Slovenia, a Piece of Paradise ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ

About Slovenia I finally made my decision to visit Slovenia for the very first time. This small but fascinating country has always intrigued me. I was always fascinated by its unique position in European history; how it once belonged to the Austro-Hungarian empire, yet later became part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. That mix of Central European elegance with an ex-Socialist Republic mentality … Continue reading Slovenia, a Piece of Paradise ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ

Moldova, the Least Visited Country in Europe ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฉ

I’m back to Moldova after 5 years In December 2019, I visited Moldova for the first time. It was a short stop on my way to Minsk, Belarus, so I spent just one night there, about 32 hours in total. Back then, I visited it because of three reasons: 1) Itโ€™s a post-Soviet Union republic, and Iโ€™ve always dreamed of visiting all the former USSR … Continue reading Moldova, the Least Visited Country in Europe ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฉ

Bucharest, the Vibrant Capital of Romania ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด

Why Bucharest? I have visited many countries, certainly more than 50, and I still can’t believe I hadnโ€™t been to Romania yet, one of the largest countries in Europe with more than 19 million people. Romania had been on my radar for a very long time. A few months ago, I started a new job in Dubai and moved there. At first, when I first … Continue reading Bucharest, the Vibrant Capital of Romania ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด

Murmansk, the World’s Largest City North of the Arctic Circle ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ

What Makes Murmansk Special? Murmansk, nicknamed the “Gateway to the Arctic,” is the world’s largest city north of the Arctic Circle, with a population of about 300,000 inhabitants (it used to be 468,000 in 1989), so its population has been in decline since the end of the Cold War. Murmansk is a major Russian port in the Arctic Ocean. The port of Murmansk remains ice-free … Continue reading Murmansk, the World’s Largest City North of the Arctic Circle ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ

Aktau: Kazakhstan’s Gem on the Caspian Sea ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ

About Aktau Aktau is a small city in Western Kazakhstan on the shore of the Caspian Sea, with a population of 270,000 inhabitants. The settlement was created in 1958 when uranium was discovered in the region. Following the development of uranium deposits, the settlement was closed and renamed Guryev-20. In 1963, it was opened to the public, granted town status, and its name was changed … Continue reading Aktau: Kazakhstan’s Gem on the Caspian Sea ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ

Mostar: A Home to an Iconic Bridgeย ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฆ

About Mostar Mostar, a beautiful small city in the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is known for its iconic Ottoman-style Stari Most (Old Bridge). Once among the most ethnically diverse cities in the country, it now suffers from geographical division of ethnic groups. My day trip to Mostar was the highlight of my visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina in February 2024. I sincerely believe … Continue reading Mostar: A Home to an Iconic Bridgeย ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฆ

Sarajevo: A City Like No Other ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฆ

About Sarajevo and what makes it special Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina is a city with a rich, deep, complex, and turbulent history. Sarajevo was founded by the Ottoman Empire in 1461 when the Ottomans conquered the Balkan region. It was under the Ottoman rule for 4 centuries. In 1878, the city of Sarajevo, along with the rest of the Bosnia Vilayet (the … Continue reading Sarajevo: A City Like No Other ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฆ