Sunday, December 01, 2013

PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, CUM HOLIDAY TO EASTERN EUROPE

We went to Mostar in Bosnia-Herzergovina to visit a Franciscan monastery and celebrate mass. Then we went for lunch at a typical Bosnian restaurant with a profound Turkish influence. This ruin left from the "Homeland War" from 1992-95 after Yugoslavia fell was along the way. Bullet holes can be seen in the wall of the structure.

Cobble-stoned street leading to the restaurant and the Old Bridge of Mostar. Bullet holes are visible on the walls here too.

Mostar residential architecture where stones are dominant

Quaint shops selling stuff along the way. Our group was attracted but hunger overrode that interest.

Our guide, Juliana, who is a cousin of Vicka, one of the Medjugorge visionaries, with my Madam and Louisa, our neighbour.

Our lunch of a 'mini' meat platter which we couldn't finish as we made the mistake of ordering a soup (which we took with bread) and salad. Inexpensive at 10 Euro.

Our friends, Louisa and Noel, ordered this 'mini' fish platter which they couldn't finish for the same mistake. It cost them 16 Euro.

The famous Mostar Old Bridge (Stari Most), originally designed by an Ottoman architect, which witnessed lots of fighting in the Homeland War and was bombed out by the ethnic forces involved. It has since been rebuilt with cobblestones retained. Come another time and one may see divers plunging into the extremely cold waters below. Divers from other countries have tried it and some lost their lives. The waters are so cold that divers will douse themselves with icy water before plunging to prevent hypothermia. To land in a wrong spot of the river is also assurance of certain death.The height of the bridge from the river is about 24 m. For its history, visit: Wiki

The Neretva River which runs under it. Currents here are very strong.

This side of the river is East Mostar and pre-dominantly Moslem. The bridge divides this area into predominantly Christian and Moslem precincts. This was a consequence of the war.

Another section of the Moslem precinct.

The Christian side of the river.

No comments: