Return of the native

Mission accomplished. Kittens are very happy.

Farewell Belgrade

It was a fun few days, but now it is time to head home to Australia - a mere two days of travel (but worth it). Gavin and Peggy are heading to Rome for a conference.

Finally, a big city: Belgrade

We have reached the last destination before I come home, and it is a very nice one. There are traffic jams, pollution, big buildings - everything that makes a place liveable. Here until Friday lunch, then home through Bangkok.

Off to Belgrade

Peggy, Gavin and I are taking a leisurely tour through the Bosnian and Serbian countryside this afternoon (Tuesday). By dinner time, we will be in Belgrade, which you all know is one of my favourites.

More highlights of Sarajevo's architecture

Another triumph of 20th century architecture, and a very beautiful mosque, with the mild autumn sun on the freshly cut marble grave posts.

Sarajevo: home of WWI and fine architecture

Students of history will immediately recognise this piece of road as the spot where World War I started.
Of course, students of architecture do not miss out either in Sarajevo - here is a shot of me in front of one of my (many) favourite buildings.

No title necessary - the shot says it all: classy

A cloudy afternoon in Mostar

We drove up from Dubrovnik today, saw some registration offices and talked about surveying (just for a change), and then ended up in Mostar to see the bridge. You may remember that the 500 year old bridge was destroyed during the recent war, but it has been rebuilt. Here is a shot of Gavin and Peggy standing on it.

This is a shot just near the bridge - the old Turkish part of town, which is the new tourist part of town. Anna (on left) thinks I am shotting a 1960s Italian movie.

And some ideas from Mostar for the home builder - enormous, heavy pieces of rock for tiles, and big big doors that say "not welcome".

Dubrovnik is so good!

Dubrovnik is excellent. The whole city is impressive, but the old town inside the fortress is wonderfully impressive. Here are a few shots, the first one with me, Peggy (far right), Anna (right), me and Rumuyana (left) just about to go inside the old city. Inside there are plazas, public buildings, churches, narrow alleys and hundreds of little houses. Take a look.

En route to Dubrovnik

Out of Podgorica, over the mountains, across on the ferry, along the coast, and then we should be in Dubrovnik (plus a few immigration stops). Beautiful country, but the signs are a little confusing.

Looks like we just got here in time

Real estate in Montenegro is big time. Apartments on the coast are more expensive than in the centre of Prague (we were told). All the real estate agencies have signs in Russian and English. I wonder if they are looking for a good lawyer?

Where are we going? Are we there yet?

Just so it is less confusing, here is a map. We (Gavin, Peggy, Rumayana and me) are driving from Podgorica in the south, up into Croatia (yellow) then on to Sarajevo in Bosnia (green). Next week we are driving across to Belgrade in Serbia (pink). Who chose the colours? Sadly, I will miss seeing my close friends in Skopje, Macedonia (orange) but expect to be there at the beginning of December.

Adriatic or bust

Slowly moving across the world, from Sydney to Singapore to Bishkek to Podgorica, I have finally hit water (in the form of the coast off Montenegro). A lovely spot, with lots of expensive boats and history. See for yourself. The group photo is me, Victoria, Angelo and Paula - all very serious World Bank types.

This hotel rocks!

We are staying at the Podgorica Hotel in Podgorica, Montenegro. Montenegro is just around the corner from Greece (after Albania) and it has a lot of coast. The Podgorica Hotel was built in the 1960s with a theme of rocks. It is right on the river and surrounded by trees. Very nice. We are here on mission (with Gavin - see unposed shot on the deck below) for a week.

Kunst as far as the eye can see

They sure do love their art in Vienna. I had a great time wandering around and taking it all in.