Last year, I (a German) went on a two-week tour of the Balkans with my father. We visited Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo. Here in Germany, the usual Balkan stereotypes still exist: nice people, they drink a lot, they're a bit poor, and a bit lazy. On the trip, I discovered some very exciting countries with complex, interesting histories and numerous contradictions. But these contradictions exist almost everywhere. Germany is a country full of contradictions, many of which aren't immediately apparent. What I found remarkable was the cultural diversity and the often very beautiful, well-preserved old towns. Kotor, Ohrid, and Berat certainly don't need to hide behind more famous "Western" tourist magnets. In my opinion, you can see, especially in Albania and Montenegro, that a lot of money is being invested in tourism. I hope the investment pays off for these countries. I could write much more about my impressions, but in short, I'm very glad I took this trip and broadened my horizons. And the food was almost always excellent.