Andrew Ace

Anyone who watched TV news during the 1990s knows the names Sarajevo... Mostar... Belgrade... Dubrovnik. I remember the pictures of the vicious fighting that came out of Bosnia and neighbouring countries, but at the time of course I didn't fully understand the complex reasons behind it all. The recent film 'Land of Blood and Honey' came as a powerful reminder of the horrendous atrocities that were committed on Europe's doorstep while I was enjoying my teenage years at school. The film ended with a somber message that the peace which now exists in the region is very much a fragile one, and deep divisions & tensions still remain. That's what drove me to pack my backpack and head off to the Balkans to find out exactly what went on during the conflict, how it affected people, and what life there is like 15 years on.