After making it to Istanbul, it’s time to turn around and head back to Blighty. It’s a long road home. We’re not yet halfway through our travels-our return journey is 40 days, and the route’s a little sketchy at the moment. There are so many places and so little time. On our James-Bond-villain-style map there are little blue push pins (marking potential return stops) scattered far and wide. Greece, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, France and Northern Spain, everything’s up for grabs. However, some of the non-EU countries have dodgy roads and we’ll need to buy insurance on the border because UK insurers won’t cover them. Looking forward to a bit more border trauma, it’s a loooong detour if we’re not allowed through.
We’re a little citied out after route-marching our way through so many capitals and significant cities in northern, central and eastern Europe. On the way back, we plan to see more beaches, lakes, mountains and smaller cities and towns. But where?
We’ve got our heads deep in travel guides, blogs and Google maps to try and make decisions. The only fixed spots are Lake Como for our 30th wedding anniversary on May 30th and Santander on June 12th for the long ferry back to Portsmouth.
Neither me nor Mr G has visited Greece for more than thirty years, back then it was Drachmas, beautiful beaches and cheap tavernas serving wine that stripped the enamel off your teeth. Our first stop on the way back will be beachside camping in Greece, hoping for something like Mamma Mia but without Piers Brosnan singing.
If you’re reading this and can recommend some Balkan, or other southern European highlights ( or can warn us of some lowlights) please comment. Any advice is very welcome!
Grown-up Gap Yah 
Happy anniversary to you both for 30th May – you share the day with us (32 years this year)! We went to Australia and New Zealand for ours (a little early, fortuitously, as we got back just before 1st Lockdown in February 2020!). Loving the blog… recommend Croatia – the Dalmatian coast road between Dubrovnik and Split is a lovely drive (we rented an apartment in Brela and had fun watching a Russian Superyacht in the bay from our balcony.) Croatian food is GOOD. Beaches are stony, aqua shoes very useful therefore – can be bought locally. Boat trips around the islands (we did a day trip by boat to Dubrovnik, had a lovely lunch and then back on the boat for a relaxing trip back) very recommended.
Safe travels and best wishes
Jane and Nick Phillipson
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Many thanks for the recommendation. We’ll definitely stop on the Croatian coast in that area- that’s another area I haven’t visited for more than 30 years! Happy anniversary to you too! Jane
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Hi Jane, Ive really enjoyed following your adventures. Sounds exhausting. We enjoyed Meteora in northern Greece.[Image.jpeg] Love Judith
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Hi Judith! Lovely to hear from you! Thanks for the tip, sounds great 🙂 are you cycling in Majorca ?
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Loving your travelogue Jane
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So lovely to hear from you Adam! We’re having a great trip 🙂 love to Selina, the pups and the girls. Hope to catch up on Yorkshire x
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