Letter to the Balkans

[@GeographyNow]

What's your favorite Balkan country?

[@adambashaxd420]

Balkan

[@saroar.]

Greece

[@ChrisFan890]

Serbia 🇷🇸

[@karlo125]

Croatia no im not biased

[@kingpotato1857]

Croatia

[@bababababababa6124]

Coming from a non-European looking in, how Bosnia is still a semi-functioning country to this day is actually very impressive

[@hh7426]

As someone who lives in a country bordering bosnia with cultural/historic ties to bosnia, and has visited bosnia, i agree

[@bakuryukenji3802]

Im from Bosnia and Serbia, living in Switzerlandand yes. Its sad

[@RefikDelic]

It's because of the Dayton agreement. Nothing can be done if not all three sides are for it.

[@justafan3335]

Thank you, I'm Bosnian, we exist and can live freely

[@GiovannaIwishyou]

Coming from a person living in Bosnia and Herzegovina atm, I'll take that as a compliment 😅

[@kama99ify]

Balkan without the politics is a gem. Im glad that you have discovered the truth of general peace between people here. I am from Serbia but live in Macedonia now with many members of my family living all over the Balkans and that is quite common for many people here. Other countries feel like home to me as much as my own, and I'm thankful for your time here. Hope to see you soon again!

[@GeographyNow]

Yeah honestly it's all just ... "Balkan" lol

[@RosTheXD]

🇧🇬❤️🇲🇰☦️

[@Yiannis2112]

Nah..You live in Monkeydonia

[@kolobara08]

Ohh nooo my friend... Balkan without nationalism is a gem. Politics is a mere reflection of it. I'd add corruption, bribe and nepotism to that list. If it were only politics, Balkan the way it's agile, would easily deal with "politics".

[@christos3280]

north macedonia. macedonia is in greece.

[@cactusjuice1055]

Gledam ovo i sve vrijeme kontam: jedi to jaje, hladi ti se. Great vid man. Glad you had fun in our weird little corner of the world

[@vatri357]

Me too lol

[@miovicdina7706]

A ja dok pravo taj sendvic: Jesi taj "Kuhn" noz dobio povoljno kad si skupio nalepnice u Maxi-ju? I know I did. 😁

[@danilomitrovic3954]

Ahaha!! Istina! Jos uvek nisam zavrsio video , madam se da nece pojesti 😅😅

[@soggybanana4757]

bkv brate 🤣🤣🤣

[@markokostelac7282]

Kako nitko ne spominje tu paštetu.

[@kungpaochicken89]

I love how he always cooks some random food at the beginning for no reason

[@GeographyNow]

I mean, who doesn't like food/ drinks?

[@Wadihanhalal]

​@@GeographyNowi like kelupis, ambuyat, sandwiches, pizza, burgers,

[@SiPakRubah]

@@Wadihanhalal Bruneian? Salam dari Malaysia

[@Wadihanhalal]

@@SiPakRubah awu ba

[@carstarsarstenstesenn]

and the stupid faces while pretending to type 😂

[@woochitelj]

I was born in Croatia, settled in Bosnia, but lived in Serbia for 7 years. All I can say is thank you for this video :) Please come and visit each of the countries individually, there is so much more to unpack, you barely scraped the surfcace! You could even make a mini series about the Balkans and probably bring peace to this area :) Great job man, and thank you once again ^^

[@UltraPickleMan]

Bro lives in Yugoslavia 😭

[@YourD3estinY]

This might be a too personal question, but were you displaced during operation Storm in 1995? I've always wondered, how and if their right to return is implemented. Is it that they just don't want to live in Croatia (i.e. nationalist reasons), or is the climate for Serbs in Croatia this bad?

[@woochitelj]

​@@YourD3estinY Well, yes, we escaped Croatia during the operation Storm. I was 11 back then so I (unfortunately) remember everything. Return of the people is a pretty hard thing to achieve if it is not done immediately. People settle and create lives somewhere else and it is so hard to come back to the empty town/village that is led by the people that wanted you out (and many of them wanted you dead). Serbs in Croatia, before the exodus, lived in the areas that were 90% populated by Serbs, so return cannot and couldn't work if everyone or the majority didn't return. The same thing happened in Bosnia. The funny thing with me is, my father is Croat and my mother is Serb. They divorced before the war and I lived with my mother. My father was in the Croatian army during the war and I managed to finally meet him again only in 2009, almost 20 years since we last saw each other. Now we have a great relationship and we see each other regularly. I can just tell you, war is a horrible thing without winners where each side does horrible things and where the innocent suffer and politicians are getting richer.

[@YourD3estinY]

@@woochitelj That is why cycles of violence are always vicious, as they can be used to justify violence, while remaining within in the role of the victim. It is good to see that most of the region has been pacified and was able to break this cycle, though there are still remaining issues. From what I read, it seems that especially in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is a lot of work to do in this regard. How would you describe the situation there. Is it getting worse? Would joining the EU help, like it did with Slovenia and Croatia? Do people even have faith in joining the EU?

[@woochitelj]

@@YourD3estinY People are sick of tensions and ethnic quarells. The problem is that all these tensions and talks about war and ethnicities are artificially pushed in the media by politicians. They benefit from it because the BiH is the money laundering machine of the International community. They have to keep tensions up so the money for various projects and the international forces and organisations within the country can flow. Regular people are living peacefully, trying to push through financial and general existential issues. They do not have time nor will for hatred and fighting. Joining the EU, while it might resolve some issues, would certainly bring many others. But that is an extremely wide topic to start here 😀

[@Harun-hr4em]

As a Bosnian now I can say you have truly experienced a Bosnian delight

[@tamara_d8989]

You ate pašteta the wrong way🫣🫣🫣

[@boricuadetorontocanada]

Still looks good 😮

[@ey4d..]

🤓

[@tamara_d8989]

@@ey4d.. ?

[@mihailoaleksic3330]

At least he tried it, I ate it like twice in my life being a Serbian teen

[@antedieente9030]

I didnt think people would eat it raw.

[@Boatbrew]

Props to Croats. One time my bike tire got pierced on the highway. I parked in a village, where at one cottage house they let me in, phone a friend to seal my tyre, all the while they got me drinks and snacks. Same another time. I had troubles to get a hotel on the go. Some family took me in, and prior to that we had a huge dinner with a few families. Serbs do same. Bosniaks do same. Slavs are about hospitality. I lived in the North for many years, who got many other pluses I dearly respect, but Slavs are about community

[@CatWeirdYes]

23:05 There is no way you actually ate Pašteta with a spoon without bread 🤢🤢🤢🤢

[@Serlavian]

Yeah i eat it with bread and sometimes add mayo too

[@CatWeirdYes]

@@Serlavian With mayo damn well that's new

[@Serlavian]

@@CatWeirdYes it is I'm from rural Serbia by the way

[@laur4a768]

I do that too cause I can't eat bread xD

[@CatWeirdYes]

@@laur4a768 dang that sucks😞

[@sinkatasin]

Great to see you visiting the Balkans man, can't wait for the Macedonia episode :))

[@Hocuspocusjebigamodus]

He didn’t get kidnapped by us Yaaaaaay

[@DelvingDeeper]

Spoken like a true Albanian!

[@Hocuspocusjebigamodus]

@@DelvingDeeper im no Albanian btw People just always remind me that I look like one 😭

[@HKPBanuka]

Where u from

[@Hocuspocusjebigamodus]

@@HKPBanuka Thats the big question in the room now. Let’s just say im a group project

[@HKPBanuka]

@@Hocuspocusjebigamodus Haha 😂

[@Peccony94]

Paul I have been your fan for nearly ten years. You have always kept an eye on everything. You always took into account all viewpoints. You are truly amazing creator.

[@maxk2249]

I traveled to Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia to get my US student visa renewed back in 2022. It was a very stressful trip for a lot of personal reasons but, I look back on it very fondly. To this day, I cannot stress enough how gorgeous The Balkans are. I am studying in the PNW here in the US and Bosnia looks exactly like the Cascades with all the pines and alpine lakes! I took the same exact route between Sarajevo and Belgrade as you did as well as, got to see Herzegovina on a separate day. Truly the hidden gems of Europe!! 💚

[@GeographyNow]

Seriously one of the most underrated drives (Although a little complicated since it isn't a huge road)

[@tram_collections]

This video came as a great surprise, as I have just visited Bosnia & Herzegovina a week prior. Been to Mostar, Blagaj, Jajce, Kravica, Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Višegrad. It was an amazing experience, greetings from Hungary! 🇭🇺 (And fun fact, we also have a city called Visegrád in Hungary.)

[@rubendavies3642]

If your eastern European country doesn't have a Visegrad, it ain't Eastern Europe...

[@mishko79]

Of course, in 16 century half of Hungarian population was Serbian by origin. Balkan’s are all mixed people DNA them 😊

[@dopey473]

Hope you enjoyed Banja Luka it's quiet boring but it's always nice to see visitors, the art and punk scene is cool too

[@tram_collections]

@@mishko79 Not really Serbian, more like Western Slavic.

[@SculptExpress-gv8jp]

And fun fact that I found out recently - Zoltan (common name in Hungary comes from Sultan. Lots of Turkish influence in Hungarian language from Turkish, right?! !

