Sarajevo

Sarajevo was one of my favourite stops, thus far, on our trip. Since Sarajevo was a major site of urban warfare during the war, there are still many reminders of the war, both in the city's structure and in conversations. It's estimated that on an average day more then 300 shell rounds were fired into the city for the duration of the four year siege (the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare.) It's been 16 years since the siege ended but still there are bullet holes in most buildings. Sad to think they didn't actually want to occupy the city, they wanted to just terrorise people and beat down their spirit. It's kind of amazing to think there were any civilians left in Sarajevo after a siege that long and intense. While in Sarajevo we did a walking tour with a wonderful guide who shared with us stories of growing up in during the war (he was 9 when it started and 14 when it ended.) He showed red cross telegraphs (the only form of communicating with people outside the city during the war) that were sent to his family by relatives in Mostar. 

Photos from the old town market. The market is segregated into sections based on trades and sales. So one street will be designated for shoes, another (and my personal favourite) for tinware, mostly for hukkahs and turkish coffee pots.  

Sultans from Ottoman times (not actually from ottoman times.) 

Imagine trying to fit a gramophone into your suitcase? Not the best souvenir. 

Bosnia is a Cevapi crazed country. We had only one serving (purchased for us as a gift from  a truck driver kind enough to give us a ride.) 

More tin and souvenir goodies!

I've never heard people refer to communist times as "the good old days" and  as "times of plenty." Tito is still very popular (which is an understatement, Tito is very popular.) 

Sarajevo Academy of Fine Arts, originally an Austo Hungarian church that now has  an Apple store on the main floor.  In front of the academy there is  Sarajevo's newest bridge, the Ada Bridge, a very modern looking "looped" bridge. The bridge opened only two weeks before we visited Sarajevo. It was a very controversial decision because the bridge costed 140, 000, 000 Euros. Understandably people thought this was a bad way to spend 140, 000, 000 Euros when the country's unemployment rate among young people is 46%. Here is a video of the new Ada Bridge opening ceremony, you can see the Academy of Fine Arts in the background. ada bridge opening

Communist looking buildings

Scars in the city made by mortar shells during the war, now filled with red resin to serve as a reminder. They only make a Sarajevo Rose when there were three or more civilians killed in that spot. 

Bullet holes.

The BiH flag designed for them by the UN since they couldn't agree on a design after the war. 

The view from our train leaving Sarajevo, such a beautiful country!