The city bazaar is a place unlike any you’ve likely seen before. For most people, places like this only exist in the movies.

The streets of the old bazaar are jam packed with men, women and children selling a million different things. From black market watches and DVDs, to switch blades, buttons, watermelons and shoes, Skopje’s old bazaar is one truly unique locale.

The video below shows me walking through the streets of the old bazaar in Skopje, Macedonia.

I apologize for the shaky camera, but I was walking quickly (in an attempt to show you everything) and at the same time was trying to hide my video camera and protect myself from the pick pocketing children that I’ve encountered time and time again in various parts of the city.

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• Hiking The Kotor Fortress In Montenegro

I cycled into Montenegro from Croatia on the 13th of May, 2009. After no more than an hour’s worth of riding, I found myself in the small coastal town of Herceg Novi, perched on a hillside near the entrance to the Gulf of Kotor.

After finding a small apartment to rent for the night, I spent the evening walking around town, strolling the local shops, eating pizza, and mixing with the locals. “This place is nice” I thought to myself. “Maybe I should stay here for a while?”

But I could do no such thing! I had already made a 40-night reservation for an apartment in the town of Tivat, a small coastal city of approximately 15,000 located across the Gulf, about 20 kilometers away.

I had arranged to meet the owner of my Tivat apartment at 5 PM at the ferry landing three miles north of the city. But it wasn’t even noon yet, so I spent the day cycling around the Bay of Kotor, one of Montenegro’s most famous landmarks and most notable geographic features.

In the middle of the Bay sat the islands I had, up to this point in my life, only seen in photographs. Our Lady of the Rocks, the floating church in the middle of the Bay built in Roman Catholic architecture, remained a prominent fixture throughout the day as I slowly made my way around to Kotor and back to the Lepetane ferry landing where I was to meet the apartment owner.

At 5 PM, there he was. Ratko was his name and he wore a bright orange polo shirt made up of red and yellow horizontal stripes. He seemed to be in a rush as we frantically loaded my bike into his car and took off toward town.

Ratko spoke little English, but more than I expected any resident of this tiny seaside country to speak or understand. As he showed me into my apartment I asked him, “How did you learn so much English? Did you learn it in school? Or simply from talking with tourists?”

“Yes!” he replied. But I was left wondering exactly which question he was responding to.

My apartment was nice. It was located in the center of a three story home, just off the main street that runs through town and directly across from the local city park where goats run wild and women sometime tan in the nude.

I had a small living room with a widescreen TV (which didn’t work), a computer (which I never used because I brought my own laptop) and two large red leather couches. In addition, there was a small kitchenette, a bathroom, and a luxurious bedroom with a gigantic dresser and a plush queen-size bed.

The only thing my temporary home lacked was a view. Two large windows were located on either side of the unit, but the only thing I could see out of them were the walls of the neighbors’ homes.

Here I am working via laptop from my apartment in Tivat, Montenegro.

These are just some of the goats that roamed through the nearby city park.

After I was shown around, Ratko said goodbye, closed the door and I was left to myself. I was alone yet again… and for the next month at least, I would remain that way, speaking to only a handful of people for the remainder of my time in Montenegro.

Unfortunately, my second day in Tivat left me with a negative impression from the get-go.

A kitten had been hit by a car right outside my hillside apartment building. Blood was leaking from it’ head and as I approached the baby cat on foot, I thought it might still be alive. It wasn’t however, and the thought of someone running it over and then leaving it in the street to be run over again and again left me with a negative image of the people I might meet in this tiny coastal town.

Further sadness crept in when I discovered five puppies that had been abandoned by some unresponsible owner in a nearby park.

And time and time again, I saw dead animals along the roadside, kicked into the gutter or thrown into the bushes and simply forgotten about.

My happy go-lucky mood had shifted to a state of depression and regret. I was wishing I hadn’t come to this place. I was regretting having to stay for so long. And in many ways, I wanted to just come home.

But a few days passed and my dark mood lifted.

My first week in Tivat was spent doing what I always do when I find myself in a new place – I walked around aimlessly. Getting lost can be a good thing when traveling to a new locale, because it forces you to find places and experience things you might not have ever found or experienced otherwise. And it was these random walks around the city that changed my overall impression of Montenegro and the people that live there.

One of my favorite places to walk to in Tivat was the soccer field on the north side of town. It was about a 30-minute walk to get there from my apartment, but it was worth it because I loved watching the games take place. Men of all ages were on the field. Some were wearing athletic shorts and shirts, while others were dressed in jeans and polos – even in the 100+ degree weather.

