One Day in Mostar- What to see
Herzegovina – is a part of the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where most population is the Croats. If someone doesn’t know: Bosnia and Herzegovina is divided into three parts, which even have borders between them indicated on the map of the country. Herzegovina for the Croats, Bosnia for the Bosnians and Republika Srpska for the Serbs. Today we are going to talk about and show Herzegovina.
The town of Mostar is the most popular tourist destination throughout the country, and no less popular destination from Croatia; and Montenegro can also be included. A highway leads here from Croatia, and what is more this place is close enough from Dubrovnik or Split. Mostar is well advertised; hence the large number of tourists.
The river of incredible beauty and depth flows in the center of Mostar. Its color is rich emerald and its depth measures 8-10 m. The town is divided into two banks connected by the bridge, which all people come here for.
Not only is the bridge beautiful here, but also the old architecture of houses near it. And unusual paving blocks made of round stones.
Mostar is very picturesque. We are very happy that the purity of the river was preserved. Crystal clear, emerald water.
And around the river old small houses with lots of greenery growing below.
That’s a magnificent stone bridge that rises above the emerald Neretva river and connects the two banks.
This metal ball shows the center of the bridge.
Towers near the bridge are safeguarding and protecting it.
If you don’t know the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and especially of Mostar, this town seems very romantic. However, we always read the history of the country we visit. Bosnia and Herzegovina is no exception. Briefly about Mostar. During the Bosnian War, Mostar was heavily bombed and the outstanding historic bridge was destroyed. The Old Bridge stood for 420 years, built in the days of the Ottoman rule in this land.
This bridge was so important that UNESCO suggested restoring it. Many countries responded to finance the project, which cost EURO 15,000 000. The most important was that they attempted to restore the bridge in such a way so that it looked as plausible to the old one as possible. Turks rebuilt it following their Ottoman technology with the same stones, and even some parts of the old bridge they managed to get out from the river. The bridge was open again almost in 10 years since its destruction.
The bridge received a new life, and the people who survived the war remained the same. Why did the war begin? – because the neighbor disliked the neighbor for a different religion – brief and straight. So far, people say that one part of the city “dislikes” another one. Bells of the Catholic Church are ringing as loudly as possible, and next is the voice that sings the Muslim prayer.
Among the entertainments for the tourists is jumping off the bridge. Boys are jumping from a 25-30 m height into the deep and cold river. This spectacle is fee-based. Not until people contribute to a sum of 50 euros as much as they want, the guy wouldn’t jump. No one would have dared to jump for free, because it’s harmful and life threatening to jump into such icy water from this height. The boys have been trained from childhood for that and do just a few jumps a day.
Mostar – a unique and beautiful place. You can walk around the old part in a half of the day, but you can still enjoy emerald Neretva and bridge for a while.
Behind central tourist streets you can find many abandoned and destroyed by the war houses.
We wandered little old streets for a while.
We found kiwi instead of the grapes! This is a surprise for us 🙂
Neretva beckons, especially in the heat.
There are lots of souvenir shops and restaurants around the old bridge. Restaurants are all alike. We looked into one of them to enjoy Bosnian cuisine.
We liked as Turkish coffee was served, which is called Bosnian. It’s always served in a copper set with Turkish sweets. Very cute, coffee was brought in a second after ordering. And cats. Many cats as usual.
As for the food. There’s meat present in each dish in Bosnian cuisine. We ordered Japrak (to the left) – local cabbage rolls served with potatoes. The most popular dish is ćevapi. These are sausages with minced meat served in pita bread with fresh onions. Prices are on average 3 euro per meal.
And now the other side of the old bridge.
Here begins a very long pedestrian street with hundreds of shops with souvenirs and restaurants among them. It’s hard enough to walk on this slippery round stone-block pavement.
If you go to street parallel to the tourist one, you can see the remnants of war and stupidity.
Favorite Koreans won’t miss such as a tourist destination as Mostar.
By the way, if you go to Mostar in high season, we advise you wake up early so that by 11 AM you could see everything, and then you can go to a restaurant and hide in the shade by the river, watching as boys are jumping from the old bridge. From 11 AM buses with hungry tourists come here, as well as the heat in the stone town. And then you can go back in the evening at sunset and enjoy the town in soft sunlight.
They say that the best view of the old bridge is from this mosque (to left in the bottom). But it seems that entrance is 10 Euro per person.
Speaking of currency. Bosnia and Herzegovina has its own currency. But all tourist destinations: hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, etc. will accept euro with no trouble. Only in supermarkets or other similar institutions they will not accept foreign currency for sure, only a card or cash in local currency. Keep in mind that most likely you will get a change in local currency, if you want to pay in euros.
And a thought haunted us all the time that it’s too tourist destination. Hence, most local people, those in the very historic center – they live only from tourism – nothing wrong, but all they want from tourists is money. All the buildings in the downtown are used for rental, a souvenir shop, a restaurant, an eatery, etc. In the parking lot simple men are on duty keeping at you with offers on housing and protection of cars – on a free parking. While walking along the streets, someone else will surely come with an offer of housing. They will certainly invite you to the restaurants (which are all alike). It everything pushes you away. It darkens the city soul, you want to feel… So we advise once again: come in the morning and you’ll minimize it all for yourself.
We liked Mostar so much for the old bridge and emerald Neretva. It’s worth seeing with your own eyes. We’ve been here for two days, and then in 170 km the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Sarajevo was waiting for us.
With love, RH.
We would love to hear what you have to say. Follow our online Diary in Instagram, you’ll like it !
Did you love this? Sign up to receive exclusive tips like these!
We would love to hear what you have to say. Follow our online Diary in Instagram, you’ll like it !
Did you love this? Sign up to receive exclusive tips like these!
