Biking the Balkans 0 Trst, Italy 04-JUL-2004 13:40:00 We started the trip in Trieste, by taking a ferry towards Greece. Just before boarding my (borrowed) bicycle was stolen outside a supermarket in Milje, right across the border into Italy. Luckily we found it a few hundred meters away. 0 na trajektu 05-JUL-2004 13:00:00 We wanted to board the ferry, but it was cancelled. We suspected it was because Greece was playing in the Euro Cup final, but the employees denied any connection between ferry cancellation and football. 0 na trajektu 06-JUL-2004 13:49:00 The ferry ride from Trst to Igoumenitsa takes about 24 hours. 0 Igoumenitsa, Greece 07-JUL-2004 16:20:00 It was one hellish start of our trip, as there is a long (and very hot) climb straight up from Igoumenitsa. 0 Ioannina, Greece 09-JUL-2004 14:26:00 A nice place by the lake, where the Greek olympic rowing team was preparing for the Olympics. 0 Vikos Gorge 10-JUL-2004 17:39:00 Refreshingly cool, crystally clear water and amazing medieval bridges built by the Ottoman Turks. 0 Nestorio 11-JUL-2004 14:23:00 Cycling, camping, eating and fixing punctures, our daily routine. 0 Kastoria, Greece 13-JUL-2004 00:25:00 Northern Greece is a very mountainous region, a good thing to know if you consider cycling there. 0 Florina, Greece 13-JUL-2004 19:18:00 We used small roads with very little traffic. 0 Bitola, Macedonia 14-JUL-2004 11:11:00 Bitla is a nice, modern Macedonian town. 0 Galičica 15-JUL-2004 22:55:00 A high mountain pass which lies between the lakes of Prespa and Ohrid. 0 Ohrid, Macedonia 16-JUL-2004 22:47:00 Ohrid town is a perfect spot to relax for a few days, explore the surroundings and enjoy local food. 0 Sveti Naum 17-JUL-2004 16:00:00 We made a bus trip from the town of Ohrid to St. Naum in the south, right by the Albanian border. The famous monastery is reportedly being converted into a fancy hotel. 0 Radožda (kamp Treska) 19-JUL-2004 17:07:00 We cycled along the lake shore towards Albania. 0 Elbasani 21-JUL-2004 01:00:00 The road from the border to Elbasan was the worst road I have ever cycled. 0 Drač, Albania 21-JUL-2004 20:45:00 Drač is a quickly developing capital of the Albanian coast, but its town centre still maintains its charm. 0 Apollonia 22-JUL-2004 17:50:00 We made a bus trip from Drač to the ancient city of Apolonia. There are but a few remains and even fewer tourists visiting them. 0 Kruja 23-JUL-2004 22:25:00 After along, steep climb we visited Kruja, the mountain stronghold of the Albanian national hero Skenderbeg. 0 Skadar, Albania 24-JUL-2004 20:09:00 The heat was getting at us and we were envious of people enjoying themselves in the river! 0 Podgorica, Serbia And Montenegro 26-JUL-2004 13:00:00 The capital of Montenegro. Pleskavica, the local speciality, cannot be beat! 0 Morača 27-JUL-2004 16:42:00 We cycled up the Morača canyon, with our eyes set upon Tara and Durmitor, but bad weather (and even worse weather forecast) made us change our course and head towards the sea. 0 Cetinje, Serbia And Montenegro 28-JUL-2004 14:55:00 We chose the hard way to the sea, leading first to the town of Cetinje.... 0 Lovčen 29-JUL-2004 13:49:00 ... and then up Lovčen! 0 Kotor, Serbia And Montenegro 30-JUL-2004 15:54:00 Long downfill from Lovčen to the Boka Kotorska fjord was worth the effort of climbing up first. 0 Risan 30-JUL-2004 22:36:00 Small, windy roads took us from Montenegro to Herzegovina. 0 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina 31-JUL-2004 21:53:00 We came to Mostar on the day when the first diving competition from the new bridge took place. 0 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina 02-AUG-2004 01:00:00 After a month of cycling we ran out of time, and had to return home by train. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0