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 many lingering reminders of its brutal past. War, destruction, genocide..…this country had it all in the 1990s due to its tragic separation from Yugoslavia. The peace accord, the Dayton Agreement, that ended the Balkan Wars in 1995, established three presidents for the country! From everyone we talked to….this is a problem! Yet many of our guides, who continue to stay in the country despite the mass exodus, have some hope for the future. We hope they are correct because the people we met were intelligent, extremely humorous, and warm.
Our first surprise was the stunning terrain of this country. It is very mountainous and about 50% forested. During our time here, we visited two major cities: the capital, Sarajevo, and Mostar.
2021, while traveling with Overseas Adventure Travel