[@cvikachy]

Like Serb who is born in Yugoslavia (today Bosnia), and live in USA, i really enjoyed in this episode. Thank you 😊

[@GeographyNow]

Haha glad it connected with you!

[@BadComedianFr]

Tri u jednoojj

[@FiredAndIced]

Man's making "Letter to..." series like he's going to other regions for friends' social events but he turned it into a Lonely Planet/Globe Trekker series. Edit: 6:40: "We're now entering Bosnia and..." "CONTINUE STRAIGHT TO STAY ON M-4!!!"

[@brunnomenxa]

And that was the initial intention according to what he mentioned in some videos. It's great to see it has been a success for the channel. I'm really enjoying this series.

[@AWSMcube]

@@brunnomenxa same, this man has so much passion in the stuff he produces

[@usmanmustapha24]

Barbs is one of the most informed American citizen about geography but still harbours lingering negative connotations about places he visits, it's very good he intends to go around these places, learn for himself and also in the process educate and inform the American public and the public the general. but it's somewhat sad a nation pushes its citizens usually through mainstream media and hollywood to have a certain view about places which doesn't truly represent it Imagine if everyone else thought of the U.S. as this place with school shootings, police brutality, drug abuse, homelessness, poor healthcare structure and questionable foreign policy, it would be an injustice to the good things it has like pro American sports, NASA, MIT, Google the several nature reserves and more.

[@GeographyNow]

EXACTLY👏👏👏🙌🙌🙌🙏🙏🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@imanuelcaushi4711]

Does he actually try to fight off these preconceived negative connotations that he harbours though? He considers Albania to be the black sheep of the balkans, providing virtually 0 reasons why this is (he did say he grew up around Serbians so I'd say that's a reason right there). He also purposely avoided Kosovo in this trip even though it was right there along the way and he could have included it seeing how he visited every country in the balkans. So yeah... He may try to hide it, but if you're from this region you can easily see the bias ;)

[@NandiCollector]

*BRAVOOOOOO!!!!! I just commented something similar for the Albanian part, that was really disappointing from Barbs. Kudos to you mate.*

[@NandiCollector]

@@imanuelcaushi4711 SPOT ON! Very biased Barbs.

[@ivanmladja24]

@@imanuelcaushi4711 Don't start with that nonsense, if he grew up around Serbs then he would know exactly what happened in Kosovo to the Serbian people. The whole point of the originall comment is how he's trying to go against mainstream media who completely manipulated the information in your benefit and hide the atrocities you did to my people. It's like defending what Turkey did to the Armenians or what Israel is doing to Palestinians right now.

[@milicaradakovic8098]

I never expected I will see Barby driving next to my building on this channel. You need one entire life to explore the Balkan :D

[@tantan2908]

I'm excited too see the video of the footage you got in North Macedonia! This video was pretty good, and it entertained me Hello and ♥️ from 🇲🇰!

[@Wozza365]

Stayed in Skopje for a few days last year. Lovely city, people are really friendly. Watched my team win the European trophy and the guy next to me paid for our food and drink that night to celebrate. I would love to visit Ohrid as well sometime soon.

[@EchelonIV]

@@Wozza365 Dude you should. Ohrid is amazing.

[@GeoHdReal]

Каурски Северџан

[@cistamakedonija8210]

Macedonia **

[@ΚώσταςΖωγράφος-θ5σ]

Βαρντασκα λέγεται με πρωτεύουσα τα σκοπια και ΟΧΙ Μακεδονία και είναι επαρχία της Σερβίας.....

[@Lord.alucarD]

Really surprised me at the end about Macedonia. Very excited about the video.

[@Jayphillips1988]

first off, breakfast in the opening scene looks amazing. Secondly, I absolutely love how you keep your mom by your side at all times. Your video in memory of your dad after he passed was one of the most heart felt pieces I have ever seen. It is awesome that you actively keep her involved in all that you do (except when you abscond to Afghanistan for a bit, lol)

[@GeographyNow]

Haha I appreciate it, -1. who doesn't like breakfast? 2. Yeah I mean she would never want to go to Afghanistan lol

[@jurtrypik]

Hey Barbs, I know you were unsure about how to continue with the channel after the Zimbabwe episode, but this new concept is really fun. Your production skills are getting better with each episode. It is fun to watch, and I appreciate your objectivity on political topics that are not always easy to discuss, as well as your outsider's perspective. You are not like every other KZbinr/traveler searching for sensationalism; instead, you provide a valuable geographical point of view. Keep up the good work!

