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I know someone who was kidnapped recently while cycle touring in Macedonia. His story is one of the most terrifying things I've ever heard. He managed to escape and had to hide in a forest while he heard his kidnappers searching for him. It was like something from a movie.
You have to keep your wits about you. Googling suggest Macedonia itself is a bit of a hot spot, with a few stories for refugees heading West of similar incidents. I imagine this is a very rare occurance but it's put me off a little, particularly solo in Macedonia. Stay safe out there!
Scrabble
TM
Bob_Thod
I've been planning a route from London to Athens and some people told me not to go along the valleys and the main road (easier, flatter routes) in the Balkans, purely because there are gangs operating and you could easily get attacked with your bike stolen and you robbed, before even realising it. Some areas are pretty rough, and that's not the landscape I'm talking about. So better of via remote paths, especially when riding at nighttime..