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Published: November 10th 2008
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The train ride to Sarajevo from Mostar is very scenic took about 3 something hours, we got tired of the scenic view so Barry and I dozed off for a bit, I woke up when the train was stopped and later realized we are already in Sarajevo and we both got out quickly off the train before it gets going again. We found just outside of the train station the tram stop, bought our ticket from the kiosk in front of the station and we hopped on to tram 1, 8 stops later we are in Bascarcija stop. We asked around the Haris Youth Hostel office, we found it with ease just a bit on the hill. Adnan checked me in, Barry however chose to have his own room so Adnan phoned a few pension houses and found one near the square, I am staying at Haris for 13 euros a night dorm beds.
A taxi came paid for by the hostel and drove me up the hill past the cemeteries and an arch. The hostel is nice, only 2 rooms being used at the mo, I am on the 5 bed dorm, it has kitchen 2 toilets and lots
SARAJEVO
TUNNEL TOUR of hot water and a new kitchen and a great view of the city! Yuka my Japanese roommate has been here awhile she recommended me to go the National Museum. I have to hurry though as it closes quite early. She has been biking all over Europe solo, really impressive. Got down the hill and checked with Adnan at the ofiice exactly where to take the tram, he had to scan my passport again so good thing I passed by. Any tram goes to the museum. When I got there it was shut! It was a Saturday and on the sched. Saturday was left out, have to return next day.
Went back to the old town, walked around visited the mosques and churches around, lively atmosphere, by this time the rain has stopped and sun came out, a bit chilly though. Found an info tourist booth and got more brochures. Saw a big produce market as well. Had half a chicken for lunch, quite hungry now and itwas very salty! Finished it nevertheless. On the way back up I did not notice Jan from Oz staying in the hostel, I went past her, too busy concentrating climbing the damn
hill! We chatted a bit at the hostel then came out to meet Adnan for a spin around town.
The next morning decided to walk the city starting with the cemetery below our hostel, then I climbed up to the old military fortress for a good view of the city. Followed the map and found what i thought was the Latin bridge and took heaps of photos then went up the hill to visit another cemetery, the Alifakovac.
From that hill i can the the church of St. Anthony of Padua so made my way there, this is on the other side of the bridge, passing along the City Hall which is being renovated, also took notice of the wooden Music Pavilion. I kept walking down following the river Miljacka until i get to the Academy of Fine Arts bldg. and a few more interesting bldgs around. Went past the nice Turkish and Serbian embassies not far from the Eiffel bridge.
Went back to the old town to meet up with Jane for the afternoon tour of the Sarajevo tunnel at 2pm. Had a good barbecued veal meat and then went to the info office. While walking i
SARAJEVO
NATIONAL MUSEUM took notice of the nice bldg. facades, most especially the ones with faces on them. The tour consists of 12 people, some rode in a van and 4 of us with the guide in his nice car. Thomas a young Austrian doctor, English John, Jane and me. The tour was really good, but I was too busy taking pictures of the bunker so was a bit distracted and as expected i fell asleep watching the 20 minute video about the war, quite tragic it show the snipers and the gun trails as they shoot from the hill down to the city, it seems nothing was spared, the sniper alley was pretty much most of the action was. it runs from where the National museum is. We also went to a Panoramic view of the city above another hill. And crossed into the republic of Sprska of which Lukavica a Sarajevo suburb is located.
When the tour finished we went back to the old town. i was walking alone when this kid start walking with me begging, i ignored him and after 500 meters following me he begged off after saying F--k you to me, i returned back the greeting
and walked away. Bought some veggies for dinner tonite and just chill. Cooked pasta and shared it with Jane. We chatted with a nice Canadian/American couple that lived in Oman and had travelled in Afghanistan, Marcus gave us a brief history of Afghanistan, really fascinating this dude can be a historian or better yet a CNN reporter.
Later on a group of noisy Kiwis/Aussies arrived and I struggled to sleep, they keep going in and ut of the dorm. Next morning i signed up for the city tour with haris, the 20 year old hostel owner. 7 of us including the Aussie/Kiwi group. We started in the Sarajevo tunnel and this time I made sure I dont fall asleep during the 20 minute video about the Sarajevo siege. Frome ther up to the Olympic mountains to have an excellent panoramic view of the city below. Also we visited the bobsled tracks/runway. We were told not to wander around as there are still mines in the area. Back to the city at the sniper alley, and sme goverment buildings then to a native Bosnian house museum, architecture here is quite interesting, the house made of wood. Then lunch of delicious
sausages and salad. Haris took us to the latin bridge, the cite of the Duke of Austrias assasination. This is where the tour finishes and me Marcus and Liam wandered around to do some shopping in the old town, watching the locals make their crafts. It was another long day and am looking forward to Zagreb tomorrow.
N.B:Sarajevo rose from what I understand are pock marks in the pavement where during the war grenades exploded killing lots of people, and there are a number of them in the city, they painted it red(well some lost the color already)to remember the events and in memory of those who died, also i used the title because Sarajevo is such a gem, a very pretty and interesting city a good mixture of colorful and beautiful culture.
WIKI INFO:
Sarajevo is one of the most historically interesting cities in Europe. It is the place where the Western & Eastern Roman Empire split; where the people of the Eastern Orthodox east, the Ottoman south and the Roman Catholic west, met, lived and warred. It has been both an example of historical turbulence and the clash of civilizations, as well as a
beacon of hope for peace and tolerance through multi-cultural integration.
Today the city has physically recovered from most of the war damage caused by the Yugoslav Wars of the early nineties. Sarajevo is a cosmopolitan European capital with a unique Eastern twist that is a delight to visit. The people are very friendly, be they Bosnian, Serb, or Croat. There is very little crime, not nearly as many tourists as on the Dalmatian coast and a wealth of architecture (not to mention history) to see.
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santasa
Santa Sa
Great shot!
I like it very much, and I saw many - I live here.