The real home of East meets West multiculturalism; Sarajevo is replete with atmosphere like no other city.
Strolling the cobbled streets of Bašcaršija past the Ottoman style mosques, one could easily think they had
stumbled into old Istanbul. Turn a corner and suddenly Istanbul has been transformed to turn of the century
Vienna with green parks and arte nouveau buildings. It's hard to believe that anyone could bear to do damage
to such an amazing city, but Sarajevo suffered untold damages during the civil war. The city is bursting
with life and energy again though, and its inhabitants of various backgrounds living together peacefully
should be models to us all.
Our favorite experience:
Eating Cevapcici, the Bosnian answer to the Hamburger, or one of the savory Bosnian pies stuffed with cheese
or spinach on the streets of Bašcaršija - it will make you feel like one of the locals.
Bordering Dalmatia is the primarily Croat region of Herzegovina. A state within a state, Herzegovina accepts
the federal government in Sarajevo but maintains a great deal of autonomy. This region is rich with attractions
from the Ottoman city of Mostar with its ancient bridge to the village of Medugorje, site of multiple apparitions
of the Virgin Mary and the second most-visited Catholic pilgrimage site in Europe.
In 1981, six young people from Medugorje saw the Virgin Mary on a hill near the village. Since that day,
the visionaries have been receiving messages from the Virgin Mary, and although not yet officially recognized
as a miracle by the Vatican, Medugorje has become a major pilgrimage site. For believers and non-believers
alike, Medugorje is an amazing place to visit simply because of the energy around the people who either truly
believe or want to believe in the apparitions.
Not far from Medugorje is the city of Mostar. The old center of Mostar is a long-standing Ottoman settlement.
The Turkish style homes and Mosque lend the city a very oriental feel. The Stari Most (old bridge) is the
symbol of the city for multiple reasons. Built in 16th century Ottoman Bosnia, legend has it that the architect
of the Stari Most was so sure that his bridge would tumble into the river that he left town before it was ever
completed. The bridge stood strong over the Neretva River for more than 400 years, however, before it was
tragically destroyed during the Bosnian civil war. The bridge has been completely reconstructed and now stands
as an indication of a reunited city where Croats and Muslims live side-by-side.
Our favorite experience:
Escape the summer heat with a quick dip in the beautiful Kravice waterfalls.
|
creative, inc.
Slovenia
