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Life in Bosnia: Hiking in Grabovica

Hiking in Grabovica, Bosnia Herzegovina

This article was submitted by ISA BELLE, a Dutch student studying in Mostar, Herzegovina.
45 minutes north of Mostar is an area perfect for hiking, called Diva Grabovia. It is a perfect example of Karst landscape, defined by layers of bedrocks. If you are not familiar with this geographical term, it’s just incredibly beautiful nature with high mountains and the magical turquoise Neretva River flowing in between. People made an effort to turn this area into a recreational place where you can have the most wonderful hikes.

Srebrenica cemetery

Life in Bosnia: Interview with a Former Dutch Soldier Who Served in Srebrenica

tj_ba_srebrenica

This article was submitted by ISA BELLE, a Dutch student studying in Mostar, Herzegovina.

For a school assignment, I interviewed an ex-Dutch batter who served in Srebrenica during its fall. The interview was interesting, so I decided to translate and post it here. I encourage you all to read it; however, it’s best if you do a bit of research beforehand so you can understand it better.

Feldkirch, Austria - This is Where You Stop between Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Feldkirch, Austria – This is Where You Stop between Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Feldkirch is a no-name little town in Austria. You have no business of going there unless you find yourself scratching your head and wondering how will you do Switzerland and Liechtenstein in a limited amount of time and under a shoestring budget.

Living in Central Europe is great. Where else can you make a very last-minute decision to go to another country, not one but three other countries, a few hours before the actual trip?

The cross of mostar

Life in Bosnia: Hiking to the Famous Cross of Mostar

This article was submitted by ISA BELLE, a Dutch student studying in Mostar, Herzegovina.

In my last article, you can read about the cross on the Hum, the hill dominating Mostar. Although being a topic for argument, it’s one of my favorite places. Not because it is a cross (I think it’s ugly) but because the space takes me away to nature while being in a big city, and offers stunning views of the hills and mountains that surround Mostar.

The cross of Mostar

Life in Bosnia: The Cross over Mostar

This article was submitted by ISA BELLE, a Dutch student studying in Mostar, Herzegovina.

You cannot miss it when you are in or around Mostar: the huge cross (33 m tall) on the Hum Hill which dominates the city. You can see the cross from most spots in Mostar because it is illuminated even at night. It seems to stand there quietly and peacefully, but nothing could be less real.

This cross has been a topic of discussion ever since it was first erected in 2000. The cross is, of course, a religious symbol for the Catholic Croats in Mostar; it’s a part of their religion. According to Bishop of Mostar who spoke at the opening ceremonies and dedication for the cross, “its presence there is “to spread the fruit of peace to all sides of the world.”

Life in Bosnia: Kravice Waterfalls near Ljubuski

Kravice waterfalls

This article was submitted by ISA BELLE, a Dutch student studying in Mostar, Herzegovina.

Herzegovina is a region of incredible natural beauty with shaggy mountains, beautiful lakes, and blue rivers. One of its gems is the Kravice waterfalls near the town of Ljubuški, close to the border with Croatia. It is here that the river Trebižat pours itself 28 meters down to a pool of brightest blue water where you can fish and swim in the summertime. The waterfalls are situated in a half circle of 120 meters wide and through green trees offering an immensely beautiful sight.

The United World College in Mostar

Life in Bosnia: The United World College in Mostar

The United World College in Mostar

This article was submitted by ISA BELLE, a Dutch student studying in Mostar, Herzegovina.

The Initiative of the United World Colleges (UWC) and International Baccalaureate (IB) in Bosnia and Herzegovina aims to support the peace process in the country and the region by implementing a recognized model of post-conflict education.

Life in Bosnia: Shocking and Stunning All in One Building

tj_ba_mostar_ruin

This article was submitted by ISA BELLE, a Dutch student studying in Mostar, Herzegovina.

Are there still people who do not know there was a war in Bosnia from 1992 until 1995? Are there still people who haven’t heard of terrible things that happened during that war? No, there is no need to tell those stories again since they have been retold countless times. However, who knows what that war was like? Who knows how war looks like? In Mostar, signs of war are still seen everywhere, especially along the former front lines with the remains of more destroyed houses than standing ones. Unless you have been living in a wonderland or are unaware of the invention of television, you can guess that a war happened here.

Life in Bosnia: Bihac and Surroundings

This article was submitted by ISA BELLE, a Dutch student studying in Mostar, Herzegovina. 

Bihac is a town of approximately 50,000 inhabitants in the north-west of Bosnia, cut in twice by the Una River and close to the border with Croatia. A few people that I talked to made me really excited prior to my trip. They told me that it was a beautiful town with astonishing nature, and they mentioned Una a lot.

grbavica film

Life in Bosnia: Music from the Movie Grbavica

Grbavica (film)

A blog reader asked me to find the all the music played in the movie Grbavica, a film about “the life of a single mother in contemporary Sarajevo in the aftermath of systematic rapes of Bosniak women by Chetniks’ troops during the war.” “I hope that you will add this to your website because it is a great help for people who are looking for the titles from the music of GRBAVICA….I LOVE BOSNIA I HERZOGOWINA. [sic]