Kravica Waterfalls – Mostar

I have been in Bosnia-Herzegovina since Friday. Thanks to Miroslav I was really curious – he described it with most beautiful. And as I am perfectly on schedule, I wanted to experience Bosnia for myself. Before I left Croatia, I read a few travel blogs to get some information about the country and its people. One blog warns about bad roads, another leaves a generally negative image. Therefore I was a bit nervous when I started.

But: It is SIMPLY AMAZING

The streets are much better than in Croatia, the people are ready to help and very welcoming, the landscape is stunning, the food is delicious, the fuel is cheap, the apartments are awesome, etc. etc. etc….

I am completely impressed.

Only a few kilometers after crossing the border from Croatia to Bosnia there are the Kravica waterfalls. A trip there (and to Mostar) is often offered as a day trip from Split or Dubrovnik. I desperately needed that stop – at about 35 degrees I enjoyed to refresh and cool-down. In Bosnia, the population is partly Muslim, partly Roman Catholic and partly Orthodox. And because the waterfalls are also a popular destination for tourists from all over the world, the cultural mix in the swimming area is really cool (everything from Arabian veiling and Burkini to super tight bikini). 🙂

 

After extensively splashing around in the ice cold water, I continued my trip to Mostar. The street follows the Neretva river which is surrounded by mountains on the left and right – a great panorama road.

 

Mostar is just adorable. This beautiful city has captivated me from the very beginning. I was especially lucky with my accommodation – a former watermill right in the center that was charmingly designed by the owners. If you come to Mostar this apartment is an absolute highlight.

 

In Mostar everything is about the old bridge (Stari Most) 🙂

The visit of one of the bigger mosques was totally uncomplicated (leave on shoes, no head scarf). In general dealing with different religions is tolerant and casual (at least it seems so).

Mostar has about 114.000 inhabitants and is a popular travel destination – therefore you can enjoy a good party here… special highlight: a club in a cave and the Stari Most completely without tourists.

 

Apart from all the beautiful things in Mostar, however, there are also many things that commemorate the war. During a walk through the city one can repeatedly see ruins and bullet holes in the houses. I tried to describe what it feels like to walk through the city. But unfortunately I am not able to do that.

Two buildings – one renovated and bright, the other a war ruin. The two houses separates only one street.

It is disturbing for me to stand next to a building called the “sniper tower” and to know that 20 years ago I would already be dead at this point. I also visited a museum that recalls the war and the genocide in Srebrenica. There are no pictures of that – you can hardly imagine the atrocities.

   

 

Mostar has been by far the most overwhelming stop of my trip. This historic city shows the brutal force of war and at the same time the immense beauty of Bosnia.

 

And there is always so delicious food ….yummyyyy 😀

xoxo anita