What an amazing trip! The time flew by, which is always the trouble with 2 week vacations. I went with two friends from Toronto. We met up in beautiful Split, Croatia with its Roman old town and gorgeous seaside where I had already spent a couple days. Made a couple trips to the islands (Hvar and Brac) plus a trip to Trogir. There are many reasons to go to Split (seaside, old town, stunning Roman palace area) plus it is a great base for days trips to the islands and to explore Dalmatia.
One of our friends had to head home after Croatia so only two of us continued on to Mostar in Bosnia. Mostar is well worth a visit if you are in Bosnia. From wandering the old bazaar to walking over the famous bridge the town is known for which was built in the Ottoman times but was destroyed during the war in the 1990s and had to be rebuilt, it has a unique charm. After just 24 hours in Mostar we were off to Sarajevo. Walking through the old Ottoman area of Sarajevo is like walking through time. There are still old Turkish style coffee shops and one street has even retained its traditional purpose as the copper street where families have worked for generations. There are signs of the recent war everywhere but the city is still beautiful and has made an amazing recovery. Shrapnel marks in the walls, the Sarajevo roses at sights where people were killed, the tunnel museum at one end of the "tunnel of hope" used to bring in foods, supplies and weapons during the war, and the Sbrenica exhibit are all poignant reminders of what the city endured.
Final stop Belgrade. We found surprisingly few mentions of the war in museums or tours, unlike Croatia and Bosnia. Most of the tourist sights are focused on older history, Orthodox churches or the Tito period. The pedestrian walking area leading to the old fortress with its amazing views over the river is lined with cafes and stores. As with Croatia and Bosnia, the coffee culture is apparent, which started in the Ottoman times and continued with Hapsburg rule. We spent a portion of every day having coffee (and sometimes indulging in the delicious desserts) while people watching, it was fantastic.
Pictures and details will follow. Now sadly off to pack for home after one last nutella crepe.
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