Arriving at Ilok, Croatia

Osijek

https://maps.app.goo.gl/va4haHffuh2zgFan7?g_st=ic

Vukovar

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5dGeuEpP7RXMqh8v6?g_st=ic

1991 war started, Yugoslavia was established after WW II by Tito. It was six countries combined.

Nicky travel guide.

Home visit . Making all kinds of wine and brandy, mainly from cherry, walnut. 1991 during the war: Serbia and Croatia. People were devised and was asked to leave, family were separated. People who stayed to keep things up never survived. Kids were sent to Hungary town refugees camp, they were moved to Croatia, mother rented a place for kids and grandma. They were separated for 7 years. ‘I don’t teach my children to hate.’

Osijek, concert in the church Saint Michael’s Church Crkva sv. Mihaela

https://maps.app.goo.gl/9wEAMKmwFsrEY3BP7?g_st=ic

City center, Tvrđa

https://maps.app.goo.gl/dBCHCxwKf62oiuaH6?g_st=ic

慶祝青年節😁

Arriving at Belgrade

https://maps.app.goo.gl/8DTaDnfHBXqWzLie7?g_st=ic

City tour

Belgrade Fortress, later city center

https://maps.app.goo.gl/bjYwwosUB44264Ec8?g_st=ic

Using Latin and Cyrillic both

House of Flowers Кућа цвећа, most visited museum，buried place for Tito.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cF9bJseMFmpUCJpm9?g_st=ic

Church of Saint Sava Храм Светог Саве

https://maps.app.goo.gl/qfUatYEJToisyvXZ8?g_st=ic

Afternoon walk to city center.

After dinner.

Going through Iron Gate Locke

https://maps.google.com?ftid=0x475228d300b14e77:0x8d8bf6350419b7c9&entry=gps&shh=CAE&lucs=,94297699,94231188,94280568,47071704,94218641,94282134,94286869&g_st=ic

Iron Gate Gorge

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cncPBYh4ocW8CBGL7?g_st=ic

Arriving at Tourist Info Center Donji Milanovac Туристички инфо центар Доњи Милановац

https://maps.app.goo.gl/SA1L8FydSoYGquJT7?g_st=ic

Some people will get off here for half day trip, we stayed on board and headed to next destination Golubak Fortress

Tvrđava Golubac

https://maps.google.com?ftid=0x4751066c8f000bc1:0xa307de0873489c46&entry=gps&shh=CAE&lucs=,94297699,94231188,94280568,47071704,94218641,94282134,94286869&g_st=ic

Golubac Fortress Тврђава Голубац

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2J48HkuhvxRVnzyS7?g_st=ic

Beginning of the national park

Golubac actually means pigeon

This fortress was sold to Ottoman never conquered by Hungary

Port “Vidin” Пристанище “Видин”

Arriving at Port Vidin 8:30

Driving to the rock place, local town is typical story, some chemical and tobacco industries before, but has died down since USSR collapsed

Balkan in Turkish means mountains

Traveling on E79 –

The E79 is essentially Bulgaria’s vertical spine:

Connects Danube → Sofia → Greece Critical for trade, logistics, and EU integration Still evolving, with infrastructure upgrades underway

If you’re traveling in Bulgaria, E79 is actually one of the most scenic routes too—especially near the mountains and toward the Greek border. I can point out the best stretches if you’re planning a drive.

Fortress „Belogradchik“ Белоградчишка крепост

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7yc88ShxDmuCDs7ZA?g_st=ic

It was pretty good when we arrived, after we finished the top it started drizzling, but it’s all good.

There were 2 tribes, from the south was the Slavs , then from the north was the Bulgars

Departed around 6, passing through Vidin-Calafat Bridge Мост Нова Европа (Видин – Калафат)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2w27mvmwkGB4uddC9?g_st=ic

Breakfast was good, typical Viking treatment😁

Russe city to tour, little Vienna.

