Welcome to Postcards from Bosnia, where I share personal stories, conversations, and moments of everyday life from my adopted home in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Whether you’re curious about the culture, thinking of visiting, or just enjoy a slower pace of storytelling, there’s something here for you.

Pull up a chair — this one’s a ramble, but the good kind.

It’s a Wednesday evening in northwest Bosnia. The sun’s just dipped behind Kozara National Park, painting the sky in that deep red you only get here.

Tamara’s in Banja Luka with her mum, Predrag (her father) is off with a chainsaw (don’t ask), and I’m here with two dogs, seven cats, and my thoughts.

This episode is about what it really takes to live here long-term.

Not the glossy “buy a house in Portugal” kind of podcast episode, but the truth about visas, bureaucracy, and why most foreigners in Bosnia are here because they’ve married locals.

I talk about property, residency permits, and why embracing the culture and language isn’t optional. It’s survival.

There’s a little bit of Hemingway, a little bit of homesickness, and a lot of reflection on what it means to be happy in later life.

If you’ve ever thought about packing up and moving somewhere far from home — or you’ve done it and know that strange tug of wanting to visit “home” but never really go back — this one’s for you.

If you like the sound of crickets under a Balkan sunset and the idea of living somewhere without an expat bubble, hit play. This is life, unfiltered.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the podcast by leaving a review or buying me a coffee, it really does help keep things going.

Want to hear more or catch up on past episodes? Visit anenglishmaninthebalkans

For a deeper look into life here in the Balkans, check out my Blog at Coffee and Rakija.

Find us on ALL podcatchers at: PODLINK

Until next time — stay curious.

Welcome to Postcards from Bosnia, where I share personal stories, conversations, and moments of everyday life from my adopted home in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Whether you’re curious about the culture, thinking of visiting, or just enjoy a slower pace of storytelling, there’s something here for you.

How a strange sensation reopened the door to a forgotten chapter—Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a brush with paralysis, and learning to rest without guilt.

What if a small sensation—like a numb lip—could transport you back nearly 40 years?

In this reflective episode, I share a story I don’t often tell.

One that begins with pins and needles and ends with walking again after months of paralysis. Back in 1987, while serving with the British Army in Germany, I was unexpectedly diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that left me paralysed from the chest down and in recovery for more than a year.

This isn’t a dramatic tale or a medical deep-dive. It’s simply my account of what happened, what it felt like, and why a recent sensation, something as small as a numb upper lip—brought it all flooding back.

I also talk candidly about the lingering fatigue that follows you after GBS, how I’ve learned (finally) to rest without guilt, and why sometimes it takes a quiet moment in the present to fully revisit the past.

If you’ve experienced GBS, or know someone who has, or you’re dealing with unexplained exhaustion or long recovery from illness, I hope this episode gently reminds you: you’re not lazy, you’re healing.

Please get in touch as well?

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the podcast by leaving a review or buying me a coffee, it really does help keep things going.

Want to hear more or catch up on past episodes? Visit anenglishmaninthebalkans

For a deeper look into life here in the Balkans, check out my Blog at Coffee and Rakija.

Find us on ALL podcatchers at: PODLINK

Until next time — stay curious.

First broadcast in March 2024, this candid village conversation explores cross-cultural travel, ćevapi debates, and what it really means to return to Bosnia, this time with the whole family in tow.

It’s a misty Sunday morning in the village, the firewood’s sorted for next winter, and the banana plant has, miraculously, survived.

In this special episode, first aired back in March 2024, I sit down outdoors with Hannah Thomas, a young German-American nurse who’s just wrapped up her second visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Joined this time by her father, brother, boyfriend, and younger brother, Hannah reflects on what it’s like to travel somewhere that’s not “on the list.”

We talk about ćevapi comparisons between Croatia and Bosnia (spoiler: Bosnia wins), what shocked her the first time she crossed the border, and how it feels to slow down, embrace ćejf, and soak in a country still unknown to many.

This is the first time a guest has agreed to chat right here, and it’s raw, real, and refreshingly honest.

We explore:

The contrasts between German and Bosnian culture through the eyes of a traveler in her twenties

Why slow travel in the Balkans might be the antidote to all-inclusive burnout

How Bosnia’s charm sneaks up on you, through smoky cafés, fruit markets, and unexpected kindness

So brew yourself something warm, find a quiet moment, and join us for a very human story about family, curiosity, and the power of returning.

Have you ever visited a country that completely changed your perspective, where your expectations didn’t match the reality?

If so, where was it… and would you go back?