Escape to myself

This was a really great day; new friends, good company and Miran the owner of our hostel who was a really great guide and who knew his country and particularly the Mostar area where he has lived all his life. The tour took in two villages, a beautiful waterfall and ended at a mountain top cafe overlooking the city. Miran had fought in the war with Serbia and Croatia and at fifteen was braving sniper fire to carry weapons and food to Bosnian soldiers. His tales of Mostar during the war; street fighting, concentration camps and daily life were harrowing and the evidence of the war was all around. A salutary experience for us.

The tour was such an eye-opening experience. There were only four of us who n the car, all from the hostel and Danielle from Brazil, Maurice from Germany and Ina from Ealing were amazing and convivial companions. We laughed a lot and became, I think, real friends.

Blagaj

This was a unique place. Under a castle clinging to the mountain top there rises a spring which is the source of the Buna River. Its one of the strongest springs in Europe.its also the site of an historic Dervish Monastery, a protected building dating from 1520. It is completely in harmony with its inspiring natural setting.

Pocitelj

A beautiful and poignant place. Miran explained some of the traumatic recent history of the village during the recent war which suffered ethnic cleansing and many historic buildings were damaged or destroyed. Nonetheless this medieval walled town on the Neretva river is still an inspirational place resonant with the history of the area.

Kravice Falls

Peaceful and with few tourists around this was a peaceful and tranquil space where people could swim in the river. The falls were at full force.

Mostar: a divided city

Miran took is to the front lines that divided the city between Croatian and Bosniak forces where many atrocities took place and buildings were devasted. The landscape is a tangle of wreckage and shrapnel and shell holes even today.

But this is still a beautiful city. My next post will give an idea of just how beautiful.