Author: Jonny Blair

I'm Jonny Blair, a travelling Northern Irishman. Since leaving my homecity in 2003, I have managed to visit over 200 countries and over 1,500 towns or cities across all 7 continents. Along the way I have worked in countless jobs! Join my journey on Don't Stop Living - a lifestyle of travel as I provide you with tips and inspiration to live your travel dreams! Safe travels! Follow me on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
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World Borders: How to Get From Romania🇷🇴to Bulgaria🇧🇬(Train from Bucharest to Veliko Tarnovo)

Posted on by Jonny Blair

Another of my Eastern European world borders series now as I write about my trip from Romania to Bulgaria. Having loved my time in Bucharest, I decided to head south and check out the medieval city of Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria. Having used train to cross from Romania to Moldova (and back the same way) Read more about World Borders: How to Get From Romania🇷🇴to Bulgaria🇧🇬(Train from Bucharest to Veliko Tarnovo)[…]

Staying at City Hostel: The First Ever Hostel in Skopje, Northern Macedonia🇲🇰

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I was completely buzzing during my stay in Skopje, Northern Macedonia. I really have to say – Skopje is a very under-rated city and so magnificent that it jumped up to be my second favourite city in all of Europe – second only to Belfast in Northern Ireland of course. I had arrived in Northern Read more about Staying at City Hostel: The First Ever Hostel in Skopje, Northern Macedonia🇲🇰[…]

World Borders: How to Get from Transnistria☭🟥🟩To Moldova🇲🇩(Bus from Tiraspol to Chisinau)

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You might have heard that I went backpacking in Tiraspol, capital city of the rather unknown country of Transnsitria. I enjoyed a cool home stay with Ilya, including a local breakfast experience. Getting to Transnistria, I got a border bus from Chisinau to Tiraspol and have already written about that journey. Going the opposite way Read more about World Borders: How to Get from Transnistria☭🟥🟩To Moldova🇲🇩(Bus from Tiraspol to Chisinau)[…]

Backpacking in Romania🇷🇴: Touring Marginea Black Ceramics Factory

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Seeing real life hard workers in action on my travels is something I like to do, away from the “Disneyland” experience of touring custom made attractions. Welcome to Southern Bucovina, which to no confusion or intention is in northern Romania. My train journey up was bliss, I loved my hostel the Dor de Bucovina hostel Read more about Backpacking in Romania🇷🇴: Touring Marginea Black Ceramics Factory[…]

Backpacking In Romania🇷🇴: Staying at Peaches Hostel in Bucharest

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It’s not that often I stay in two different hostels in the same city, nor is it often that I spend over two weeks in the same city!! But with Bucharest I did. I loved the vibe in the city and it was enough for me to make it my base in between all my Read more about Backpacking In Romania🇷🇴: Staying at Peaches Hostel in Bucharest[…]

Friday’s Featured Food: Placinta and Cappuccino for Breakfast in Tiraspol, Transnistria☭🟥🟩

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Transnistria is a truly odd place. A self declared Republic in a narrow strip of land between Moldova and Ukraine, this is an absurd place to go travelling in. After crossing the border near the Transnistrian town of Bendery I ended up spending a night in the homestay at Balka in the capital city Tiraspol. Read more about Friday’s Featured Food: Placinta and Cappuccino for Breakfast in Tiraspol, Transnistria☭🟥🟩[…]

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Thirsty Thursdays: Top 5 Bars in Chisinau, Moldova

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I seriously buzz off this now, and I never used to. It used to be “get to a city, find a bar, have a beer” and chill out and on with the adventure. These days, things have changed. I want to write more about these experiences and share my bars with everyone so you can Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: Top 5 Bars in Chisinau, Moldova[…]

Backpacking in Italy🇮🇹: 5 Things You Must do in Milan

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“Mussolini hangs from a butcher’s hook” – Richey James Edwards. Milan is the second biggest city in Italy in terms of population size. It is the financial, industrial and commercial capital of Italy. It is located in the north of Italy between Turin and Venice. When you’re backpacking in Italy it makes a cool and Read more about Backpacking in Italy🇮🇹: 5 Things You Must do in Milan[…]

Staying in the Cosy Family Hotel Comfort in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria🇧🇬

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My first day in Bulgaria ended up being a massive backpacking adventure. I kind of assumed loads of travellers would be heading the same way, as I went from Romania’s capital across the border into Bulgaria. Alas – no – it was just myself and Mina, a Turkish girl who I met on the train Read more about Staying in the Cosy Family Hotel Comfort in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria🇧🇬[…]

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Backpacking in Transnistria☭🟥🟩: Top 12 Sights in Tiraspol

Posted on by Jonny Blair

“I follow the Moskva, down to Gorky Park, listening to the wind of change” – Scorpions. After exploring Romania and Moldova, it was time for something even more sublime as I took my eager backpack and soul across the border into Transnistria. Screams of “where?” were screeching out from my friends as I told them Read more about Backpacking in Transnistria☭🟥🟩: Top 12 Sights in Tiraspol[…]