
From London to the Adriatic
An Englishman in the Balkans Archive 2013-2025
09/11/24
•36m
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Welcome to An Englishman in the Balkans, the podcast where I, David, share my experiences of life in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a British expat.
Join me as I explore the culture, history, food, and everyday life in this fascinating country. From hidden travel gems and local traditions to expat life insights, each episode offers a first-hand perspective on what it’s like to live, travel, and immerse yourself in the Balkans.
Whether you’re curious about Bosnia, planning a visit, or considering moving abroad, this podcast is your guide to discovering the authentic side of the region, through engaging stories, interviews, and personal reflections.
📌 New episodes every week. Subscribe now and explore Bosnia with me!
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.
You can send comments, thoughts and suggestions to: questions@anenglishmaninthebalkans.com I reply to every mail!
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
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.coffeeandrakija.com/subscribe
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.coffeeandrakija.com/subscribe
Previous Episode

Healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
September 4, 2024
•14m
Welcome to An Englishman in the Balkans, the podcast where I, David, share my experiences of life in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a British expat.
Join me as I explore the culture, history, food, and everyday life in this fascinating country. From hidden travel gems and local traditions to expat life insights, each episode offers a first-hand perspective on what it’s like to live, travel, and immerse yourself in the Balkans.
Whether you’re curious about Bosnia, planning a visit, or considering moving abroad, this podcast is your guide to discovering the authentic side of the region, through engaging stories, interviews, and personal reflections.
📌 New episodes every week. Subscribe now and explore Bosnia with me!
In this episode, I share my personal journey and insights on the healthcare system in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
My personal experience, includes treatment for a serious ankle injury and a urinary tract infection, both of which I used a mixture of state and private healthcare.
I tell you about the improvements in the medical infrastructure over the years there’s some advice for those considering visiting or living in Bosnia.
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.
You can send comments, thoughts and suggestions to: questions@anenglishmaninthebalkans.com I reply to every mail!
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
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.coffeeandrakija.com/subscribe
Next Episode

From London to the Adriatic
September 11, 2024
•35m
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.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
01:00 Meeting Martin Gannon
01:51 Martin's Journey to Yugoslavia
03:31 Life and Work in Yugoslavia
05:33 Navigating Language and Residency
08:25 Exploring the Region
11:40 Involvement with Yugoslav Airlines
16:15 Reflections on Tourism Then and Now
19:42 The Impact of COVID and Future Plans
29:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
📈 The Survey 📊
I have a short survey designed to improve my Substack. It would be super helpful if you could find under 5 minutes to complete it. Thanks so much in advance.
And Finally
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THANKS SO MUCH ❤️
As ever stay safe wherever you are.BestsDavid and Tamara.
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.coffeeandrakija.com/subscribe
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.coffeeandrakija.com/subscribe
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