Even though there is a six hour bus ride available, this time we opted to fly from Sofia to Belgrade. Time is the air is a short hour and ten minutes, and even though you need to be at the airport 2 hours early for an international flight, it is the shortest and easiest way…

There is a 5 hour bus from Skopje to Sofia for 1300 MKD (approx $23). Although it was a long journey, the countryside is absolutely spectacular. Lush rolling green hills speckled with small villages, craggy mountains, loads of orchards and small farms are seen along the way. Yellow and white wisteria adorn the towering trees…

After a three and a half hour bus ride from Bitola we arrived in Skopje, the capital and largest city in North Macedonia. This ancient city was once part of the Roman Dardania, a province in the central Balkans as early as the second century BC. Similar to many cities in the region, Skopje has…

It was time to leave Greece to reset our time in the Schengen area, so we opted to go next door to North Macedonia. We are starting our stay in Bitola, a southwestern city just north of Florina, Greece. Known as the “City of Consuls” since the time of the Ottomans, it is also an…

Daily I am reminded how lucky I am to have some extra time in Thessaloniki. It would be so easy to settle down here long term. The city has everything; from the sparkling waterfront, countless archaeological sites scattered throughout, the byzantine walls hugging the city outskirts, museums, cafes, bars, nightclubs and the best street food…

There are a few options available traveling from Athens to Thessaloniki, the fastest being a 55 minute nonstop flight. When taking into consideration the taxi or metro trip to the airport and having to arrive early in time to go through security, it is debatable if that is the best way to travel. Driving would…

After our first week getting settled we are still awestruck with this seemingly infinite city. From the many lookouts throughout Athens, you can see it stretch until disappearing into the horizon. It is great to be back in a Metropolis, this one bordering on Megalopolis. Although it takes a bit longer to walk everywhere, there…

Athens, what a magical, ancient and engrossing city. Everywhere you turn there are archaeological sites, bakeries, cafes and bars each more alluring than the next. Walking through the twisting streets decorated with vast street art, cool boutique shopping and delicious smells, Athens taps into all of your senses. The further you get towards the center…

There are a few options from getting back to Tirana from Bar, most require you to take the train back to Podgorica first, then catch a bus back to Albania. Unfortunately, if you choose that route then your departure time from Bar would have to be the first train of the day (5:40am) to make…

After our short month stay in Podgorica it was time to catch the train to Bar, just a 15 minute walk to the station from our flat. The station is small but we were grateful to have access to a rail system again. The ride, just over an hour long, is a sight to see.…