In photos: twenty-five examples of Soviet modernism in the former USSR
Photographs of some of the best examples of Soviet modernism in the former USSR, plus a brief explanation of this genre of architecture.
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Somewhere different … Cieszyn in Poland and Cesky Tesin in Czech Republic
Rewind to the days of the Eastern Bloc and the Cold War. The now easily-missed oversized shed in the first photo below was once the border post connecting what was then Czechoslovakia with southern Poland. No such checkpoint exists anymore, you are free to wander...
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Lesser-visited places in the Baltic States
Getting Off the Beaten Track in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia The three countries that constitute the Baltic States - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - are very popular tourist destinations these days. This is particularly true of the capitals. If you visit either...
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What to do in Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina
This isn’t going to be an overly long post because, if truth be told, there isn’t that much to do in Jajce but this pleasant central Bosnian town is certainly worth an overnight stop if you are travelling on public transport around the country or, a couple of hours of...
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What to do in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Banja Luka is the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the administrative capital of Republika Srpska, an autonomous region within the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina that is predominantly Serb in ethnicity. Even though Banja Luka is the second city,...
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The Olympic ski jumps and former Hotel Igman in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Visiting Sarajevo’s abandoned Olympic sites The now-abandoned ski jumps and nearby Hotel Igman were constructed in the early 1980s in preparation for the 1984 Winter Olympics which were hosted by the nearby city of Sarajevo. Igman, also known as Malo Polje (small...
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Our favourite things to do in Kiev, Ukraine
Places to visit in Kiev: A guide for independent travellers Serious statement: we could live in Ukraine’s capital, Kiev. On a scale of one to ten, it hits a nine for us and, along with London, Belgrade, Chiang Mai and Kolkata (on a good day!), it is one of our...
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Soviet-era sanatoriums in Jūrmala, Latvia
Approximately 25km west of the Latvian capital, Riga, Jūrmala is a sprawling resort town that stretches along the Baltic Sea for about 30km. The beach is wide, sandy and backed by grassy dunes and a dense pine forest. It’s a lovely spot, especially outside of the...
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In photos: Abandoned swimming pools
Urban exploration at some of the world’s forsaken swimming pools Of all the derelict places we find, swimming pools have to be one of the most alluring. It’s not always that easy to visualise what an abandoned location would have been like before it became...
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Things to do in Belgrade, Serbia
Our guide on what to do during a short break in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade Our very first 3-night visit to Belgrade (in July 2014) was an unexpected surprise. We knew there would be enough things to occupy us for a full day of sightseeing but we weren’t expecting to...
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Visiting the Bay of Abandoned Hotels in Kupari, Croatia
Easy urbexing on the Dalmatian Coast at the bay of abandoned hotels The words ‘urbexing’ and ‘easy’ are a rare combination but the smattering of abandoned hotels near the Croatian seaside town of Kupari is not only one of the best places for a spot of urban...
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Abandoned Croatia – Political School Josip Broz Tito in Kumrovec
A single-line train track and the occasional bit of razor wire were the only things that separated Croatia and Slovenia as we drove through picturesque countryside en route to the unassuming village of Kumrovec. Situated 60km slightly northwest of Zagreb, the...
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