Oct 26, 2012 - Sarajevo

Woke up to heavy fog and cool temps...so leisurely took our time getting out the door. Caught the 10:30 hotel shuttle to old town, a great way to get there. We strolled around looking for all the sites, etc. Aida had suggested. We found most all, but soon discovered today is an Islamic holiday (Eid-Ul-Adha), so most shops and even restaurants were closed. However coffee shops were open, so Judi C tried a Bosnian coffee (quite good!) and Judi B a Coke Zero! Toured the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Old Orthodox Church, a Jewish temple grounds...

Oct 25, 2012 - Sarajevo

Got up early to get in a self-guided walking tour of the city before catching a plane to Sarajevo. Walked around a little the evening before after recovering from our adventure to find the hotel. The hotel was very nice and in a great location on the main square. We did manage to find this decadent sweet shop and ice cream parlor and that was our dinner. Our walk this morning took us to the Upper Town with a panoramic view of the city (fortunately they had a finucular-unfortunately it was still foggy so pictures won't be very nice). From...

Oct 5, 2012 - The Wall and Mostar

Today we walked the wall around Dubrovnik at 8 a.m. to beat the heat and the crowds. It has been warmer than expected and a lot more tourists. And this is supposed to be low season. The crowds are somewhat overwhelming until the tour buses leave town. It took us almost an hour and a half to walk the entire wall which is about 1.25 miles. Sounds pretty wimpy but it was either going up or down stone steps plus taking lots of pictures. There was only one stretch along the sea that was level. Beautiful views of the city. We also saw the few...

Sep 22, 2012 - Mostar

Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina  We had made arrangements yesterday for taking a tour (!!?? Yuk) to Mostar on a bus. We debated the various reasons for not doing this versus renting a car versus biking. Going on the guided tour won out. Therefore we made arrangements last night to be picked at the Hotel Adria, just down the street @ 8:20 am.  We had wanted to bike in Bosnia, but the opportunity did not come up. So here we go today on a tour. The drive is about 3 hours by bus with 3 border crossings, all not in the European Union, although next...

Sep 10, 2012 - Rambliings

We have heard so much about Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and seeing these countries and speaking to their citizens we have only a poor understanding of the horrors that they have lived through. No person is unscathed. I say I am Canadian because I live in Canada. I don't identify with my Scottish ad British ancestors but with the country of my birth. Yet no one has invaded Canada or conquered it or taken away my rights as a Canadian. It seems as though this part of the world (and others) have been invaded , conquered and have had to struggle...

Sep 9, 2012 - Day 2 of 3 in Sarajevo.

We have done most of our travel by public transit from city to city with the countries we've visited so far. Yesterday was a7 hour bus ride to Sarajevo, home of the 1984winter Olympic. Our pension is right beside the Olympic , where the roof collapsed last winter after 100 cm. of snow fell in on be month. Yesterday was well in the 30's, stinking hot and not a breath of wind until after dark when it became cold. Our city tour guide lived through the 3 1/2 ear siege of Sarajevo in the 1990's and you can still see so much of the destruction...

Aug 9, 2012 - Bosnia - Mostar

31st July 2012 The drive from Dubrovnik to Split was only going to take us a few hours, so we decide that a 100 km detour to Bosnia was in order to fill in the day. Two boarder control security checks later and we were in Mostar. As we walked through the small town, remnants of bomb damaged buildings were evident. Between 1992 and 1995 the town was badly damaged during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and much of the urban centre was left in ruins including the Old Bridge ( Stari most) was destroyed. A project to rebuild the Old Bridge to...

Jun 24, 2012 - Sarajevo and Bosnia

Our tour started with a bang, or should I say misfire – no aircon on the bus and a day reaching 35 degrees outside. Recipe for disaster considering only half the bus was even getting air circulation. By the time we reached Mostar, our lunch stop, everyone was exhausted and dehydrated. They tried to fix it when we got to our border crossing into Bosnia but to no avail. Getting to finally get out of the bus at Mostar was relief that was quickly replaced by torture as our walking tour started. And Mostar is by no means flat!!! But it is...

May 4, 2012 - Mostar

Mostar you might say - where and what is it. I knew nothing about Mostar until I started to get ready for this trip. But today I was on the local bus at 9 am for a 2 and 1/2 hour ride through the countryside. Lots of hills, greenery and quite large mountains. For some time we passed a large lake and then followed a river into the city. Mostar is the second largest city in Bosnia and as I discovered the most destroyed city from the war. But more of that later. I had booked a room in the Ottoman home/museum that the Americans recommended. The...

May 3, 2012 - Sarajevo

It has been a busy and hot couple of days in Sarajevo. It is quite cheap here and most admit the small bottles of red wine for about $2 aren't bad. In addition the beer is also cheap and cold. Now food is another story. It is okay but it is definitely heavy - meat and bread but cheap. Actually my best meal was today at the local brewery publ - great soup and a salad and beer all for $9.Good food and great interior. Yestery I went on a free walking tour for three and a half hours with a young university student. He does this twice a day for...

May 1, 2012 - Sarajevo, Bosnia

Since I didn't leave until mid morning for the airport I had one last chance to wonder around Sultanamed or Old Town for some last minute pictures and a Starbucks latte. Being on the street early is interesting as I saw the man piling on the chickens to cook for doners - 100kg of chicken goes onto that skewer and cooks all day long. Another sight, making pitas in an open fire pit. The guy rolls out the dough an puts it over a round slab and then slaps it on the inside of the fire pit before reaching in and pulling it out. Turkish airport...

Sep 20, 2011 - Sarajevo

With our newly found English traveling buddies, we made our way to Sarajevo. Sarajevo was a surprisingly picturesque town despite the 1400 + days of non-stop siege they endured during the war, only 15 years ago. We jumped at the opportunity of a free walking tour where we learnt Sarajevo is famous for its diverse mix of religions, a rich history and the beautifully haunting Sarajevo roses (grenade marks which are painted red where more than 3 people died).