[@theroadtosunrise]

Sometimes I wonder if Geography Now should get a Nobel peace prize nomination just for the fact that Barbs adresses tensions and conflicts in our world in a professional manner that often forces us observers to see each sides perspective instead of just jumping to one side immediately based on bias. Pluss forcing us to see beyond politics and see the people, with their own lives, struggles, culture and beauty that others across the border will find unique.

[@excentrik5725]

I agree, it is a breath of fresh air when he covers a controversial topic and presents both sides equally, honestly, with no bias. You can see how in the comment section most people are civilized. On the other hand, most documentaries on TV and youtube have a biased agenda and the comment section is a hellhole. Hmmm, i wonder if there is a connection there...

[@theroadtosunrise]

@@excentrik5725 Favouritism

[@theroadtosunrise]

@@excentrik5725Favouritism

[@MrWAZZUPJoey]

Relax, it´s a youtube video.

[@dioritbajrami8283]

Yeah not really, he didnt even mentioned even once Kosovo since he knew what it would start. Honestly Serbs don't care about Croatia, N. Macedonia, or Montenegro, they care about Kosovo. And the fact that Barbs shows Kosovo as an "part of Serbia" which if he visited Kosovo he would see what Kosovo really is ^^

[@itmeboh]

Barbs, I just wanted to say, one of the most honorable things I’ve seen and love most and admire about your travel videos and your channel in general, is how you include your mom in a lot of the things you do. Cheers to you my friend. 👍

[@EggsBenAddict]

I love these "Letter to" videos!

[@vasilzahariev5741]

As a Bulgarian, nice T-shirt!

[@GeographyNow]

one of my favs

[@lindemann316]

​@@GeographyNow Speaking of which, you omitted the balkanest country from your letter 😂

[@ice9232]

@@lindemann316bulgaria?

[@lindemann316]

@@ice9232 exactly

[@alexanderdinkov8002]

@@lindemann316 yep. Can't have a Balkans video without "The Balkan" (mountain).

[@aleksa_mladenovski]

Love from Belgrade to our Yugo and Balkan friends 🇷🇸❤️🇭🇷🇧🇦🇸🇮🇲🇪🇲🇰🇦🇱🇧🇬🇬🇷🇷🇴 I don't care what polititians say or do, I love all of you! Sidenote: 17:00 is probably popeci or some form of mini Karadjordjeva snitzel, either way pretty cool

[@Niko-lm3mb]

Meni pre liči na Karadjordjevu zbog kajmaka

[@carsonw8223]

You forgot the Kosovo flag 🇽🇰

[@Niko-lm3mb]

@@carsonw8223 No he isnt.

[@markokostelac7282]

Hello.

[@Tswirl358]

SO EXCITED FOR NORTH MACEDONIA 🇲🇰 EPISODE

[@cvyatkomitov7774]

And in this episode, you are wearing a Bulgarian shirt with the Glagolitic alphabet script. Greetings from Bulgaria, love and respect to all my balkan neighbours.

[@GeographyNow]

haha I just really like that shirt

[@cvyatkomitov7774]

@@GeographyNow it is a great shirt. And i am not saying it because i am Bulgarian.

[@tomislavtomic7184]

I am from Croatia live in Bulgaria for a year now in Sofia. its good here to. Reminds me on Zagreb a lot

[@КалоянГеоргиев-ф9у]

I am a bulgarian too

[@datszalami8689]

Thank you for providing subtitles for the video. We're not always able to listen to what you say, but always ready to see it 💪

[@Amogumogu]

we witnessing the begginings of barb's cooking channel

[@filipablakov2350]

Love to all from Macedonia❤❤ all Balkan countries are beautiful and warm!

[@TabbedOut_]

You mean FYR or FYROM?

[@Liakos-dl8tp]

@@TabbedOut_ He mean Vardarska Banovina

[@vladimirgeorgiev7193]

Hi from Varna, Bulgaria, what an interesting journey indeed! Seems like you and your mom had a blast! Next time come visit Bulgaria (I know you've been here), perhaps Romania, Greece, Turkey. Best regards!

[@GeographyNow]

I LOVED Plovdiv. SUPER underrated place

[@laurentiueana5129]

Serbia is Romania's brother from another mother! Cheers Barbs again for a great video! From a Romanian living in England

[@kolobara08]

Serbian prince, Marko Kraljevic, died alongside Turks in Ottoman conquest of modern day Romania, in the battle known as Battle of Rovine.

[@samvimes2061]

much love, Romanian brother ❤

[@reiu-xl1ib]

they have no genetic relations but if your talking about being friends you are correct

[@samvimes2061]

@@reiu-xl1ib how can you not be a brother with someone you have so much shared past with? We are brothers of battle, and that means more then blood or genetics.

[@majamaja3660]

We love our best frends, Romania!

[@doresweep]

Hello from Albania! Thank you for visiting us Barbs!

