16 Things I Love About Bosnia-Herzegovina

I hadn’t even gotten off the airplane, before Bosnia-Herzegovina had gone and robbed my heart.

Coming in from above, I could see endless green forests below me, as well as the occasional river or stream. The man next to me confirmed that in Bosnia, there isn’t much other than greenery and water. I love this place.

I never do this, but when I got off the plane, I actually stopped to absorb my surroundings. We were in the middle of a valley, surrounded by hills and mountains that were an incredible blend of greens. Now, I’ve spent the last eight months living in a small, Andalucian town in the middle of farmland. Wheat and sunflower fields are gorgeous in the Spring, but aside from that, they are a vast stretch of brown. Beautiful in its own way, but I’ve always been a lover of lusher lands. So to arrive here, after spending the last I-don’t-know-how long in more desert-like places (Andalucia, Israel, Istanbul), to actually be amid forests was breathtaking.

I have been in Bosnia-Herzegovina for less than 48 hours, but I already have a list of 16 things that I love about it.

1. The little green fishing house I saw in the middle of a lake all by itself

2. All the green everywhere

3. Seeing two men in a very Cast Away-looking fishing boat paddling themselves across a massive gorge, with nothing and no one around, set to the backdrop of looming, forest-covered mountains, in an almost turquoise-colored, perfectly calm river

4. Getting a delicious, huge, filling lunch for 3 euros

5. Getting a decent espresso for 0.50 euro cents

6. Everyone here being so incredibly nice and helpful. Like, really, really nice and helpful

7. The bus I took from Sarajevo to Mostar stopping at a fruit stand so the man who handles luggage and tickets could buy a giant watermelon half for later

8. The views I had the entire time I was on the bus

9. One of the passengers on the bus running to buy the driver and luggage/ticket man Orange Fantas at his stop

10. The fact we took a five minute “pause” after only being on the bus for an hour and fifteen minutes

11. Everyone’s eyes

12. Getting two bananas, an apple and a coconut candy bar for about 0.75 euro cents

13. Seeing mosques, synagogues, and churches all existing in outward harmony

14. That it’s not part of the EU

15. Trying to communicate with the woman from the hostel

16. Everything so far. Even the men who were rude to me last night because I couldn’t communicate with them.

I will definitely be back in this country. I’m almost 100% decided that after my months in California, I’m going to move to Italy to finish learning/studying the language. And also because it’ll put me close to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, and all these other countries over here which I’m sure to love. We’ll see what happens!

Today, I’m already off to Croatia, and the adventure will continue there for the next 9-10 days! Yay! Pass along any suggestions, although I’ve already gotten quite a few.

Hope you have a marvelous day, and that the weather is better than it is here in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina! Love to everyone!

Blessings, Love, Light & Wonder,

Allie-Sun