The historic city of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina is both charming and complicated; idyllic and evocative. The first sight of the centerpiece bridge makes visitors swoon – but seeking out lesser-visited corners of the city can result in an everlasting love.… Read the rest
As we watched the third taxi drive away leaving us still standing on the curb, we started to wonder if an adventure to the abandoned Olympic bobsled track on the hillside of Trebevic Mountain was going to happen. The first driver said he didn’t know where it was.… Read the rest
During our visit to Sarajevo, we often struggled to see past the remnants of the war that occurred 20 years ago. The four-year long Siege of Sarajevo, no doubt, took a toll on the city. However, Sarajevo has many sights that are not related to the dark times of war.… Read the rest
We visited Sarajevo 20 years after the Siege of Sarajevo and realized it’s a city that is still very much in recovery. Although it seems nearly impossible to visit Sarajevo without at least some knowledge of the war that occurred there, it would be equally impossible to go and not notice the marks left from almost four years of fighting.… Read the rest
Just like the city itself, Sarajevo cuisine is a blend of east and west, with both Turkish and European influences. Of the many reasons we were looking forward to visiting the city, sampling the local fare was high on the list.
On our previous travels to the Balkans, we quickly took a liking to two of the most popular regional dishes, cevapi and burek.… Read the rest
Visiting Sarajevo wasn’t always at the top of my list. The name conjured vague images of brutal fighting that I never really understood. I was in high school at the time of the Bosnian War and while I’m sure world events were covered in one or more of my classes, the only world I operated in was that of my immediate social circle.… Read the rest
We were positively stoked when our Airbnb host, Tarik, said he wanted to take us to the nearby town of Blagaj to visit the Tekija House. The historic Turkish Dervishes monastery, built in 1520, sits at the base of Hum Mountain.… Read the rest
We’re continuing our stay in the Balkan region, this time spending a week inland in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina. I regrettably admit that my knowledge of this area is based on a weak recollection of high school social studies – and suffice it to say that isn’t getting me very far.… Read the rest