Today was a long and winding road-trip to Mostar. Anne,
Michelle, and I sat in the front of the bus and kept mostly quiet and still to
avoid looming car-sickness. We stopped at a coffee shop at our halfway point
where a bought a large package of speculoos biscuits and a REAL Fanta! I think
it made up for the hilly bus-ride.
The city of Mostar is built along the Neretva river, which
is the most amazing turquoise color. It looks like it’s been dyed with food
coloring because it’s so hard to believe that a river could be that color so
naturally! My photos don’t do it any justice!
Mostar can best be described as a village/city that came out
of a J.R.R Tolkien novel mixed with an M.C Escher drawing. There are
white-washed stone buildings that still stand from medieval times with bridges
leading to other levels of the city. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before!
Mostar is more historically known for the old bridge, which was built by the
Ottoman’s in the late 16th century. It’s 90 feet long and 64ft high.
During the Bosnian war, the city of Mostar was subject to an
18-month siege. Unfortunately the 427-year old bridge was destroyed during the
war, which really exemplified how destructive the war was. Prior to this trip
our class watched video footage of the multiple attempts by troops to destroy
the bridge until it collapsed. In 2004 funds from multiple countries and
organizations enabled the reconstruction of the bridge and interestingly enough
they had the original plans for the bridge down to the type of stone to use!
It’s a really impressive bridge and we were lucky enough to witness a local
jump off the bridge and into the water, which is done very frequently for
tourists but unfortunately I didn’t get a photo of it.
We didn’t spend much time in Mostar but I did get some time
to buy some local art which I’m really excited about!
Then we drove a few miles further into the mountains to
Kravice which is a series of waterfalls from the Neretva river with the same
turquoise color). This was the moment when I realized that Bosnia has so many
hidden treasures. History, natural beauty, great food, and beautiful people!
The weather was so hot and seeing the waterfalls was like seeing Shangri-la in
the middle of the desert!
As we drove down through the mountains and back down to
Sarajevo we shared some hysterical stories and silly laughs. We stopped by the
river and had the best lamb I’ve ever had in my life (sorry mom)! More laughs
down the mountains and then straight to bed!
View from the Mostar Bridge
View of the Mostar Bridge
This was Kravice from the top.... we were in for a serious surprise!
Kravice! Look at that friggin water!
Better than Fanta in Europe!
Bosnia Kaffa
View of the river from where we had spit roasted lamb and potatoes. One of the best meals so far!
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