oil tasting for the Epicureans. Meanwhile, pristine beaches and hip nightlife attract young, rowdy partygoers to Split, Hvar, and Dubrovnik in Croatia.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Fort\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
The Game of Thrones' fanciful \u201cRed Keep\u201d in \u201cKing\u2019s Landing\u201d is in Dubrovnik. Image by JAG<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Game of Thrones Filmed in Croatia<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

For fans of the HBO television series Game of Thrones<\/a><\/em>, city guides are happy to point out the sets for King’s Landing, House of the Undying, and many other fantastical places. History buffs will find a treasure trove of Roman ruins and Ottoman influences. There is so much to fuel our wanderlust. This was the ideal place to relearn how to travel after being cooped up for two years during the coronavirus quarantine.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Read Rick Steves' Guidebook <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"I\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
My Rick Steves' Croatia & Slovenia travel guidebook was published in May 2020. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

In the weeks before our trip, I thumbed through my dated copy of Rick Steves’ travel guidebook for Croatia and Slovenia. The cover photo of Dubrovnik’s “Old Town” was stunning. The updated August 2023 edition has a different but equally inviting cover. (My guidebook was published in 2020.)<\/p>

As seen in this photo, Fortress walls encircle orange- and honey-colored terracotta rooftops silhouetted against the calm, crystal-clear turquoise that is the Adriatic Sea. <\/span><\/p>

In the distance, a 1,000-year-old fortress (the stand-in location for the fictional Red Keep in Game of Thrones<\/em>) straddles a craggy cliff where the deep sea morphs into a sapphire hue.<\/span><\/p>

Later I would read in this guidebook<\/a> that the different colored tiles are from repairs to those roofs after the eight-month Siege of Dubrovnik by the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) from 1991-1992. Please see my post Dubrovnik’s Timeless Beauty<\/a>.<\/p>

*Disclosure<\/b>: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a commission if you click through and purchase. Bookshop.org connects readers with independent booksellers worldwide.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Unfortunately, when we walked along the City walls (just over a mile long), I was oblivious that this damage was from the 1990s war. I noticed the damaged buildings, but I assumed their disrepair was due to their age.<\/p>

Who in their right mind would fire on a Unesco World Heritage site? Right?<\/p>

At this point, I hadn’t read the guidebook’s “Orientation to Dubrovnik” chapter. And somehow, it didn’t sink in when our driver<\/a>, Ivo, took us to Mount Srd, high above Dubrovnik. He wanted us to see the view and to show us where Croatian forces had fought off the JNA.<\/p>

How I wish I could have a do-over.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The War Years<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Dubrovnik\u2019s war-ravaged rooftops and buildings are not the only vestiges of the region\u2019s wars over independence from Yugoslavia and the region\u2019s inter-ethnic tensions. In addition to Croatia, the current states of \u00a0Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo (recognized by the US, but not the EU), and Macedonia (now the Republic of North Macedonia) were also swept up in the violence.<\/p>

Traveling through Croatia\u2019s inland country towns to Plitvice Lakes and other stunning tourist attractions not far from the Dalmatian coast, you might notice the pock-marked exteriors of buildings shelled by mortar fire or hit by tank projectiles during the Croatian War of Independence. The Croats call it the \u201cHomeland War.\u201d<\/p>

A visit to Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina (where some of the worst crimes against humanity occurred during the Bosnian wars) is heartbreaking. The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, and the iconic Stari Most Bridge are now replicas, as are many other buildings in this rebuilt town.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Distracted By My Studies<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"One\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
One of many ruins from the Siege of Mostar still standing. Image by JAG.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Yugoslav wars raged in the 1990s. For much of it, I was distracted by my graduate studies in Boston and later by my new married life in California.<\/p>

I was not surprised to see some of this coming, however.<\/p>

When I was a student of International Relations at Boston\u00a0University in early<\/span>1991, I was advised to take a class on Yugoslavia.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

We delved into the region’s history of ethnic conflict and ethnonationalism as the Yugoslav nation began to splinter.\u00a0<\/p>

Our professor painted a violent, unpromising future for the region. A month after the class ended, Slovenia and Croatia declared their independence, and intense fighting broke out in Croatia.<\/span><\/p>

