Our 2025 travels took us on a grand Balkan road trip through Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro—a journey stitched together with coastal breezes, mountain air, and countless “we have to stop here!” moments. We wandered the shining walls of Dubrovnik, soaked up the island charm of Hvar, marveled at the old bridge and vibrant spirit of Mostar, and breathed in the wild majesty of Durmitor’s rugged peaks. Each stop felt like a new chapter in an ancient story—rich with history, flavor, and the kind of beauty that makes you pull over just to stand still and take it all in.

Marko spent part of the year exploring the North and the Silk Road like a modern‑day wanderer with a knack for collecting stories. His travels first took him to Sweden and Norway, where he reconnected with friends amid fjords, forests, and the kind of Nordic calm that makes you forget what hurry means. But the real adventure began farther east—with a two‑week trek through Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. There were horses to ride in the high mountains, endless skies that made the earth feel wide and wild, and, in true Marko fashion, an accidental crash of an Kyrgyz wedding. By the time he returned, he had a pocketful of pictures, a head full of tales, and just enough stink in his boots to prove that every great story begins with a little mischief.

The year had its fair share of music and mayhem, all strung together like a melody that refused to end. March set the tempo with a flurry of performances—Nouvelle Vague shimmering in Zürich with their velvety coolness, Calexico bringing desert sun to Lörrach, and Vasil Hadžimanov weaving Balkan jazz magic that made even the shyest feet tap along. By August, we found ourselves under the Hvar stars, swaying to Darko Rundek’s soulful poetry, the sea humming backup like an old friend who knows all the verses. Each show was its own little adventure—different rhythms, same joy, and the comforting reminder that great music always finds its way to those willing to listen.

While the year offered no shortage of miles and music, it also demanded its fair share of brains and backbone. Marko steadily marched through his Molecular Biology studies in Basel, passing his exams one by one until only a single hurdle remained between him and his Bachelor of Science—a reminder that even the longest laboratory road eventually runs out of pipettes. Petar, meanwhile, kept the gears turning at ETH Zürich, continuing his Mechanical Engineering studies and joining the Alpha Centauri Solar Racing team, a band of students determined to make cars outrun the sun itself—or at least keep up with it for 3,000 kilometers. Milan’s work, ever the wily beast, managed to be both challenging and rewarding, like a job that hands you a mountain to climb and then politely offers you a view worth the blisters. And Dragana, not to be outdone, quietly coaxed the family business into new growth, proving that enterprise, like a good garden, thrives under steady hands and a hint of ingenuity.

June 2025