One day visit to Sarajevo - Capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Since it was not interesting for me to just sit on the beach for a whole week, it was decided to visit Sarajevo. From our holiday destination in Croatia it was only 344 km by car. Approximately 4 and a half hours. You can leave in the morning and return late in the evening.

Decided, done.

Road to Sarajevo

The road from Gorny Karin (Croatia) to the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina was paid and cost about 7 euros. Regular toll road. But the road in Bosnia and Herzegovina itself was free almost to the very end.

In this case, I would divide the road into two sections. The first, from the settlement of Kamensk to the entrance to the ridge, was simply hilly. But the second section was mostly mountain serpentine. The road through the mountains has clearly fallen into disrepair, although earlier in many places it even had curbs. But now the stench is overgrown with plants. However, the road is mostly acceptable. For example, in Norway, such roads were more difficult, because in many places they were with one lane in both directions and with pockets for passing oncoming traffic.

But what's worse in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to Norway is the drivers. Half of them do not turn on the dipped beam headlights until it gets completely dark, they use the turning lights every other time, and they don’t keep their lane on the serpentine, especially if there are two lanes in the same direction, when cornering they go from the outer lane to the inner one. This may be good on the race track, but it is unpleasant for other drivers on the serpentine. Such is the local color of the road.

Sarajevo

Parking

I found parking next to the business center. There was a parking meter that seemed to accept credit cards. This was my mistake as I found out when I checked out that it only accepts certain cards and mine didn't work. Also, the parking meter did not accept euros, but only the local currency - Convertible stamps . However, the euro in Sarajevo is used along with the local currency with a rough exchange rate of two marks for one euro. Therefore, it was not difficult to exchange currency with a local man who parked in this parking lot.

Beggars

When I approached that man in the parking lot, he looked at me warily. This is not surprising, beggars here walk through parking lots and approach cars at intersections.

In Prague, I did not notice this, it is rather an exception to the rule.

City

You can walk around the historical part of the city in a few hours, including lunch.

Dinner

Regarding the behavior of local waiters, I can say that there is an opportunity to get into an unpleasant situation. Perhaps this is due to the fact that there are ethnic contradictions in the country.

In the first place we visited, all the waiters were swarthy and black-haired. And they just ignored us. When I tried to address one of them, he just grunted something and ran past me. As a result, we stayed there for about 15 minutes until the rain subsided and went to another institution.

The other establishment opposite had excellent service and the waiters spoke English. And the kitchen was just great and only 20 euros for two. It's actually very cheap. Usually I estimate one standard check for 20-30 euros per person.

Evidence of war

There are traces of the war left in Sarajevo, such as key sites of shelling or other crimes against humanity, outlined with metal borders and touched up with red paint. As well as traces of shrapnel and shelling on buildings that have not been restored in 25 years. In any case, the facade remained damaged.

Churches and mosques

Sarajevo combines both the Muslim faith and the Catholic faith.

In the center is the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ.

As well as a number of mosques, for example, the Gazi Khusrev-Beg Mosque

Or the Tsar's Mosque

Local color

In general, Eastern flavor is quite strong in Sarajevo, especially if you walk through the center. The effect is also possible that I'm already used to seeing Catholic Cathedrals and Churches, so the mosques made a little more impression.

Conclusion

In general, I wanted to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina and add this country to my travel treasury. And I did it.

The city center impressed me in a positive way, despite some negative things, such as the behavior of the staff in some restaurants.

Also, the country itself, like the capital, seemed to me not rich and a little in a state of ruin. There are many unfinished buildings, abandoned houses. In neighboring Croatia, I have not seen this.

Therefore, I do not think that I will visit Sarajevo again purposefully, as this time. Unless you are traveling to another country.