Those living in border regions, how often do you go across the border?
Posted by Happy-Hour88@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 18 comments
I lived in Bratislava so I really got used to being able to travel to two nearby countries with completely different languages to boot. Bratislava itself is in the border region of Slovakia. You can literally walk over into Austria and Hungary.
I wonder if anyone here is living or has lived in a border region? Do you cross the border often for shopping, eating a different kind of food, or a slightly different version of similar food, or just for a change? I know lots of Bulgarians visit Edirne in Turkey for shopping.
Cheddarlad@reddit
Ppl in Skopje say they go to Kosovo for shopping, never tried it, but at least farmacies sell different stuff
24_Voices@reddit
It is a one hour drive, why haven't you gone to check it out? Many people from Kosovo are always coming to Skopje for various reasons...as they should be.
VisibleReport5008@reddit
when i lived in edirne i was doing daytrips to greece sometimes, it is common there. Usually alexandroupolis.
the_lonely_creeper@reddit
Alexandrople I think is the name in English? Not 100% sure.
Hefty_Jaguar4305@reddit
hm...I always thought it was the other way around, that those from across the border come to Turkey to shop.
VisibleReport5008@reddit
both ways i guess
Complex_Shine_1113@reddit
Half the cars at Skopje malls are with Kosovo license plates, so I’ll say yes we do cross the borders a lot.
JRJenss@reddit
When I'm in Croatia, I live in Zagreb and I have a winery near Jastrebarsko, so I go to Slovenia fairly often since winemaking equipment is usually cheaper there. Btw, driving to Slovenia from western part of Zagreb where I live, is normally faster than getting to the opposite, eastern side of the city. The distance itself is shorter too. The distance from my apartment to the other side of the Slovenian border, is literally less than 20km - it's something like 18 - 19km and you're driving on a highway. The distance to the easternmost neighborhood of Zagreb is over 25 km, most of which you can cover via that same highway, but the city traffic is something else altogether, especially since the rush hour on Zagreb roads has become an all day thing. It's nonstop.
No-Championship-4632@reddit
I've lived for about 18 years in a border town and I never went to Romania during that time. I crossed the border for the first time when I wasn't living there anymore. Nowadays they are starting a bus service as part of the city transportation system between the two towns on both sides of the Danube river and there is no border anymore so I guess it is dramatically different for people from the town.
PlamenIB@reddit
Yeah. Every time I go to Romania the shops are full with Romanians buying cigarettes (they are quite cheaper in Bulgaria). Its basically neighborhood at this point. I guess you are talking about Ruse?
No-Championship-4632@reddit
It's Ruse but how come shops in Romania are full of Romanians that buy cigarettes because they are cheaper in Bulgaria?
PlamenIB@reddit
I’m referring to shops in Ruse. I think faster than I can write lol
Puzzleheaded_Sail729@reddit
Well we sometimes cross the border for a day trip to Dedeağaç and Gümülcine. But of course it can't be on the same frequency of an Schengen border.
Hefty_Jaguar4305@reddit
I always thought it was the other way around, that those from across the border come to Turkey to shop.
Puzzleheaded_Sail729@reddit
Ancestors were from Drama and Kayılar(ptolemais). So no more relatives there, but I have some in now Bulgaria from the other side of the family.
PlamenIB@reddit
I don’t live near a border, but I am near one of the corridors in the Balkans. I’m basically an hour (or an hour and a half) away (by car) from Greece, Turkey, and Romania. I travel there often because I enjoy traveling. It’s true that we visit Edirne quite frequently (I was there Friday), but I don’t think shopping is the primary reason for most people. Personally, I go just for a walk and to eat something. It’s not a bad place, to be honest. Crossing the border these days is becoming quite challenging. Something happened in Turkey, and for some reason, there are many cars waiting for X-ray checks. Thessaloniki and Bucharest are primarily known for nightlife and having fun(source- me). Unless you’re planning to visit every single museum in a day, it’s not going to be possible. Nowadays, it’s quite easy to travel anywhere, even if you’re far away (“far” is subjective). And if you have a car, it becomes even more convenient.
Happy-Hour88@reddit (OP)
Yeah I also like traveling and also it's good to get out of it all when the being surrounded by fellow Bulgarians gets too much. :D
zara_anwar@reddit
I sometimes drive to north Macedonia (struga or ohrid) for diesel and some groceries. It's cheaper there.