Kaloyanova Fortress Калоянова крепост，rest stop, but it’s a castle 🤣

Church of the Nativity Храм „Рождество Христово“

https://maps.google.com?q=Church%20of%20the%20Nativity,%20ul.%20%22Rozhdestvo%20Hristovo%22,%205029%20Arbanasi,%20Bulgaria&ftid=0x40a928942374d16f:0x5ecaec505569c6a5&entry=gps&shh=CAE&lucs=,94297699,94231188,94280568,47071704,94218641,94282134,94286869&g_st=ic

Lunch at Механа Извора – Арбанаси

https://maps.app.goo.gl/KSgDXbAeFj8p6rjg9?g_st=ic

“Tsar Asen I” Square Площад “Цар Асен I”

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rVdRDUjQDENgb1qAA?g_st=ic

Tsarevets Fortress Крепост „Царевец“ and near by old town shopping.

Boarding at Svishtov Свищов

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zrCr4RNPYFoweekE7?g_st=ic

Morning breakfast at hotel

Catedrala Mantuirii Neamului Catedrala Națională a României, biggest Orthodox church in

Palace of Parliament, second largest government building, next to Pentagon. Lots of building are similar in style/look and feel. Built around 80. From 84 to 89, finished 70%, all finished around 1994. Michael Jackson filmed here 1992, he came out to speak: good morning Budapest 🤣

From 50s started the communism until 90s, houses went from private to state-owned, then back to private, but during the transition lots of issue about gaining the ownership back, do lots of houses were not maintained because there was no clear ownership.

Victory Square.

“Dimitrie Gusti” National Village Museum Muzeul Național al Satului “Dimitrie Gusti”

https://maps.app.goo.gl/x9CSp5oDH85dT1is6?g_st=ic

Piața Revoluției, Revolution Square , December of 89. 1,200 people died, 4,000 wounded

Old town

https://maps.app.goo.gl/81hFa9it5LD5yfEQ8?g_st=ic

Lunch at Restaurant Hanu’ lui Manuc

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ygys2LNhgc6fwUv39?g_st=ic

Going to Viking Ullur, Portul giurgiu Vechi

https://maps.app.goo.gl/iY1RPH13j9tUNyPu8?g_st=ic

Arriving at Russe, Bulgaria, just across the the river from Portul giurgiu Vechi, Romania.

Leaving Istanbul

Took van ride to the air, morning rush hour was interesting with our crazy driver. IST business lounge is amazing , IST is a very modern and lovely airport

Arriving Bucharest. Eating dinner at Allucinante Italian restaurant.

Going to the Spice Bazaar in the morning, drinking tea at Beta Tea House, see a cat family mama with 7 kittens.

Came back to hotel and had lunch at Old Konak

Grand Bazaar

Tea time at BELLİHAN GOURMET,

https://maps.app.goo.gl/UqgVSzfqAf2i1pn97?g_st=ic

Visit Blue Mosque for one more time.

Dinner at Garden 1897 Restaurant

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FkPbcS9NEpv57djt5?g_st=ic

More shots Blue Mosque during the night

Ferry to Asia side Eminönü Ferry Terminal destino a Arnavütkoy, to Kadıköy İskele

https://maps.app.goo.gl/VNcuMKEWAinFS11h6?g_st=ic

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7LgX2hhByB4P9Bb97?g_st=ic

Start roaming around this part of Asian side of Istanbul, lots of interesting stores and food😁

Coffee at Kurukahveci Zeynel Bey

https://maps.app.goo.gl/jv8afdLZkTtGd9Fx6?g_st=ic

Got some dessert from Hafız Mustafa

https://maps.app.goo.gl/v8e8dFVgv65H8PwB6?g_st=ic

Then we encountered the Blue Mosque night vision, so pretty 😊

Visited Suleymaniye Mosque Süleymaniye Camii, about 15 minutes walk from our hotel. Again the hotel breakfast is still the champ😁

Galata Towero, took taxi from mosque to Galata Tower, line was long and is about 45 Euro, so we skipped, and strolled around the local shops, was really good, Nono got some tea glasses.

Lunch at Kervan Kebab Grıll

Was going to visit Dolmabahçe Palace Dolmabahçe Sarayı, but too many people gave up

Went back to hotel and visited İBB Beyazıt Küllük Büfe got some good latte.

Beyazit Mosque Square Beyazıt Meydanı

Grand Bazaar was so near by, main building is closed for weekend, but near by stores are all open, mainly clothing and shoes, fake ones😁

Bosphorus Cruise, 3 of us went, ShuTing stayed at the hotel. Bus picked up up from hotel, traffic was heavy to the port, but the cruise was good.