Slovenia was able to take back its borders from the JNA during its short Ten-Day War, and the JNA then turned its attention to Croatia, where fierce fighting erupted.<\/p>

Later, Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence, and the Bosnian wars ensued. Those wars lasted until 1995. It is hard to rationalize today’s tourism against this recent, war-torn past.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Lingering Impressions<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Even before the war years, I had no interest in visiting Yugoslavia. The beauty of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was obscured from Western eyes under the veil of communism.\u00a0<\/p>

In my minds-eye, I saw a bleak industrial region with factories spewing out pollutants, Soviet-style buildings, and wastelands. No, I was not interested, not even when I met an engaging young Macedonian with a work Visa at a run-down London boutique hotel during a trip to the UK in the mid-1980s.<\/p>

My token Macedonian acquaintance was a visiting student who talked about the excellent weather and beautiful beaches. After that, I pictured a bleak, industrial Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia where Macedonia was the exception. I remember being shocked that he had been allowed out of the country to work.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Tito's Legacy<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Looking back, I realize that his freedom to travel was one of the legacies of the Yugoslavian President for Life, Josip Broz Tito.<\/p>

Despite Yugoslavia\u2019s communist ideology, it was never a closed Soviet satellite state, as was East Germany, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, and Romania.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Second-hand\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Josip Broz Tito or simply \"Tito,\" was a Yugoslav communist revolutionary and statesman serving in various roles from 1943 until his death in 1980. iPhoto.com BalkansCat.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

A Change of Mind<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

When the communist veil began to tear in the early 1990s, the world saw only stomach-turning news footage of the wars.<\/p>

It was not until the 2000s that we began to hear about Croatia\u2019s fine wines, olive oil, and truffles.<\/p>

My wine-blogger friend, Marcy Gordon, wrote about her wine-tasting trips to Croatia in 2011 in her informative and humorous blog Come for the Wine<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>

Americans slowly started booking vacation packages, and the region underwent a makeover as tourist dollars flooded in.<\/p>

I\u2019m embarrassed to admit that the HBO television series Game of Thrones<\/a><\/em> placed Croatia on my bucket list in 2018. Despite the animation team\u2019s artistic license with computer-generated imagery (CGI), Croatia\u2019s natural and historic charms were apparent. Scenes were shot at many locations worldwide, but some of the most breathtaking were filmed in the Croatian cities of Split and Dubrovnik on the Dalmatian coast.<\/p>

And so it is that in 2022 my love affair with Croatia and the Balkan peninsula began.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Books I Read Before Our Trip<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

In the weeks leading up to our trip, I read my Dad\u2019s book, Balkan Ghosts: A Journey Through History<\/a>, by Robert D. Kaplan.<\/a> Kaplan\u2019s travel memoir\u2014part political commentary, part history\u2014gave me deeper insights into the regional animosities. It was written during the region\u2019s darker days, as the wars broke out in the early 1990s. Brilliantly written but somewhat depressing, I switched between Kaplan\u2019s book and cheery Rick Steves’s Croatia & Slovenia<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Travel\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Books and videos helped us research and make decisions about where to go and what to do in Croatia and Slovenia.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"YouTube\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
YouTube Videos on Croatia and the Balkans were part of our research.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Balking at The Word \u201cBalkan\u201d<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

I wrestle with how to refer to the countries of southeastern Europe that speak South Slavic languages and today are referred to as Balkan. You would think it is evident that any country on the Balkan peninsula should be called Balkan, but travel writers, historians, linguists, geographers, and educators don\u2019t always agree. Depending on their focus, they group countries within a geographical, historical, linguistic, or ethnic context.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

What Countries are Balkan?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Historians have been known to include Hungary as part of the Balkans. It was, after all, part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.\u00a0They sometimes include Moldova because of its historical border fluidity with Romania.<\/p>

Geographers point out Slovenia lies only partially inside the Balkan peninsula, as do Greece and Turkey.<\/p>

Linguists argue that the unique languages of Slovenia and Macedonia distinguish them from the rest of the Balkans.<\/p>

