Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Thursday 28th June
The day started with some trepidation, as we both had very little knowledge of BiH, some reports wrote that the roads were bad and that the speed limits were very slow, although generally ignored by the local populace. One stated that you should not venture far as there are still a lot of land mines around left over from the homeland war 20 years ago. I also needed to get some insurance for the bike so hoped I could do this at the border, I asked the staff at the hotel in Dubrovnik, they recomended that we cross before Trebinje, as there was only one border crossing and was the best route to Mostar, our first stop, well this was our place of choice as well I was happy.
We left the hotel in Dubrovnik about 930am knowing it was only a short journey and the road to BiH was just outside Dubrovnik, the roads appeared to be fine at early stages we crossed the Croation border after a short wait, as there were more crossing into Croatia than BiH, we made the border for BiH. The BiH police were pleasant and we chatted about our plans, (the bike and football are big levellers), we were sold insurance at the border for 40 euros for 4 days, much as expected, they let us take photos for the ABC competition and off we went. Strangly nothing changed speed limits were much the same and road conditions good, we did pass mine warning signs at the side of the road, but once away from the border, have seen nothing since.
As we travelled through the countryside, which was mountainous and very barren, we could smell camamile and aslo curry from the local flora. The rivers were clear blue. Not much in the way of villages not much farming goes on here. The roads were good generally with lovely sweeping bends.
We arrived in Mostar and eventually found our hotel. it turns out it is very close to the old part of town, with a wonderful view of the Stari Bridge. The old town is very quaint with a cobbled bazaar. Mostar is a real mix of old and new. A lot has been rebuilt since the war of 91-95, but there are also a lot of buildings left as they were after being shelled and fired on, bullet holes and shell marks still clearly visable. The people are lovely, so kind and welcoming, nothing seems to much trouble to them. In the afternoon we sit on the hotel terrace and watch the locals cadjolling the tourists in parting with their money, for one of them to jump off the old bridge, one collects enough to do it.
We head down to old town for dinner, at a local restuarant recommended by the hotel.We try out a local dish of Muckalica (veal stew and spicy vegetables with a dolop of soft cheese) despite its description its delicious!! This was followed up with a last wander round the old town in the evening for an ice cream and then back to the hotel to watch the old town with the other guests and talk about our travels.
Friday 29th June
We leave Mostar and head for our next stop at Sarajevo, once we pass again through mountains. The road has more traffic on it now and the road surfaces are better. We see more bikes on the road, it is the weekend I suppose, all morning it has been threatening to rain, then the heavens opened , time to put the waterproofs on! as the roads are pretty good it does not slow us up to much, only one tunnel has very bad road surfaces, so we clench our bums and hope for the best! as we arrive in Sarajevo our instructions fall apart no place or roads names! so we got lost in Sarajevo, we stopped to ask the local police who were no help at all. Jack went into the local Tourist info place and got directions and by trial, error and well placed signs, we managed to find the hotel, which is in a quiet part of town and after locking the bike in a gated area, we greatfully accepted a welcome warm drink (once we had taken our waterproofs off so we didnt make the furniture wet). Even though it is pouring with rain, we needed something to eat, so we headed into town by local trolley bus, and dashed into the nearest food place. We had another local dish named Cedjav, which is like a doughy pitta bread with mini donas and another scoop of soft cheese, which again was actually quite tasty.
Sarajevo is also still being rebuilt after the war andsame as Mostar we see bullet holes in buildings all over the place, so many are behind hoardings. Most sights were closed by the time we arrived in town ad had eaten, all we saw was the spot that the assassination that started the first world war took place and the Latin Bridge, so decided to make our way back to the hotel to dry out.The room looked like a laundry. At the moment the weather has calmed and clothing is now out on the patio drying.
Tomorrow we head through BiH to Hungary
- comments