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Published: November 22nd 2014
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OperaTheatre
and start of the walking tour 10 June
Nice day. At Sarajevo. Hostel had dining area and kitchen so able to do breakfast there. Went on a walking tour at 10 with Neno, who was a very enthusiastic guide, it was a free tour, just give a tip at the end! Got a great insight into the history, what an interesting city! Sad stuff happened in the ' 90s of course, learnt lots about that. So different and with such cultural and religious diversity - Orthodoxy, Islam, Judaism and Catholicism all co-existing together. There is a mosque, Catholic and Orthodox church and a synagogue all within the small city area. The influence of the Ottoman empire is very evident in the architecture of the city. Had lunch at a small self service place, very interesting food, we joined with a British couple from the walking tour, David and Robyn. After lunch, did a bit of shopping, Sarajevo is a very cheap place to buy stuff. Walked up to the viewpoint on the hill, past the big war cemetery with so many young people buried there. Very sad, the endless rows of white headstones and crosses, mostly young men in their late teen and 20s. Good view over
the city, walked back to base. In the evening, had a real meaty meal of cevaci, which was sausages and meatballs in bread with onions, the local fast food! Stopped for a cake and coffee afterwards.
11 June
Met Kenan at 9am for a personal tour of the city, he took us to several viewpoints, showed us where the snipers fired at the people from the hills, also to the Olympic Stadium and the Tunnel of Hope under the airport, which was built by the Bosnians trying to escape from the war, and hide from the snipers living in the hills above. We learnt a lot from Kenan's perspective as a 13 year old boy in the war period. K dropped us off at a restaurant serving traditional Bosnian food, delicious mix of dishes, with very good bread. It was in a historic house on the river. Walked back via the site of the assassination of Arch Duke Ferdinand, the bazaar market, the brewery, where we sampled a local dark beer then took a rest back at base. Then surprise, it rained! Well for about an hour. Walked down to the old town and had a selection of bureks,
Sarajevo markets
peaceful today .. cheap dinner about 8.50 bam.
12 June
Nice day again. Early start for the 7 am train to Mostar. Kenan supposed to pick us up but he wasn't there, so got a cab, juat made it in time. Old train but comfortable, and cheap! From memory about 10 dollars? Was a great scenic ride through the mountains and past lakes and rivers to Mostar. Arrived before 10. Left our bags at the luggage storage and walked to old Mostar town, had a couple of hours there, very nice old city with an amazing old bridge over the river. Bridge had been bombed in the 90s war and completely destroyed, they rebuilt it after the war. Got the bus at 12:30 to Dubrovnik. Very scenic bus ride down to coast then along coast on a high road, seemed like a new toll road along the coast. Had a delay earlier crossing the border while they checked all passports, then later a brief stop crossing back into Bosnia and more checks. Got to Dubrovnik about 4:30, then took a bus to Cavtat. Had a bit of trouble finding our apartment, there were no signs or numbers! Finally got there, up a
Market memorial
to those who died when a bomb was dropped here set of stairs, not a real street! Lovely accommodation, had a big 1 bedroom apartment with our own kiwifruit vine covered terrace and a view to the sea! Nice owners, it was just part of a private house. Cavtat a lovely spot, with a small old town and harbour. A bit like a mini Dubrovnik. Walked down to the supermarket and bought stuff for tea, ham and salad, yum, even boiled up some potatoes, so nice to have home cooked food.
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