Sarajevo

The best comes at the end...

Actually, Sarajevo has been high on the wish list since the beginning of the trip. On the way back, a few were already planned for this reason.

I have already heard a lot about the city, now it was finally time for me to see it for myself.

After a long, relaxed overland drive, I suddenly found myself in the middle of Sarajevo. Baaam, traffic x1000, people everywhere, excitement, joy, full concentration, curiosity, overwhelm... Emotional state as chaotic as the traffic.

My plan was to drive up to the Trebevic mountain to be able to stand there quietly outside the city. There are some paid parking spaces in the center, but they are not among my preferred places. There is also a campsite. It is also located a bit higher up on the Trebevic mountain.

After a long drive and crazy city traffic, my nerves were already a bit strained, so the drive to this f***** mountain became a complete catastrophe. My navigation system repeatedly led me into the smallest, narrowest streets, where it was also steep uphill. I have no idea how many times I tried and how many times there was oncoming traffic, I had to reverse or turn around on the steep slope, with brakes that sometimes didn't hold properly. Poor Bürsti. Scratching the underbody, spinning tires, and a clutch that stank. The attempt to somehow get up the mountain also really strained him.

I was on the verge of leaving Sarajevo immediately. Mental breakdown.

With the goal of only staying at free places, I have always made it a bit harder for myself than maybe necessary.

Now almost anything was acceptable to save this day somehow.

The green, quiet parking space at the other end of the city was then my island after wandering around aimlessly on the open sea for hours.

From here, it was about 13km to the city center. The route was flat and mostly a proper bike path. So perfect to ride into the city - of course not on the same evening.

But on the next morning, to a free walking tour, which I had signed up for online the night before.

A great route to immerse oneself in the life of the city.

The tours by Neno and Friends bypass the public sights and instead delve deep into the history of the city and its inhabitants through many personal anecdotes. At many stops, it becomes clear how present the war and the siege still are for the people in Sarajevo.

In the Bosnian War from 1992-1995, Sarajevo became a symbol of the destructive power of nationalist madness.

During the longest siege of a city in this century by the Serbs, the war and destruction cost over 11,000 residents their lives.

To this day, countless damaged buildings testify to the disaster that the people have not yet overcome, despite the slow recovery. It is a mixture of optimism and persistent trauma that characterizes the city and that also becomes noticeable for tourists.

The old town has a special charm with its buildings, influenced by Ottoman Oriental architecture. Inviting cafés, craft shops, and stylish souvenir shops line up here. The cityscape is also marked by several impressive buildings from the Austro-Hungarian period. History wherever you look.

Religion and faith naturally also play a decisive role, then as now. So here you can see many mosques, Orthodox churches, and also a synagogue.

There is so much to report about history, religion, and politics that entire libraries are probably filled with it.

Overall, I spent three days here and I am impressed. The city has an incomparable character, its own vibe that has attracted and impressed me. There is a lot to discover and you are warmly welcomed as a guest.

On the last day, I finally made it to Trebenic. From the other side of the city, where the parking space was located, there is a normal road that leads up.

Throughout the mountain, there are other sights and activities that are especially popular with visitors. For example, the Olympic bobsleigh and luge track, which was built for the 1984 Winter Olympics. Nowadays, it is particularly popular with graffiti artists and mountain bikers.

To delve a bit more into the extensive history, I also visited the Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, it was not particularly informative and spectacular.

But I found something again in one of the second-hand shops after a long time. In the end, another big plus point for the city.