Travel writers usually include the seven emergent countries from the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, and Kosovo), as well as Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania, in the Balkan bucket.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"The\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
The Julian Alps over Lake Bohinj in Slovenia.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The Stigma of Balkan<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Balkan is a Turkish word. It roughly translates to \u201cmountain,\u201d a fitting enough geographical term for a region that includes the Balkan Mountains, the Carpathians, and the Dinaric Alps.<\/p>

Yet, the word is a painful reminder of the Ottoman Empire that occupied the peninsular countries now Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania for five centuries. Only Slovenia was spared.\u00a0<\/p>

In recent years the word \u201cBalkan\u201d has gained a negative connotation. It may now imply political instability, ethnic violence, and even backwardness related to the rest of Europe.<\/p>

“Balkanization” first entered our lexicon to describe the splintering of the Ottoman Empire\u2019s rule at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, political pundits use the term to describe the fragmentation of any region or country.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

How to Refer to Croatia and Slovenia<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Croatia, Greece, and Slovenia\u2014and I suspect others, too\u2014have resisted the Balkan categorization. Greece was never Communist, as were the other Balkan countries, nor was it a part of the former Yugoslavia, whose breakaway countries now make up most of what is commonly referred to as Balkan.<\/p>

Slovenia, which sits next to Austria, Italy, and Hungary, was once part of the Austro-Hungarian empire along with Croatia and tends to refer to itself as Central European or, more broadly, as European rather than Balkan.<\/p>

Croatia contests that its history and culture separate it from the rest of the countries on the Balkan peninsula making it more Central European.<\/p>

In recent years, the term Western Balkan has been coined to describe the countries on the Balkan peninsula that are not part of the European Union. However, it is purely a political construct.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

How Did We Plan This Road Trip?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

My husband, Chris, and I started planning our September 2022 road trip to the Balkan Peninsula in May. I combed the Web for must-see places and YouTube videos. Some videos were frustrating because wannabe media influencers shot them. It isn\u2019t easy to see the scenery behind people holding selfie sticks. Somehow we managed to get enough of a peripheral view of Croatia\u2019s Split, Dubrovnik, and the Plitvice Lakes, as well as Lake Bled in Slovenia, to know we wanted to visit them all.<\/p>

We found Rick Steve\u2019s \u201cThe Best of Slovenia\u201d video<\/a> and joined him virtually on a pletna boat ride across Slovenia\u2019s pristine Lake Bled. The medieval Bled Castle loomed in the background.<\/p>

He described this small country that sits atop Croatia as \u201cone of Europe\u2019s most unexpectedly delightful destinations.\u201d It looked like something out of a fairytale. The deal was sealed when I read in my new Rick Steves guidebook<\/a> that there was a Lippizanner riding school and stud farm in Lipica<\/a>. So Slovenia was added to our Croatia trip plan.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

A Road Trip, But How?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The next question was how we would get to Slovenia from Croatia. Public transportation could only get us so far before we would have to rely on taxis in remote locations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Chris said he didn\u2019t feel comfortable driving a car at that point.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

All the hedge-trimming services we provided with the left side of our rental car years ago on England\u2019s narrow roads were still fresh in his mind.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

That was the year when right became left, and left became right. The mind can play strange tricks when it struggles to adapt to driving on the opposite side of the road.<\/p>

Croatians drive on the right side like Americans, but the England trip was an uncomfortable memory for us.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

We Found A Driving Service<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u201cDo you think there are any driving services in Croatia and Slovenia?\u201d Chris asked.<\/p>

The question was googled, and yes, there are driving services on the Balkan Peninsula.<\/p>

I can\u2019t remember how I found Experience Dalmatia<\/a>, but when we read about their multi-day tours and their excellent reviews on TripAdvisor, we knew this was our answer. In addition, there was a ready-made itinerary in the 14-day Private Balkan Tour – 4 Countries<\/a> option. A private driver would take us to out-of-the-way places in Croatia and Slovenia, including day trips into Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).<\/p>

If we signed on with them, our 14-day\/13-night trip would look like this:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"We\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Experience Dalmatia planned our entire road trip in Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. One of our stops was the beautiful Lake Bled in Slovenia.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Our Experience Dalmatia Itinerary <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t