From London to the Adriatic

Welcome to An Englishman in the Balkans, the podcast where I explore the fascinating culture, history, and everyday life in Bosnia and Herzegovina, this heart-shaped, but much misunderstood country.

I’m David, your host, sharing stories, insights, and conversations from my life here in the north west of the country.

Whether you’re a longtime listener or tuning in for the first time, I’m so glad you’re here.

In this episode of the podcast, I talk to Martin Gannon, a British expatriate with deep ties to the former Yugoslavia.

Martin shares his experiences of first moving to Yugoslavia in 1980, initially as a holiday job opportunity, which evolved into a long-term career in tourism.

He discusses his early days working in places like Poreč and later organising tours across the region, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Montenegro.

Martin reflects on cultural differences, the impact of Tito's death, the ease of working in tourism, and navigating the local languages.

He reminisces about the vibrant tourism scene of the 1980s, his work with Yugoslav Airlines, and developing pilgrimage tours to Medjugorje.

The discussion also touches on the current state of tourism in former Yugoslavian regions, emphasising Bosnia and Herzegovina's untapped potential.

Thank you for tuning in to An Englishman in the Balkans. I hope you enjoyed today’s episode and that it gave you a little more insight into life and culture here in this fascinating part of the world.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast on your favourite platform so you never miss a new release. And, if you have a moment, a quick rating or review would mean the world. It really helps others discover the show.

For more updates, stories, and behind-the-scenes moments consider Subscribing to My Blog.

I’d also love to hear from you!

Feel free to reach out with any questions, feedback, or ideas for future episodes.

Until next time, take care, and as always, Hvala for listening.

Enjoying the podcast? If you’d like to support the show and help me continue sharing stories and insights about life here in the Balkans, consider Buying Me a Coffee!

Your support means the world and helps keep the episodes coming.

Mentioned in this episode:

Tamara Intro Tip