Bosnia-Herzegovina has an image problem. Ravaged by civil war in the 1990s, the country is in serious need of a PR drive as most visitors still associate it with its bloody current history. Murmur it, but its actually chock-full of concealed gems and it has an unexplored feel welcomed by intrepid visitors. Couple a trip with a visit to Croatia and you’ll discover not one of the tourist hoards that swamp the Dalmatian coast.
Our introduction to the country incites an, “Are you sure were in Bosnia?” reaction.
The Kravice Waterfall is an Eden-like wonder of multiple chutes gushing into a turquoise lagoon, where visitors can enjoy a refreshing swim in the sealing heat of summer. The falls are encrusted with grass and moss, and are surrounded by delightful green hemp, figs and poplar trees, more like a scene Id expect to see in Hawaii rather than war-scarred Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Medjugorje
We are making a brief stop at the village of Medjugorje, a pilgrimage site where Catholics arrive by the busload “and all because some children playing in the close by hills said they saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1981 ( a claim which has after that been rejected by the Vatican ).
Theres a statue of Jesus Christ with a constantly weeping knee, which fervent spiritual folk caress and mop with tissues, seemingly to use to cure sick relatives. Medjugorje is also home to the tackiest collection of keepsakes in the world. Fact. There’s no better spot to buy miniature statues of the Virgin Mary attached to a tiny box of earth from the hills where Jesus’s mother was spotted. You will find in Medjugorje some good Medjugorje hotel.
Mostar is the country’s star attraction, a photographers dream of captivating cobbled streets and stone houses, painstakingly reconstructed to resemble its pre-war charm during a multi-million-pound nip n tuck.
The cities classic bridge graces the front covers of most Bosnia-Herzegovina manuals, its foggy mountains providing the dramatic background. The original 500-year-old Old Bridge was destroyed in 1993 in the war, symbolising the downfall of the previous Yugoslavia, as it was thought of as a mark of unification between the east and west.
When the bridge was demolished, the people of Mostar cried like they’d lost their families, local guide Amela tells us on a walking tour of the city’s Turkish-style old town.
Reconstructed and re-opened in 2004 using 1400 of the original stone bricks so as to hang on to its UNESCO world heritage standing, the bridge is famous for its buff Speedo-clad, oiled-up divers who jump 25m jump from it into the turquoise waters of the Neretva, a convention that started in the Sixties.
The custom is celebrated with a world diving competition on the last Sat. of each July. If you want plunging in, exercise caution “an Aussie guy died last year doing the jump. Though the water is 6m deep, there are strong currents that can make it deadly if you are not a trained diver.
Combine a visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina with a visit to Croatia. Do not miss these gems.
Split : The consequential city’s UNESCO classified treasure is the Diocletians Palace, built by the Roman emperor 2000 years ago as his assisted living home. When the Romans abandoned the site, the palace stood abandoned for many years until refugees flocked to the city in AD614 and started living in it. To this day, it is still home to bars, shops and studios, where hanging washing flutters above crumbling windowsills.
Dubrovnik : Dubrovniks stunning Old City, well-preserved town walls and postcard-perfect harbour make it one of Croatias top tourist destinations. Sadly, this means that its flooded with tourists in the summertime months. Expect to pay unreasonable London costs for food and drinks, as writes tagza.com.
.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.