Cultural Differences in the Balkans

Hi as a former professor of cultural and physical geography and now 10 year veteran of European living and having been in 57 countries on 6 continents and three oceans, I have developed some personal opinions based upon studies and personal observations - hopefully not too American-ethnocentric. The Balkans are really more unique than the rest of Europe, and each of them is even more unique from each other. Thousands of years of conquest, occupation, and imposed religions of 7-10 different foreign powers and ethnic tribes have definitely had their effects on the people and their mixed cultures of today.  It is interesting that the people of these political states on this fragmented peninsula all disclaim any remaining Turkish influence but you can definitely hear it in their folk music, in the beautiful oxidental faces of the women, in the sweet desserts, personal hospitality for strangers, etc.