Bosnia-Herzegovina was the most interesting country that I visited in Eastern Europe, and Mostar was my favorite. The country is still recovering from a devastating civil war and is divided into three distinct cultures (Croats, Bosniaks, and Serbs). Mostar remains wounded in many ways with many bombed out buildings, bullet holes in streets and walls, and neighborhoods dividing the groups that once fought against each other. However, hearing from a local you understand that they are working to build a positive life with the next generation.
The city is set in a green lush valley with a river running through it and a skyline dotted with mosques, churches, bombed out buildings, and new infrastructure. During my time there, I relaxed in the hostel, walked the city, and took a tour of the areas outside the city (next post). Within the city, a few key spots included:
- Breaking into and climbing the abandoned building used as a sniper tower during the seige that is located on the front line for the war.
- Exploring the old communist-era war memorial that is now used as a hang out place for teenagers and for tourists to wonder what it was all for.
- Seeing the statue of Bruce Lee in the park, which was placed there after the war because everyone likes Bruce Lee, right?
- Watching the crazy locals gather donations from tourists so that they can show off their manliness and jump off the bridge into freezing cold water.
- Climbing to high viewpoints of the city and the famous bridge from the mosque minaret.