Sarajevo and the seige of 1992-96

The siege of Sarajevo was the longest in modern history.
It lasted from Apr 5, 1992 – Feb 29, 1996

Above, a relic of the war - bombed out building

Above, one of the bridges that residents had to cross under sniper fire during the war. 

A tunnel was built  in order to get essential supplies into the starving and desperate residents. This house in the outskirts of the city was where the tunnel to the UN protected airport ran.

All over the city there are these 'roses' on the footpath. Reminders of people who died during the war of the 1990s.

 Wounded troops were transported to hospitals via the tunnel.

Above, images of the tunnel that was kept secret. This tunnel saved the lives of thousands of people.

Installation by young activists in Bosnia & Herzegovina

We are authentic and united in emotions is the message written in several languages on these flags that fluttered in one of the main streets of Sarajevo. 

The installation was called 'Authentic"

The message was welcome in the city that has seen so much tragedy and heartbreak.

I hope that the youth sustain and promote this message for ever.

Sarajevo - copper and silver craft

In Sarajevo there are still some streets where metal workers ply their trade, and here are some examples

Mostar, Bosnia Herzegovina

Mostar where we saw the famous bridge, was our first taste of the Ottoman/ Islamic tradition in the Balkans. 

It was immediately evident. Mosques, coffee pots and other Turkish influences

 Below, a view from the bridge.

Many Turkish artifacts for sale

Day trip to Montenegro

We arrived in Montenegro and took a  little boat to visit the baroque Our Lady of the Rocks shrine on a man made island. The island was formed by local fishermen who, after seeing the Virgin Mary in the reef, began dropping stones on the spot every time that they sailed by.

 And below  is the island cemetery

Below, St Nicholas Orthodox Church in Kotor 

Saint Luka’s Church, Romanesque style constructed in 1195 it is one of the few of such age that is still standing and it is still in use. two centuries it had two altars, where both Roman Catholics and Christian orthodox believers could pray together.

Below, part of the walls of Kotor

In Dubrovnik we saw this exhibition of photographs from the  Museum of Modern Art.

The poster caught our eye. The image is by Mladen Tudor (b.1935 in Split).

He also recorded the civil war.

 Below are more of Tudor's works

Also found the work of Pavo Urban incredibly moving. He died photographing the bombing of Dubrovnik.    Here is one of his images below.

More information can be found at Pavo Urban. I suggest you have a look.

Dubrovnik - Franciscan Monastery

The Franciscan Church and Monastery is a large complex belonging to the Order of the Friars Minor. It consists of a monastery, a church, a library and a pharmacy. 

The monastery was built in 1360 in late Romanesque style. It has 120 columns and the capitals are all different showing various geometric, plant, human and animal-like figures.

The pharmacy dates from 1317 and is the third oldest, still functioning pharmacy in the world.