I tried to get in on a few games myself, but with no such luck. I later learned that the players were paying to join these scrimmages and that I would be unable to play with the locals unless I joined a team and paid up like the rest of them. Had I been staying longer, I gladly would have.

Downtown Tivat was where the tourists, if there were any, hung out. Large palm trees lined the street and a long row of restaurants and outdoor eateries ran the entire length of the street. All day long, people sat underneath the restaurant awnings and peered out at the people walking past – something I quickly learned is a favorite undertaking in Montenegro.

The tourist area of Tivat.

The advantage of staying in one place for an extended period of time is that you get to see how things are in these places on a daily basis. You pick up the patterns of daily life and see the same people day after day.

The paint store and the main road that runs through Tivat, Montenegro.

One of the major intersections in downtown Tivat.

Women enjoying the warm water of the Gulf of Kotor on a cloudy day in Montenegro.

On my walk into town each day, the man at the paint store, who slept in his car at night to guard his paint and building supplies, would nod his head at me as I walked passed.

And the old balding fat man in the alley than ran from the corner bakery to the beach never seemed to move. No matter whether I walked past at 8 in the morning or 10 o’ clock at night, he was always there, sitting in his chair outside his tiny run-down apartment. He never had his shirt on. He was never reading a book or talking with other residents. He was just sitting there, watching people walk past, day… after day… after day.

Then there was the blond haired woman in the tourist agency, whom I had talked to on my first day in Tivat, and whom I seemed to keep running into no matter where I was in town.

Boys on bicycles quickly learned who I was and I too began to recognize the clanking sounds of their bicycle wheels long before I ever saw them coming.

And the bar maidens at the Exit Pizzeria on the south side of town quickly learned that a vegetarian pizza in a box was all I really wanted.

After just a couple weeks in Tivat, I felt like one of the locals and the place that had shocked me so much at first had now surprisingly grown on me.

During my time in Tivat, I would spend my weekdays doing work. I’d write articles for BicycleTouringPro.com, work on marketing for my clients in California, and plan my travels for the coming weeks and months ahead.

On the weekends I would take bus trips to nearby cities. I spent much of my time in Kotor, a large fortified city on the south side of The Bay of Kotor. And trips to Budva, Bar, Sutomore and other coastal towns were made as well.

Downtown Kotor, Montenegro.

A view of the Bay Of Kotor from high above in the Kotor Fortress.

People walking the street in Sutmore, Montenegro.

Beach umbrellas lining the shore in Sutomore.

Nearly all of the food I purchased in Montenegro came from streetside vendors.

A crowded public beach on the Adriatic coast on Montenegro.

German men jumping off a boat into the Gulf of Kotor.

San Stefan, Montenegro

The coast of Montenegro, heading south toward Albania.

A typical day would involve sleeping in late, working for a couple hours, going on a bike ride or walk around town, and then returning in the evening for a shower, a warm meal, and a long night of computer work and writing.

Here I am out on a day ride with my bicycle. I’m cycling across some lowland marshes.

Unfortunately, the Internet in Montenegro (or at least in the apartment I was renting) was incredibly unreliable. It seemed as though there was hardly a day where the Internet did not go out at least once. And on some occasions, the Internet would go out three to four times per day.

For someone who does not use the Internet all that often, this may not some like a big deal. But when your livelihood is made via the World Wide Web, like mine is, Internet outages are an incredible nuisance and an substantial drain of both time and money.

Every time the Internet would go out, I had to call Rakto, the apartment owner, or his son, Nino (who spoke better English than his father), to come over and reset the router and/or call the Internet company. I had thought the Internet in Croatia had been bad, but Montenegro was a million times worse.

During the 40 days I spent in Tivat, I would guess that at least half of my days were spent trying to get the Internet back up and running. It was frustrating, depressing, and a waste of time. I had planned to get a lot of work done while staying in Montenegro, but that didn’t really happen. Instead, most of my time was spent walking around town, simply waiting for the Internet to magically turn back on. And even after it did come back on, it would often times go out again just a few hours later.

It was terrible… and it made me realize just how much I love my home in the United States and how much my lifestyle depends on having a good, fast, reliable Internet connection.

Overall, the biking in Montenegro was good, the weather was hot, it rained a lot, the women were beautiful, the clothing was skimpy, men walked around with their shirts lifted high above their bellies, women watered their gardens in bikinis, dead animals were everywhere, I saw more naked people than I have ever seen before in my entire life, and the landscape of the country left me with nothing but positive impressions.

But after 43 days in Montenegro it was time to say goodbye and continue my journey south.

