>>215890371 (OP)
While I never doubted that the post-soviet places to the east of us are grim and horrifying, I used to romanticize Balkans as the South America of Europe - maybe a bit poorer, but soulful, energetic, musical, flavorful, bombastic, full of culture and traditions that are still alive in the daily lives of the people.
Then I realized just how dangerous and crime-ridden South America is, and how much of a permanent political powder keg, IQ black hole, and designated war crime zone the Balkans are and pretty much always were, so, amusingly, the comparison wasn't far off, it's just that there's nothing romantic about the savagery of both of these hellscapes. I feel bad for Slovenes and understand them completely.