Who would have though, I'd ever step foot in this country...and who would have thought, that it would be so pretty!! True, you could still see traces of what the war had destroyed - buildings in ruins (not repaired I assumed since the war) that stood between other modern houses that has been turned into restaurant or shops. It's quite amusing how the destroyed and the new could co-exist in a same street.
The town that we visited is called Mostar. Its in Bosnia and Herzegovina I would have said that its a city that revolved around a bridge. The whole city and surrounding towns rely on tourism to keep it going, and tourist head there to see the bridge, named The Old Bridge. Hence - life in the city revolved around the bridge.
The story of the bridge is an interesting one....it's a 400 odd year old bridge that connected the east side to the west side of the city. During the Bosnian war, the Old Bridge was totally destroyed - bombed in 1993. The town felt as if their souls has been torn out when the bridge is gone, even mentions of the bridge would get the town folk teary. In 2004, the Old Bridge was rebuilt to look exactly like its original. Some original stones were even picked up from the river and used to rebuilt it.....the bridge we see standing today, apparently looks 100% like the original Old Bridge, only perhaps some stones are newer hence whiter.
The bridge is really tall...and the water underneath really green. It must be really deep too....because there is a local tradition of people jumping of the talllll bridge. Event the local tour guide, a 23 year old young lady has jumped the bridge before. While we are there, several jumps took place - for tourist to watch. :)
We visited a traditional old home....which had great water views of the river with the bridge..
Had a feast at a nicely situated restaurant.....with great views
(That is Mr AT in the background busy concentrating on food as Ms DT poses for the camera)
Mr AT posing weirdly...
Coffee with friends (our travel group)
All in all it was a very touristy town....heaps of souvenir/tourist shops along the main street. Unfortunately, many of the stuff sold here are 'made in China'. However, we did manage to find a shop that sells pots and trays and stuff...made locally by the shop owner....and the collector T can't resist getting a piece of Mostar art for himself :).
