This trip report is a bit of a departure from our typical two-wheeled adventures.

I have always believed that it doesn't really matter how you get around because beautiful scenery and great roads can be experienced in any number of ways and adventures can be found in both giant and small wonders.

This trip certainly included wonderful roads and breath-taking scenery (the company wasn't too bad either) and I believe the experience is interesting enough to share.

How we Travel:

When Jen and I travel, we typically have a direction but not necessarily a destination. We are always on the lookout for cheap airfare and our travel "planning" usually consists of just an airline ticket and a car rental - the real trip begins when we open the map.

This is a "roadtrip" in every sense of the word. Starting in Milano, Italy, and heading as far as Dubrovnik, Croatia, it encompasses over 1800 miles of driving through four countries. In domestic geographical terms, it's like flying into Baltimore to take a vacation at Disney World in Orlando.

Click on the city names below for photos and details of our trip.

Historic Overview:

A visit to this part of the world will make you hungry to learn more about its history and culture. It's an interesting place... you can look at a building and admire its innocent, simple beauty - or, you can look upward just a few feet and wonder: "are those machine gun bullet holes?"

I won't try to be a history teacher because I'll fail miserably.... let me just depart with the little bit of understanding that I do have about Eastern Europe's Adriatic region. First off: I don't understand much... the background history of this area is confusing, to say the least. Pretty much since man has been keeping records, this place as been a cultural and religious cross-road. Major empires and political powers have conquered and ruled here and have changed names and borders countless times. As recent as (what time is it?) today, there are still disputes and unrest over borders and independent states.

Prior to WWII the region consisted of: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. In the late 20's these regions were combined as the Kingdom of Yugoslavia by King Alexander in the hope of unifying a nation. The effort wasn't successful. In 1941 Hitler invaded Yugoslavia which further divided the region. Croatia became a Nazi puppet state, committing atrocities against the Serbs. In 1944 Yugoslavia was liberated by the Red Army and began on its path as a communist state. During the 1950's, Yugoslav political party member, Josip Broz - Tito began his fight for communist independence from the Soviet Union. By the early 1960's Tito was successful. He declared himself as President-for-Life and instituted a "communism light" type of government for Yugoslavia - permitting religion and independent small business. The states were allowed to live independently yet were unified and peace was maintained in the region. In general, Tito was well liked and admired for his balancing act of maintaining peace - however... if you disagreed with him...

In 1980 Tito died and along with him the imposed peace throughout the region. Manipulating politicians began taking advantage of the age-old hatred between the different ethnic groups and serious conflicts began again in the early 1990's. Also at this time, (and tied to the fall of communism in other parts of Europe) countries began to declare their independence from Yugoslavia.

In 1990, the first to claim independence was Slovenia. Lying the furthest north and geographically separated from the other countries making up Yugoslavia, Slovenia's independence occurred pretty much without incident. Croatia and Bosnia/Herzegovina on the other hand, had a much more difficult time separating from Yugoslavia (which was now actually just Serbia/Montenegro). What ensued was a war that lasted more than three years, economic ruin and more atrocities against humanity (this time the Serbs against the Croats).

In 1995 the war ended as a result of the Dayton Agreement (as in Dayton, Ohio) - and Croatia and Bosnia/Herzegovina began recovery as independent countries.

In 2003, Yugoslavia (the governing entity) officially dissolved - replaced by the union between the Serbia and Montenegro governments.

In 2006, both Montenegro and Serbia declared their independence (from each other, I guess).

On February 17th, 2008 Kosovo (geographically part of Serbia) declared its independence. On February 18th, 2008 Serbia rejects Kosovo's independence.... Stay tuned.

I am certain that I did an historical injustice in my brief review - for that, I apologize. My intent is to merely provide a general overview of the strife and ethnic/political complexity in this region. If any of this perked your interest, please do legitimate research and make your own conclusions.