[@beocly]

Hello from Serbia!! 🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸

[@GeographyNow]

Hey! Hope you liked the "Serbia" part of this episode!

[@darkobonovil521]

@@GeographyNowi as a mixed guy ( half serbian and half croatian) did enjoy it . Thanks for schowing the world that serb are not monsters and that you can have an excellent time in serbia . I wished you had more time there . Would have loved to show you around as well❤

[@anderporascu5026]

Balkans aren't Putin or Jong Un so no you guys are far from monsters. Perhaps a family who doesn't always see eye to eye at the dinner table, still no monsters here.

[@georgios_5342]

Greetings brother 🇬🇷❤️🇷🇸

[@Pakiu1306]

😊

[@ello592]

Hello from Bosnia!

[@AlexiosPerchanidis]

I enjoyed my Greek frappe while watching this beautiful video about our neighborhood down in the south of Europe. Great work; thanks for making this! Greetings from a Greek man, born in Georgia, raised in Greece, and living in the Netherlands.

[@niceguy3823]

85% of the mountain Balkan after which the whole peninsula is named in Bulgaria, our bro skipped it… I guess we should be happy with the Trace episode😅 (Nice T-Shirt btw)

[@PMG_89]

Times are changing, man. We are not Balkans, we are 'Southern Europe' ;)

[@Arvidus89]

He has been to Bulgaria in a previous video; "Geography GO! The THRACE RACE (Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey)"

[@recep2939]

​​@@PMG_89nah you guys are definitely Balkans. But being Balkan doesn't mean you could not be South European. In the contrary actually, Balkans are also the part of Southern Europe, both culturally and (obviously) geographically. Majority of the things Barb showed in this video also suggests that.

[@petyrkolew9319]

toi dylji izvinenie za bulgariq epizoda😭😭

[@lol-hk5tz]

Next video will be about Bulgaria bro

[@SNORBIL]

Thank you so much for visiting the balkans and giving my country its own video🇲🇰 I hope you had a great time there. Make more travel vids!!!

[@Kassap.72]

Seeing this video is so fun. Even saying the word "Balkan" is controversial Welcome to the most "peacefull" place on the planet

[@tamjansan1154]

I Yet Balkan is more peaceful in war time than US iis in peace time.

[@lynnettegort4582]

Love the new “letters” style and the in person footage!

[@lennaertboelens2720]

So much fond memories of the west balkans. Bosnia and in particular Sarajevo stole my heart. The people, nature, the different cultures, the food, the language and ofcource learning more about the tragic historical events that happened here (and are in a way still happening right now) really made an impact on me. I absolutely wanna come back soon! It’s a quiet beautiful and underrated country with a LOT of caracter.

[@jusuftopic8469]

Sarajevo is a multicultural gem. There is no place in Balkans like Sarajevo.

[@nadeemabbasi5340]

Bosnians Hospitality is phenomenal & exemplary

[@ajdoshka]

@@miranblazek5303 bosnians are wearing a white vest they never did anything bad to anyone the only people during the ex yugoslavian wars next to the slovenians who fought for a multiethnic state grounded on specific values

[@bosniakedisniksic]

​@miranblazek5303 what discrimination? I've been all over the federation and the republic. There are biases and prejudices held by all three groups but no discrimination from what I can see. I even see a spread of Croatian and Serbian nationalist sentiment yet both groups are given positions of power in business and politics

[@dandaratramadol3007]

​@@miranblazek5303You are deluded. Wish you a speedy recovery.

[@chiba206]

​@@miranblazek5303have you ever been to B&H, or are you just talking out of your ass?

[@bloocheese2902]

@@ajdoshka If they wanted a multi-ethnic state, why didn't they just stay in Yugoslavia?

[@dimitrijem9356]

Damn Barbs,great video,i been watching you for 6 years and now its time to subscribe,its never to late :) greetings from Serbia

[@inelouw]

I can't wait to see your video for North Macedonia! I'm from the Netherlands originally but have lived in Macedonia for nearly two years now, and I love it! Yes, the Balkans are a strange, dysfunctional family, but they have the best food and the best drink and the sense of community here is unbelievable, even if they all say they hate each other.

[@trainofzion]

this series of letters is just sublime

[@tidusfantasy]

Im asian america, ive been to probably 80 or so countries in the world, the balkan is my favorite region to visit. I know western and north europe looks more polished and "wealthier", but i just like how the way it looks in the balkan. And i love the people, they were nice to me, not so much when i was in western and northern europe due to the anti-immigrant sentiment. Asians were often "disliked" in the world, even we dislike each other lol, so it's nice for once that the people actually are nice to me, and the beauty of this region doesnt hurt either, oh croatia, sooooo gorgeous, imma move there

[@XY-uc1tw]

As an Asian-American you have no idea about Balkans! do you know why so many coutries exist there?

