Advertisement
Published: July 16th 2011
Edit Blog Post
Today we fulfilled another, “must do”, visits that was on our list of places to see. It might be getting a little boring but it’s very hot again today. Perhaps this is the last time we will mention the very hot, dry weather. One day it might rain and that might be worth a mention.
On our way to Mostar we called in to the nearby town, Capljina, to extract some Bosnian marks from an ATM machine. Finding a machine was one challenge and then finding one that worked was the second. On hot dry windy days these towns don’t look their best. Dust and rubbish blows around and wasteland around buildings is often left to its own devices making the town look like a wild west town surrounded by hot desert.
With local currency in our pocket we continued the short drive to Mostar. The city was busy with locals and tourists so finding a park seemed impossible at first until we were ushered into a piece of rough ground surrounded by bombed out buildings. The very kind woman attending this space assured us the car would be safe and proceeded to cover the windscreen with a towel all for
the very reasonable price of 10 marks (5€!).
It didn’t take more than a few steps before we saw evidence of the destruction of this wonderful city in November 1993. Bombed out buildings, bullet and shrapnel scarred walls were everywhere, even after 18 years since the siege. Our first view of the restored bridge was one to remember and our thoughts go back to those war years and its destruction. The restoration of the bridge is surely a sign of reconciliation. Many tourists were taking the opportunity of walking over the bridge and encouraging the young men to jump into the Neretva River about 30 metres below. Of course the bridge jumpers perform for a suitable fee. Along the approaches to the bridge were the usual souvenir stalls but it was refreshing not to be harassed by the stall holders, as happens in other countries. Perhaps it was too hot to make the effort or they were doing enough business without the need to harass. Amongst all the evidence of war were restored and new buildings. The tourists were busy helping the economy and the locals were friendly and willing to assist. Cool drinks and ice cream were once again
the staple lunch time fare.
Driving around the newer parts of the city there is a lot of new development going on. Perhaps one day the empty shells of buildings will be either restored or pulled down so that the constant reminder of the horror of war is no longer with the families who live in this city. On the other hand this reminder may deter others from entering into such horrific conflict. The one constant reminder that may not disappear is the number of headstones in the local cemeteries of people who died as a result of this conflict. As you drive along the roads you often see memorials to men who died as a result of war. Perhaps there is still a simmering feeling in this part of Bosnia because we notice the names of towns written using the Cyrillic alphabet have been blacked out on many of the road signs. We hope there is another justifiable reason.
Tomorrow we leave Bosnia with a feeling that we have witnessed a country trying really hard to rid itself of a tumultuous past and looking to a prosperous future. We have enjoyed meeting and talking with the local people who
have welcomed us into their country.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.371s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 14; qc: 47; dbt: 0.1679s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb