Bosnia and Herzegovina - Rising from the ashes

Bridge over troubled water

This beautiful bridge was finished in 1566 and survived for 427 years before it was demolished in 1993.

[Stari Most, Mostar]

Bridge over troubled water

This beautiful bridge was finished in 1566 and survived for 427 years before it was demolished in 1993.

[Stari Most, Mostar]

Bridge over troubled water

This beautiful bridge was finished in 1566 and survived for 427 years before it was demolished in 1993.

[Reine in Mostar]

Holy diver

Diving from the old bridge, 21 meters into the icy Neretva River, has been an old tradition for ages.

[Diver at Stari Most, Mostar]

Bridge over troubled water

The Neretva River divides the city.

[Mostar]

Here be trinkets

The Ottoman heritage is ever present in the old quarters.

[Mostar]

Internal

Climbing to the top of the minaret inside Koski Mehmed Pasa Mosque.

[Mostar]

The big dig

Sarajevo was surrounded by hostile Serb forces for three years, so an 800 meter long tunnel was dug beneath the runway of NATO-controlled airport with brave enginuity.

[Tunnel remains, Sarajevo]

The big dig

Sarajevo was surrounded by hostile Serb forces for three years, so an 800 meter long tunnel was dug beneath the runway of NATO-controlled airport with brave enginuity.

[Reine in tunnel remains, Sarajevo]

Echoes of the past

On this corner the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot dead by Gavrilo Princip on June 28, 1914. The pivotal event that sparked the beginning of World War I.

[Corner near Latin Bridge, Sarajevo]

Echoes of the past

Same view as the assassin Gavrilo Princip had, but 100 years later.

[Corner near Latin Bridge, Sarajevo]

Echoes of the past

The site used to be marked by Princip's footprints in the ground, but those were removed during the siege. Today this plaque commemorates the location.

[Corner near Latin Bridge, Sarajevo]

Echoes of the past

The old Ottoman bridge from 16th century is unfortunately best known as the assassination location. During the Yugoslavian era it was even renamed after the assassin Gavrilo Princip, but changed back after the Yugoslav Wars.

[Latin Bridge, Sarajevo]

Here be beer

The brewery has their own beer hall next door.

[Sarajevska Pivara, Sarajevo]

When the sky fall

The amazing duo who performed piano covers of some of my favorite songs.

[Sarajevska Pivara, Sarajevo]

Not your average holiday

This infamous hotel is where foreign war journalists stayed during the city's three-year siege. The rooms without windows were much more desired than the ones with a view, for sniper reasons.

[Holiday Inn, Sarajevo]

Here be mines

The hills around Sarajevo were sprinkled with land mines for protection, but the difficult removal is estimated to continue until 2019.

[Sarajevo]

Black as midnight on a moonless night

[Restaurant in Bascarsija district, Sarajevo]

Could be Middle Earth

[Park Prirode Blidinje]

Could be Middle Earth

[Park Prirode Blidinje]