[@tidusfantasy]

@@XY-uc1tw Very well aware. But is youtube comment section really the place for me to spend my next 30 min to list out the things i know and the things i want to discuss? Who's gonna read them after we r done talking?

[@oo0OAO0oo]

@tidusfantasy there are actually many Chinese in Serbia nowadays. I also was surprised.

[@reeddiereed]

I live in montenegro right now, but I am not montenegrin. please come again to the sleepiest place on earth, it's incredibly beautiful and you haven't seen even the 1/4 of it :D

[@Pero-zl4jp]

Let me guess Russian or Ukrainian

[@YourD3estinY]

I agree, its a cheaper and less touristy place than Dalmatia and especially Istria. But it has the exact same charm.

[@Wozza365]

You missed out not going to Tirana in Albania, honestly the most slept on capital in Europe imo. Stayed there for 2 weeks a couple of years ago and I loved everything about the city. For anyone in Europe wanting a cheap lively city break I highly recommend it. You don't really need 2 weeks, we did that for other reasons, a long weekend would be enough to see most things

[@GeographyNow]

we briefly passed by it on the way to N. Macedonia. to be honest though Durres was a REALLY good choice and we loved it

[@Wozza365]

@@GeographyNow fair enough, I didn't particularly rate Durres personally, as far as coastal destinations they do have some excellent ones further south. Ksamil close to Greece is beautiful and there's a couple of cool old ottoman era cities worth seeing too in land

[@ndnsjensbsuiajs7514]

It’s just down to personal preference. South Albania was my absolute favourite including cities like Tepelene, Gjirokaster, Vlore, and Permet. The South just has a different vibe to it which I can’t explain. I didn’t really like Tirana and Durres.

[@barbarian92]

I was in Bosnia years ago, and it's honestly one of my favorite countries I've been to! As you yourself witnessed, it's gorgeous, and I'd recommend going whitewater rafting there if you have time

[@ayaanz350]

love these new style of videos. Feels like the natural prgression of where'd your content would go man. nice!

[@GeographyNow]

Thanks, yeah! Definitely going to focus more on travel documentaries

[@nikoladrca5324]

As a Serbian from Croatia, I'm glad you enjoyed the trip and you're always welcome to come back to the Balkans 😊

[@zolux9603]

I just went to a balkan trip to the same places that Barbs went one month ago and now I can understand why North Macedonia deserves it's own video JAJAJAJA your're gonna love it

[@maxf.7467]

Perfect video for a chilled Sunday Love your work

[@GeographyNow]

Thanks! Enjoy!

[@majkati]

Hi, I'm from N. Macedonia, I'm glad you had an amazing time here! This was a great video and I can't wait to see ours!

[@GeographyNow]

Stay tuned!

[@bn0372]

Please continue with this series! Its awesome seeing all the different culture, architecture, and civilizations all crammed into this tiny region of Europe. You should totally visit all if the other Balkan countries you missed out on!

[@seustaceRotterdam]

Paul, you made me feel “homesick” for my Balkan buddies. Zdravo/Bok svima nadam se da vidimo se uskoro! Volim vas!

[@gangsteroldguy3965]

OMGGG NO WAY i am a Macedonian fan and have been watching for so long! WE"RE GETTING OUR OWN EPISODE THIS IS INSANE i love you Barbs 🇲🇰🇲🇰

[@GeographyNow]

Haha Yep! ... Just don't know when just yet....

[@petarninic5453]

Pls go to Prdejci, it's my favorite part of Macedonia from 🇷🇸@@GeographyNow

[@allstarlord9110]

You are a West Bulgarian fan*

[@TabbedOut_]

You are not Macedonian Macedonia is not a country it’s a city

[@Stef2245s]

Macedonia is a region in Greece and it has been so for 3000 years. You are NORTH Macedonian, stop the cultural appropriation and history of the Hellenic peoples

[@aleksplavcev8044]

Thank you for visiting my beautiful little country 🇲🇰 I am very excited to watch your next video 😊👍

[@potentiallyunfunnyguy9716]

Barbs, Mate you're doing a bang-up job when it comes to showcasing countries. 'haven't really been there' my arse. You interact more with the locals than a lot of international tourists, you go to locals for pointers rather than take what the tourism bureaus say as gospel. That alone is respectable as all hell. With how many countries there are, cultures to experience and interact with, there's just not enough time for most people. You're doing fantastic work, for humanity as a whole. Providing a window into other countries.

[@MariniFacey]

You're so awesome and cool! I'm grateful for you and your humor! 🎉 I love when your mom is in your posts!

