Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Americans struggle tounderstand thecomplicated breakupofYugoslavia—especially when
visiting countries that have risen from its ashes, such as Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia-
Herzegovina.Talkingtothelocalscanmakeitevenmoreconfusing:Everyoneintheformer
Yugoslavia seems to have a slightly different version of events, and mildly plausible (but
specious) conspiracy theories run rampant. A very wise Bosniak once told me, “Listen to
all three sides—Muslim, Serb, and Croat. Then decide for yourself what you think.” A Serb
toldmeasimilarlocalsaying:“Youhavetolookattheapplefromallsides.”That'sthebest
advice I can offer. But since you may not have time for that on your brief visit, here's an
admittedly oversimplified, as-impartial-as-possible history to get you started.
For starters, it helps to have a handle on the different groups who've lived in the
Balkans—the southeastern European peninsula between the Adriatic and the Black Sea,
