Bosnia and Herzegovina was definitely one of the most interesting places I have visited.
This was country number five on my Europe trip this summer, and not one I actually intended to go to, but definitely the underdog of my trip!
Bosnia is known as a place of traditional religious diversity, with Islam, Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Judaism coexisting there for centuries. There is such a vibrant blend of cultures which is very unique to the region, along with stunning sceneries. By the end of the week, Libby and I fully immersed ourselves into the culture- and even bought ourselves a Fez!
It was also one of the only places on my trip where English wasn’t actually very widely spoken, even in the more touristy areas. But the people were so warming, making us feel very welcome to the town, despite such vast cultural differences.
Before visiting Bosnia the only thing I knew about it, was that its name is still very much synonymous with the Yugoslavian War in the 90’s. What shocked me was that you could definitely still see the effects. Many buildings that had been destroyed were only just being rebuilt, and some hadn’t even been touched since. From speaking to many locals, the war is still a topic very widely spoken about which made the fascinating history of the country come to life for me.
The ‘Mostar Old Bridge’ in Stari Most is definitely the star of the show in Bosnia, and at night it looks even more incredible. There were locals jumping off from the top of the bridge for money, gathering crowds of hundreds. The bridge is historically a symbol for reconciliation of the co-existing diverse cultures in the country. This really captures the sense of close community within the country and really is an amazing feeling to be a part of.
We took a day trip from Mostar to ‘The Kravica Falls’ which was definitely worth visiting. The waters were actually very cold to swim in, but the falls truly gave a slightly unreal Disney-esque quality to this natural attraction. It was of course very photogenic like a lot of the country, and radiated pure greenery. The Old Town in Mostar was bustling the whole week we were there.
The cobbled streets and old stone buildings with lights illuminating the town, make Mostar look like it has been plucked out from a fairytale.
There are so many stalls on the outside of peoples houses, selling traditional handicrafts such as copper jewellery, carpets and lamps. One thing about Bosnia, is that it is definitely cheap so it makes it a perfect place for people backpacking on a budget like myself.
Bosnia is never a place you tend to hear about people visiting, particularly young backpackers. However, this country is undoubtedly stunning, with so much to offer, (particularly kebabs!) The vibrant culture of the country is truly inspiring and really something everyone should experience.
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