[@GeographyNow]

She's like my secret weapon

[@MariniFacey]

​@@GeographyNow Awe, I absolutely love that! 🌟✨️⭐️🌟✨️

[@NickAndriadze]

I love these letter videos so much, I really hope you make a ''Letter to the Caucasus'' at one point.

[@PeoplecallmeLucifer]

8:50 Just noticed the glagolitic alphabet T-shirt

[@vedamiki]

Bulgarian*😂❤

[@teodorsvetoslav1948]

Bulgarian one *

[@PeoplecallmeLucifer]

@@teodorsvetoslav1948 while, yes it says Bulgaria on the T-shirt the alphabet/the script is glagolitic. which was used from Todays Czechia to Russia among Slavic population before being displaced by the chirilic script and only holding out in Croatia the longest (as a liturgical script all the way to 19th century in some areas)

[@zelena.pupavka]

This makes me emotional as a Bosnian.... your amazing video is awakening yugo-nostalgia in me 🥲

[@GeographyNow]

And I know there's a lot more than just Sarajevo but yeah I was genuinely impressed!

[@maggied.4163]

omg you ate pašteta by the spoonful ahahahaha we usually spread it on bread

[@vanai2359]

I like how at entering Albania with BG licence plates, they casually put USA flag on the windshield 😂 17:52

[@GeographyNow]

you know of the strategy…😂

[@SerbAtheist]

@@GeographyNow Barbs: [Balkan blame game] doesn't hold much relevance in today's societal structure. Also Barbs: Puts an American flag in a car with Serbian plates so it doesn't get vandalized in Albania. Yeah, that thing which 'doesn't holds much relevance' is our day to day lives, especially for Serbs living as minorities in Croatia, non-RS part of Bosnia and Kosovo.

[@stefan2serb]

@@SerbAtheist 🎯

[@EPMTUNES]

Barbs I gotta say I love this series. I love how you preface what was your brief assumption of what a country is like before then showing what you saw and felt there. Especially with the Balkans, its easy to just loop all them together, but this really shows that they each have their own culture and food. Great video!

[@GeographyNow]

Yeah I mean there's only so far "superficial research" can go. I want to see it for myself

[@vinsto]

Excited for the Macedonia vid!

[@vinsto]

Absolutely subbed and hit the bell!

[@frfras7]

He already did it in the Greece video

[@vinsto]

@@frfras7 yeah but he said in this video that Macedonia deserves its own video

[@frfras7]

@@vinsto he wasn’t talking about Macedonia, even though yes the area deserves its own video since it has so much to offer and it’s so complex

[@vinsto]

@@frfras7at 24:10 he says he will literally make a separate video about since he got so much footage in Macedonia.

[@Hayastantzi92]

Letter to the Caucasus next?

[@sunled5602]

LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BIG BALKAN. RESPECT TO YOU FOR VISITING US AND SHOWING OUR CULTURE OUR NATIONS WHAT OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS BUILT AND BLED FOR TO THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD. MACEDONIA GETTING A SEPERATE VIDEO ?? LETS GO. RESPECT, BIG BALKAN UNITED BALKAN.

[@milankovi]

Beautiful video!

[@bojan-s]

Your Balkans travel blog is the most realistic, down to earth, and zero-stereotype-influenced one I’ve seen so far 👍

[@concretejungledreams]

Hahah man so happy we finally saw each other in person! And this video is so much fun to watch great job! Come again 😊🙏❤️

[@lynn8072]

really great video !! i'm glad you enjoyed our little peninsula and i can't wait for the video on my own country, north macedonia ! поздрав !!

[@LOEKASH]

I can't express how much I love to see you travel! It inspires me to visit these countries even more than the episodes themselves.

[@Nikola-gd4dy]

I have to say Barbs, I love this new format of episodes. When you finish all the countries for original series, you could possibly do continue with this stuff. Looking forward to that! Cheers from a fellow Serb who adores rakija xD

[@GeographyNow]

Thanks! Really appreciate the support!

[@MrOldWilliam]

Absolutely love this series

[@marjutreve]

Fun fact: I went to Dubrovnik 3 years ago during the summer with my family, and other than the heat it was pretty nice. It also marked the second time we went to Croatia, and both times we mainly went sailing. Love form Estonia!🇪🇪

[@IMA321]

My father lived in Yugoslavia in the 70s and had his first child there, and he still speaks the language fluently. I always wanted to visit the Balkans and will do someday Insha allalh

[@GeographyNow]

Do it! Go to the motherland

[@ProjectExMachina]

​​​@@GeographyNowNope. In Yugoslavian languages it is referred as the fatherland - otadžbina

[@Kokolo-ze2cp]

What language exactly?

[@nosmokejazwinski6297]

⁠@@ProjectExMachinaNope, in Yugoslavia languages it’s referred to as homeland (Domovina)

[@IMA321]

@@Kokolo-ze2cp I'm embarrassed to say not sure exactly but it's either Serbian or Bosnian. He lived in Sarajevo, Zagreb, and Belgrade

[@antoniopavlov2737]

As a bulgarian (part of the Balkans family), I would say to you that the bigger part of us not uniting is the rest of the world. They know that united Balkans would rule the world. I am 35 years old and I hope for Balkan Union since my teenage years. I know it is utopian thought but I love our region so much, our culture, history, tough times, energy, architecture, climate, food and so on... this is the best place on Earth, despite everyone else trying to destroy it.

[@vitoliste]

Balkan union? It existed. And it's name was Jugoslavija. Great, great country by the way.

[@thetruechaby]

@@vitoliste Sure it existed, but it doesn't mean that it could never happen again, as the commentator mentioned, including Bulgaria, since Yugoslavia didn't.

[@Simsunggineus]

As a croat, i highly recommend visiting continental croatia too, especially osijek and vukovar.

[@EarthWalkerMan]

Yep, whole Podunavlje region (both Cro and Srb) is nice to visit and have a lot of hidden gems with some Hungarian mix. It's really underrated region. Greetings from Slovenia

[@acr_master5594]

hello from north macedonia! 🇲🇰🇲🇰🇲🇰 Was in ohrid this summer unfortunate i could not meet you

[@GeographyNow]

Literally, one of my favorite places, not just in the Balkans, but the world

[@TheRareVideosXL]

Amazing content as always.

[@TheRealPog1]

This needs more views

[@kfair3331]

5:00 looks like that alcohol is still kicked in!

[@sahanadeshmukh695]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Balkans also includes Romania, Bulgaria, most of Greece and a bit of Turkey

[@valentintapata2268]

You're wrong (and the video is also wrong). There is no Balkan pennisula, only the Balkan mountains and they are only in Bulgaria and Serbia.

[@kenmasters2034]

Balkan is the Turkish word of what the ancient Greeks were named as Aimos land (land of blood), and they were referring to the lands out of the north boarders of Macedonia (the real one 🇬🇷)

[@valentintapata2268]

@@kenmasters2034 Haemus (possibly from Thracian word for mountain), balkan means a hill with forest (or something like that). Slavic name for this mountain range is Stara planina.

[@zachv]

@@valentintapata2268 where do you get this nonsense from?

[@valentintapata2268]

@@zachv Geography & history, you should try to read some.

[@ByronLina]

Nice. Last summer we (family, in-laws) drove Romania - Bulgaria - North Macedonia - Albania - Montenegro - Serbia - Romania. Great trip!

[@mrvacar1988]

Thanks for this amazing video

[@ivvan497]

Greetings from Croatia! Barba, you haven't seen much of Croatia. Theres way more to see, especially non coastal areas lmao

[@vald9698]

He said he`s been there before (around 9.45 mark)

[@chacuaco69]

I agree. Croatia is wonderful, and all countries in the region have so much to offer. Greetings from Serbia :)

[@samoodustani5198]

lik je prosao kroz sve zemlje al ustvari nije ni jednu video kako treba 😄

[@dilyandaynovski]

My Baba ( Grandmother ), God bless her soul, used to give me slices of bread with spreaded свинска мас ( lard, grease ) and sugar for afternoon breakfast, I loved it!

[@GeographyNow]

With SUGAR?!?! Whoaaaaa

[@dilyandaynovski]

​@@GeographyNow 😊 It's nice!

[@pattieduffy4992]

Love all your vlogs. Love the letter approach. Unique. Great job. Thank you.

[@Tswirl358]

I went to ohrid and loved it ❤❤❤🇲🇰🇲🇰🇲🇰🇲🇰

[@saroar.]

Awesome video!

[@aasifazimabadi786]

Barbs, you got frustrated that Durres (Albania) was mostly cash-only (22:35); I was disappointed that my hotel gift shop at the Cancun Hilton was credit only. What a strange world this is!

[@Amogumogu]

loving the series btw

[@ATGolden]

Ahhh I'm so upset I didn't randomly stumble upon you in North Macedonia, I was out on vacation too past few weeks, must have missed my chance! Dang! Hope you enjoyed your trip!

[@Rabid_Nationalist]

AAAAAAAAAA WE GET OUR OWN VIDEOOOOO!!!!!!

[@1langueen100jours]

As a French guy living in Montenegro, I found your video very well made. Good overview of the general Balkan vibe with nice pictures and neat story-telling. Svaka cast, brate!