Sarajevo, Bosnia – Rest Day

Maternity Hospital

After a good sleep and breakfast (the hotels all have wonderful breakfast buffets) we began our guided tour of Sarajevo.


The tour consisted of a 30 minute bus ride to the “Tunnel of Hope” during which we got an explanation of the Balkans war of the early ‘90s. We passed by the 1984 Olympic stadium site, the destroyed maternity hospital and retirement home. We rode along sniper’s boulevard, too. Upon reaching the tunnel we watched a short video on the war and the construction of the tunnel, dug by hand under the airport runway, to transport food, weapons, etc. past the Serbian army into the besieged city of Sarajevo.

We were allowed to walk 25 meters of the narrow tunnel – Doug only bumped his head once, Australian John 4 times. A mine field containing tripwire grenades and landmines was also on display.

When we returned to Sarajevo our tour continued through the old town, of which half is basically Austro-Hungarian empire origin and half Turkish (Ottoman empire) origin. We walked past a mosque, a synagogue and a catholic church with all religions showing each other great respect. We photographed some fellows sitting on the mosque steps, one was wearing what appeared to be a Jewish yarmulke? Not good on religious headwear. As we write this we are hearing the Muslim call to prayers from the distant mosque.

In the town center there are water spouts. The story is if you drink from the spout you will return to Sarajevo. Our tour guide Dino (just like the dinosaur – his words not ours) did a wonderful job. He is a very knowledgeable young man, working on his master’s degree and was able to add anecdotal notes from his grandfather and other people.

Want to go for a motorcycle ride down here?

Throughout the city there are places in the cement walks where missiles hit during the siege causing mass casualties. These are preserved and have had the “divot” painted red as a reminder or “monument” to those who died. They call them “Sarajevo roses”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had mentioned our accidental motorcycle ride through the market yesterday and today after the tour we found ourselves walking around the market and the same street so have included a picture. Gives an idea of how  tricky this maneuver was! Norma was concerned we would catch our helmets on the shop awning!

 

 

Outside our hotel was this elderly women selling Kleenex. We purchased some, more for the opportunity to take her picture than to complete a sale.

There are many hookah smoke shops throughout the market. The patrons purchase a mouth piece and a cup of tea and spend time smoking from these huge pipes. Typical of most markets many shops have the same items for sale. We spent some time in one and had a great conversation with the shop keeper.

   

Shopkeeper