Our couple traveled around the four countries in Central Europe for 10 days in early October, 2009, as a member of the tour sponsered by Hankyu Trapics.

The countries are located in the Balkan Peninsula south-east of Europe. They used to belong to Former Yugoslavia.
Among them, we mainly toured Slovenia and Croatia, and on the way stopped over in the cities of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.

What was the motive that made me interested in this tour? Not clear, but in fact, our couple had an impressive experience.
In addition to the scenic spots of autumn in full swing, old towns, castle walls, cathedrals, mosques, people, ....., their peaceful scenery and atmosphere excited us so much.
This travel for us just matched the following Chinese proverb.

『桃李不言下自成蹊』
（桃李ものいはざれども、下おのずから蹊（みち）を成す）
Peaches and plums do not talk,
yet the world beats a path to them.

On the other hand, during the travel, I was also heavy-hearted. Collapsed buildings, bullet holes on house walls, barracks on the way of repairing, ..... at most places. They explained that these areas had been exposed for the conflicts until quite recently. What closed in on me by force was the conflicts of tribes and religions, as well as the rough traces of struggles for ruling power among the neighboring countries.
While relaxed by the mild smiles of local people, I had no choice but to think of the people who had run around this way and that shivering with the flames of war.

32 people including our couple joined the tour and enjoyed the seven-day sightseeing actually by bus. The driver was Mr Jacob, a tall and cheerful Slovenian. He drove for us safely for 2,030 km in total.

The following table shows our footprints.
I am going to write down what I saw and felt at each place from the next chapter.

I have ever made trips dozens of times domestically and overseas. While traveling those days including the ways to and fro, I have only one memory to have happened to meet my acqueintance.

About 30 years ago when working for Daido Steel, I had a business trip to the US and Canada accompanying Mr G, the executive director. At Narita Airport from Japan, I happened to meet Mr M at the counter lobby. He was my friend in university and our friendship has been lasting still now. He was then working for the medicine division of M Confectionary in charge of the contracts with overseas.
We were going to get on the same flight for Chicago by chance. He was also with the executive of his company and his seat was also the first class.
We arranged between us to sit on vacant seats in the economy class, and talked a lot.
We parted each other at Chicago Arport for each business.

- - - - -
This trip is my second time of encounter.
We, Emiko and I, met Mr and Mrs S at the hotel counter where the airport bus stops by. Mr S was the same member with me at the senior group in Urayasu City.
Both couples happened to be in the same tour. All of us were delighted blinking in surprise.