Monday, March 31, 2014

Strolling Sarajevo

We landed in Sarajevo Saturday at noon and it's been one non-stop stroll. Not just us but the whole city. Seems that the locals love to walk just about as much as they love to sit in cafes and drink strong Bosian coffee or tea or the local Sarajevska beer.

We are staying just a few meters from the Old Town strolling street Ferhadija, where East meets West and on almost any day the locals outnumber the tourists.

Yesterday, we made a Sunday excursion to Ilidza - riding the tram - where the locals head to walk, bike, run, rollerblade, or take a horse-drawn carriage ride 4 kms down a tree lined road to Vrlo Bosne, the headwaters of the Bosne River; and then back.

Today we walked 4 kms east from the Old Town to the Goat Bridge, an Ottoman era bridge. Not the weekend, but the few walkers and bikers are tireless.

The train ride from Mostar to Sarajevo is billed as spectacular. We rate it scenic.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Eating in Bosnia is now even easier as we've found ascinicas, cafeteria-style traditional Bosnia restaurants which serve traditional Bosnian food (cooked not grilled) where you can see what you are ordering and you can get a tasty "vegetarian plate" for about 4.50 USD.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

And the potato burek at Buregdzinica Sac is the best potato dish I've had in a long time.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

With Sarajevska beer.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

I'm about ready to have my first ever cup of authentic Bosnian Coffee. Pour so the grounds stay at the bottom of the small copper kettle.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Main Mosque.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Visitors are allowed between prayers.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

And the Madrasah (Islamic school) across the street.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Catholic Cathedral. Sarajevo is where East meets West so there are mosques, churches (Catholic and Orthooox), and synagogues.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Chess.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Strolling to Vrloe Bosne, the source of the Bonse River.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The springs.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

A park in Ilidza.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Back to Ascinica Asdz for lunch. ;-)
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Just before sunset we walked east and up to a viewpoint, passing a Muslim cemetery on the way.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Check out the minarets.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo Roses, imprints from mortar shells filled with red resin, are reminders of the Bosnian War. This one is near our hotel.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Another reminder of the war is the monument at the Markale (Market) to the dead from the 1994 and 1995 bombings ( of the Markale). It's the red wall in the back.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Svrzo's House: An old Ottoman house that is now a museum.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Strolling to the Goat Bridge.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

View of the Old Town from Alifakovak Cemetery.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

We finally run into an Art Deco building - The National Bank.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

And the Sarajevo Islamic Institute has early 20th century Modern lines.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The National and University Library is about ready to reopen.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

And more Bosnian coffee.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina


7 comments:

Kathy said...

Wish I was there! Sarajevo made my revisit list. Glad to see the Library is about finished.

Those Brussels sprouts looks like they're not overcooked - yum (I used to eat them raw).

Crash Eddy said...

No possible way could I hike as much as you two do and then maintain a blog in the interesting way you do. Keep'em coming. Thanks.

GM shows Vrelo Bosne with headwaters very well but failed me on the Goat's Bridge, didn't find it.

Crash Eddy said...

Now, here's a goat bridge for ya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSBHpJmjk9k

john said...

Ed, try these coordinates for the Goat Bridge: 43.853654, 18.457216. In Serbo-Croat it's called Kozja Čuprija.

john said...

Kathy, I would also revisit Sarajevo. It's much nicer than I expected.

Crash Eddy said...

Voilà! Lat-Lon nailed Kozja Čuprija. Thanks. GM sat is still a bit hazy but the bridge is clearly a bridge. Not as tricky for the goats as the link I sent you.

john said...

Ed, The Goat Bridge video was amazing and hilarious.

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