escalopes de Banja Luka style

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28 June – Sarajevo to Banja Luka – wretched 7 hour (rather than 5) train trip to Banja Luka. The train came thru to Sarajoveo having started in Ploce – I got a cab down there on assumption it might be on time (ha!). At one point we were just stopped for an hour without moving – CityRail eat your heart out! I had emailed the Hotel Vila Vrbas in Banja Luka about availability and price. They had emailed back that room available for 84 marks and “Blackmail includes breakfast” – were they confusing price and blackmail there?? But they did at least take Mastercard. Decided to just take a chance on finding something as Banja Luka is not exactly a hotel hub. By the time I got there (late at 8pm – see above) they only had large suite style room left over the river as I had not bothered confirming the single. This was only a little more (100Km rather than 84) and had a separate room for single bed. At only $70 or so still relatively cheap (to me anyway). Decided to eat in their restaurant above the riverbank so I could stack it all one bill rather than hunt a strange town late for a meal (prob. not all that many eating options other than hotels actually – plenty for coffee and beers though!). Had a Hungarian goulash meaty soup – then escalopes Banja Luka style – taking a punt on a potential “local specialty”. This was a cardiologist’s nightmare although very good “value” in terms of a huge platter. Two large crumbed/fried escalopes each topped with a ham steak type thing, all swathed with brown gravy and HEAPS of melted cheese – and did I say this sat on top of a bed of chips?? And some grayish peas and carrots. Not needing dessert after that! Or came remotely near ‘finishing’ it. Then went for a walk into town to walk it off. The passegiata in full swing – its Tuesday, its 10.30-11pm, when do these people go to sleep? Rivalled Church St in Parramatta on a Saturday night. Great opportunity for another gelato though. And a night view of the gold-domed Orthodox cathedral, also viewed the next day.

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Photos

Bosnia haystacks
I think they must be on low platforms-often held up with sticks

the local escalope
probably share one I say

BjLuka night book sales
mostly in Cyrillic here - bit scary for me

the Orthodox cathedral
at night obviously

the river beer boat
my hotel just behind

a plaque for British personnel
found by chance in a side street

the Orthodox Cathedral
in all its shininess

the Cathedral +fragments
of an earlier destroyed one

need I say....
the wretched station