Northwards we zoomed from the Bay of Kotor to the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stopping in at Trebinje for a wander around the charming little town and the fakest, sweetest ice cream sundaes the world has ever seen. Soon after we were treated to some of the famous Bosnian hospitality when a roadside stop to buy some blackberries turned into a mimed discussion about home-made cosmetics with blackberries 'gratis'.
The following day after filling our little car up with enough groceries and booze to last the week on our next stop on Otok Zut island and some burek for lunch at a friendly local joint, we managed to fit in a trip to the Blagaj Tekke (a Dervish monastery) at the spring of the Buna river.
The monastery was built in the 1500s with elements of Ottoman architecture and Mediterranean style and is now both a focus of Muslim pilgrimage and unrestrained tourism (with 'local' fish restaurants doing a roaring trade and more tourist tat aplenty).
Reaching our destination we unpacked at the fabulous Hostel Nina and went roving the beautiful old streets of Mostar, vainly attempting to ignore the myriad of shops vomiting junky tourist tat onto the street. Mostar was named after the medieval bridge keepers (mostari) who guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over the Neretva river. The Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's most recognisable landmarks.
We enjoyed a quiet evening for our eight year wedding anniversary at a tourist-filled restaurant watching the throngs of other tourists waft past on their way to similar establishments. Actually nice beer, wine and food though :)
The local shop sold some banging 1L bottles of Bosnia and Herzegovinan red wine for €2-3 (!), so we loaded the car up in preparation for our eight day island lock-in coming up in Croatia. Who knew Bosnia and Herzegovina made wine this good for this cheap!
The following day after filling our little car up with enough groceries and booze to last the week on our next stop on Otok Zut island and some burek for lunch at a friendly local joint, we managed to fit in a trip to the Blagaj Tekke (a Dervish monastery) at the spring of the Buna river.
The monastery was built in the 1500s with elements of Ottoman architecture and Mediterranean style and is now both a focus of Muslim pilgrimage and unrestrained tourism (with 'local' fish restaurants doing a roaring trade and more tourist tat aplenty).
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