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Fairyland, or not so much?

Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

By Ellen

October 20^th, 2018

During our stay in Dubrovnik (Croatia) we wanted to make a day trip to one of the neighbouring countries, just to have a taste for any possible future travels. Before we took of we bought ourselves a little picnic at the local bakery in Dubrovnik and rented a car at Discovery Car Rental. We crossed the border at Ivanica / Gornji Brgat and headed of to Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, mostly through barren landscapes.

MOSTAR’S FAIRYLAND

Mostar has a couple of very pretty touristy streets, among which Onešćukova, Jusovina and Kujundžiluk. Including the beautifully restored Stari Most (old bridge), 25 years after it was destroyed during the Yugoslav War.

We tried some local Ćevapi (sausages) at family-owned restaurant Tima Irma

Will they or won't they jump ... They didn't, at least not in our time there

Ottoman Street

Kujundžiluk (gold alley), is the oldest part of the city. The street is lined with artisan shops selling traditional handicrafts.

TURKISH KAjTAZ HOUSE

The highlight of our trip was this historic old house. Once the harem section of a larger homestead built for a 16th-century Turkish judge. It still belongs to descendants of the original family.

The roof was lost in wartime bombardments but otherwise the pretty, half-timbered structure stayed remarkably intact.

Since we came knocking on the door off season, we were lucky the owner was home and willing to provide us with a little bit of background while we sipped homemade pomegranate juice in the courtyard.

OUTSIDE OF FAIRYLAND

It's not all rainbows and butterflies in Mostar. When you venture outside the touristy streets you still come across a multitude of damaged buildings.

Back to Dubrovnik

Luckily we decided not to stay for dinner and head back to Dubrovnik before dawn. It turned out the roads weren't exactly illuminated, it was pitch black the last bit of the journey.