Bosnia and Herzegovina surprised us!. Snow-capped mountains give way to emerald rivers, and centuries-old mosques stand beside Austro-Hungarian facades. It’s a place where East truly meets West — not as a slogan, but as a living blend of cultures, faiths, and stories layered through time.
In Sarajevo, we felt the weight and resilience of history. The old bazaar, Baščaršija, buzzed with the aroma of strong coffee and grilled ćevapi, while the muezzin’s call to prayer echoed between church bells. This city has endured — from Ottoman glory to the scars of the 1990s siege — and yet still welcomes visitors with warmth and humor.
Mostar may be one of Europe’s most photogenic towns, its stone bridge arching gracefully over the turquoise Neretva River. Rebuilt after wartime destruction, the bridge feels like a symbol of the country itself — elegant, strong, and determined to reconnect….and brave young men dive from the bridge as they’ve done for centuries.
Bosnia and Herzegovina left us thoughtful and inspired. This is a land marked by much hardship and we only got a glimpse…but an important and lasting glimpse.
Wow, this is the most complex and complicated political situation in a country that we will ever meet in our travels! This country of close to 3.2 million (and decreasing) is composed of 3 major ethnic groups: Muslims called “Bosniaks” (50%); Orthodox Christians, “Serbs”(30%); and Catholics, “Croats” (15%). There are …
Mostar straddles the banks of the Neretva River. It was established by the Ottoman Turks in the late 15th century and is a place where the cultures of the Middle East and Europe mingled. Although many structures have been repaired since the Balkan Wars, we could still observe bombed-out buildings …
Sarajevo, ringed by five mountains, was founded by the Ottomans in the 15th century and flourished as a multicultural haven for Muslims, Serbs, Croats, Turks, Jews, and others for hundreds of years. By the 17th century, it was considered the most important city (the Jerusalem of Europe!) in the Balkans …
We really appreciated the insights we gained while visiting these two cities in 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐳𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐚. We were told that 26 years after the war, the country is still losing its population across all ethnic groups. It’s dysfunctional politics and poor economic system doesn’t seem to lead to hope for …