On the 24th of June I left my apartment in Tivat. There was no one to say goodbye to. No one to wave me off. I simply packed up my things, rolled my bike out to the street and took off toward Albania.

My temporary home along the Adriatic sea has quickly become a distant memory. But I am glad that I had the chance to experience the people and place they call Montenegro… and I will forever remember it as one of the most beautiful, friendly, and frustrating places I have ever been.

A sunset from the city park in Tivat, Montenegro.

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For those who may not know, I’m seven months into a nine month bike tour through Europe… and at the time of this interview I was currently in Tivat, Montenegro where I had rented a small one-bedroom apartment and was conducting some work before cycling my way into Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia.

Thanks to the power of the Internet, Rick and I connected via Skype where he asked me some questions about my cycling trip though Europe. During the interview Rick asked me:

• How did I first get started with bicycle touring?
• What made me want to come to Europe for such an extended period of time?
• How do I finance my travels?
• Do I worry about safety when traveling in remote places like Albania and Kosovo?
• Plus… a whole lot more!

The interview was spliced into two sections and both parts are now available for online viewing.

Part 1: http://www.cyclenow.us/?p=78

Part 2: http://www.cyclenow.us/?p=84

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• How To Pack Your Bicycle For A Long Distance Tour

But what about the stuff that isn’t obvious? What about the stuff that most people forget… or simply didn’t know to pack in the first place?

Well, you’re in luck! Because today I’ve compiled a list of 10 items I think are very important, but many people forget to bring on their bike tours. 

1. Camera Tripod/Mount

Most bicycle tourists now travel with a camera of some kind. Whether it be a compact handheld or a over-sized DSL with a giant zoom lens, bringing a tripod and/or mount of some kind is an excellent idea. There will surely be times on your travels when you want to get in the photo yourself… and without a tripod or mount, this could be very difficult to do. Traveling with a partner or two makes snapping photos easier, but if there’s no one around, you’re alone, and you want to get in the photo, then a camera tripod or mount will certainly save the day.

2. Needle & Thread

My needle and thread literally saved my shorts on my second long distance bike tour through the Midwest of the United States. I was on a train, on my way to Kansas, when I sat up quickly to run to the dinning car, and the button on my fly popped completely off my shorts. I went from suddenly feeling hungry… to suddenly feeling a draft. Luckily, I had remembered to pack a needle and thread inside my panniers. So, while holding my shorts in place with one hand, I pulled out my emergency sewing kit stashed away inside my panniers with the other hand and ran to the restroom to quickly attend to my shorts. A few minutes later, the button was sewn back into place and I was up and walking like a normal person again, just a few minutes later. The lesson here is that a needle and thread can certainly come in handy when traveling by bike. Not only will you use these items to repair broken buttons, but also to sew up rips and tears in  your panniers or tent, to mend broken shoe laces, or to do a plethora of other tasks you might encounter on your travels. Of course, knowing how to actually sew will help you use these items if the time ever comes for such a thing.

3. Spare Rack Screws

Rack screws are the small metal screws that are used to attach your front and rear racks to the frame of your bike. These little guys are notorious for wiggling themselves loose while you ride, so packing a few extras is always a smart idea. You can usually pick up a couple of these screws for free from your local bike shop. And if you can’t get any there, your local hardware store should have something that will work. Just know that losing a rack screw while out on the road isn’t a big deal… as long as you have an extra or two hidden away inside your panniers or trailer.

4. Camp Towel

It’s hard to believe, but some bicycle tourists still travel with a full size bath towel. These traditionally large and elegant towels are nice, but they take up a huge amount of room (an entire pannier in some cases) and weigh a ton! I guess some people just don’t know there’s a better option. The camp towel, which is a lightweight, fast drying product produced by a number of companies around the world, is one of the quickest and easiest ways to save precious space inside your packs and cut down on your bike’s overall weight. They come in a number of different sizes and colors… and while they may not be as nice and fluffy as your bath towel back home, they’re a must have for any bicycle traveler.

5. Mini USB Cord

A USB mini cord is the small gray or black cord that is typically included with the purchase of a new digital camera. I’ve brought this compact item with me on almost all of my long distance bicycle tours over the past nine years and it’s come in handy several different times. Not only is this tiny piece of electronic hardware ideal for uploading pictures to a nearby computer (whether that be a public computer or your own personal laptop or netbook), but the cord can also be used to transfer files between an external hard drive and some digital video cameras. Over the years, this little cord has been my backup system for my digital photos and files. When the computer I’m using doesn’t have a memory card slot, I use my USB cord. When I want to transfer a file downloaded off a public library onto my camera, so I can access the file at a later point in time, I use my USB cord. And when I’m syncing my laptop with my external hard drive, I use my USB cord. It’s small, doesn’t weight much, and isn’t used very often, but when you need it, you’ll sure be glad you have it.

