During the first half of the 1990s, the term Balkans suffered the same misfortune that befell Pearl Harbor, Vietnam, and Iwo Jima; the name no longer evoked a place, but rather a war.

Unfortunately, this is still the case in many people's minds. Although the war that destroyed Yugoslavia has been over a long time, tourists-often the most timid of creatures-are just now starting to tiptoe back into the region. We posted recently about Sarajevo's glorious rise from the ashes. Today, I'd like to send you a bit deeper into the former Yugoslavia to Serbia and Montenegro with journalist Simon Calder of The Independent (UK).

Calder uncovers a magical land with very few tourists (indeed, he only met one) and an unbelievably friendly and helpful people (including a taxi driver who insisted on buying him lunch before taking him to his destination). Calder waxes eloquently about the natural beauty of the region, and most impressively, about Kotor a walled town at the foot of an impressive fjord that also happens to be a UNESCO world heritage site. "Like a warm version of Norway," was the quote that really inspired me to add this wonderful place to my travel list.

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Serbia, Red Corner