6. Hat

Most (not all) traveling cyclists carry a helmet of some kind. But not all cyclists carry a hat. This surprises me… because I, well, am a hat person. Not only is a hat of some kind good for keeping the summer sun off your head, neck and face, but it’s a great way to cover up your helmet hair once you step off the bike at the end of a long, hard day. I have carried a traditional baseball cap on just about all of my bicycle tours, but the type of hat you end up using is ultimately up to you. A hat, nevertheless, is a good item to add to you packing list.

7. Extra Camera Battery

If you’re traveling with a digital camera, bringing an extra battery or two might be a good idea. Most digital camera nowadays are sold with lithium batteries, which when dead, must be charged up before being used again. This, of course, can be a challenge for traveling cyclists. If you find yourself out in the middle of nowhere, with on one around, no buildings in sight, and your camera battery goes dead, it could be hours and/or days before you have a chance to recharge your battery again. And in the meantime, you could be missing some incredible, once-in-a-lifetime shots, as you cycle past without a functioning camera. For this reason, I always recommend that if you are planning to travel with a camera that uses lithium batteries, make that extra investment and buy yourself an extra battery. These batteries are still pretty expensive, but you’ll be glad you have an extra once your battery dies out on the road and you’ve got nowhere to recharge it.

8. Business Cards

You’re bound to meet people on your travels who will be interested in what you are doing. And many of these people will want to keep in touch with you once your tour comes to an end. But rather than having to grab a pen a paper every time someone wants your contact information, you might consider carrying a small pile of business cards instead. On the cards, list your name, email address, mailing address, phone number, website and any other information you feel comfortable giving out. Then, whenever someone asks for your contact info, just pull out a business card and hand it to them. This is especially useful for riders seeking to raise money for charitable causes or for cyclists with websites seeking to gain new readers/followers.

9. Toilet Paper

You know what this is for! But many cyclists don’t pack an extra roll for emergencies. They figure there will always be a toilet around when they need one, but that isn’t always the case! There are times then you might need to resort to extreme measures and perform your business in a place that is far from equipped with standard bathroom supplies. In such cases, a half roll of toilet paper really does come in handy.

10. Important Computer Documents

Finally, you might consider carrying important computer documents from your home or work computer with you on your travels. Whether you carry your important financial statements, a list of passwords, family photos, or whatever it may be, bringing these pieces of information with you on the road is now possible thanks to digitization and the easy access that worldwide Internet provides. You can carry your computer documents on a standard SD or memory card, like the one used in your digital camera, or you can carry a USB stick and store your important documents on there. Either way, you’ll be glad you have those documents with you when it comes time to use them.

What other important items might a bicycle traveler need or want to bring with them on their travels that they might not ordinarily think of?

Needle and thread photo by jfrancis. Screw photo by Honda CB77 Restoration.

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Along the way, The Hungry Cyclist covered more than 15,000 miles and not only found the perfect meal, but found hundreds of them!

From turkey meals in the Dakotas, freshly caught salmon in the Pacific Northwest, and tacos in Mexico, The Hungry Cyclist ate his way, one meal at a time, from the shores of New York City to the beaches of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

The Hungry Cyclist: Pedalling The Americas In Search Of The Perfect Meal is Tom Kevill-Davis first book and, I might add, an excellent read. If you like to bike… and you like to eat… then this is one book you’ve got to taste for yourself.

After finishing the book just a few short weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of speaking with The Hungry Cyclist himself and asking him a little bit about his gastronomic cycling Adventure through the Americas.

Listen to my interview with The Hungry Cyclist and find out:

• How Tom Kevill-Davis became “The Hungry Cyclist”
• Why he picked a route that would lead him from New York to Rio
• How he managed to get hundreds of free meals on his journey
• What his best and worst experiences of the trip were
• Whether or not he found “the perfect meal”
• Tips for vegetarian eating
• Plus, a whole lot more!

To hear my interview with The Hungry Cyclist, just click the play button below… or click the link underneath to download an MP3 copy of the interview so you can play it back on your computer or MP3 player any time you please.

Click here to download this interview as an MP3 - 25 MB

To pick up a copy of Tom Kevill-Davies’ book, “The Hungry Cyclist: Pedalling The Americas in Search Of The Perfect Meal” just click here.

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