UNESCO - Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge In Višegrad, Bosnia And Herzegovina

The Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge of Višegrad across the Drina River in the east of Bosnia and Herzegovina was built at the end of the 16th century by the court architect Mimar Koca Sinan on the orders of Grand Vizier Mehmed Paša Sokolović. The bridge has 11 masonry arches with spans of 11 m to 15 m, and an access ramp at right angles with four arches on the left bank of the river. The 179.5 m long bridge is a representative masterpiece of Sinan, one of the greatest architects and engineers of the classical Ottoman period and a contemporary of the Italian Renaissance, with which his work may be compared. The unique elegance of proportion and monumental nobility of the whole site bear witness to the greatness of this style of architecture.

In former Yugoslavian countries this bridge is also well-known through the historical novel The Bridge on the Drina by the later Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andrić; the story spans about four centuries and covers the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian occupations of the region, with a particular emphasis on the lives, destinies and relations of the local inhabitants, especially Serbs and Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks).

Puno hvala Sabina!

 

1984 Winter Olympics, BiH

Bjelašnica is a mountain in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, found directly to the southwest of Sarajevo, which rises to an elevation of 2067 meters. It is a popular tourist attraction for hiking and skiing, and in 1984 was one of the locations for the Winter Olympics, hosting the men's alpine skiing events. The official mascot, evoking many memories and smiling from the corner of this postcard, was called Vučko - a variation of the local name for a wolf. Lovely stamps, among them a donkey :)) Hvala puno Merisa!

Kravice Waterfalls, Bosnia And Herzegovina

Another card from my weekend trip to Mostar :) A small group of us from the hostel (Majdas Hostel, best there is!) did a day-trip to the surrounding highlights, and one of them was this gorgeous waterfall called Kravice ('small cows' :)) situated on the Trebižat River near the border. Its height is about 25 metres (80 ft) and the radius of the lake in the base of the waterfall is 120 metre, which makes it a popular swimming and picnic area. 

Never knew there was such a natural gem in the area! Here is a pic from above taken by my (mediocre) mobile camera:

Donkey Loves Herzegovina

Last weekend I visited Mostar, a beautiful historic town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I can't believe it took me this long, I loved it! But even though it is only some 250 km away, I had to take three different buses to reach it...I say next time it should be done by a car, and since I've (again finally!) gotten my driver's licence last week, it is even a proper prospect..:)

There are three companies responsible for postal service in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one of them is Hrvatska Pošta Mostar. In the town itself you can use both HP Mostar and BH Pošta stamps to send your mail, depending in which part of town you are. I went to the 'Croatian side' mainly just to use this new mailing system to my collection :) As the philately desk was closed I didn't find as much variety as I hoped for, but STILL the ladies working there were very helpful, and these stamps are pretty cool! (It goes without saying that I was thrilled to find a donkey postcard as well :)))

Donkeys Overload

Last month I have done a multiple swap with Snježana who also loves donkeys and happened to have some doubles to share - she used some excellent stamps! First full set from 2001 with comic illustrations, second full set from 2013 with honey flowers. Hvala Snježa :))

 

Towns Of Republika Srpska, Bosnia And Herzegovina

Banja Luka is the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the administrative capital and largest city of the Republika Srpska entity. The postcard shows an old fort "Kastel" (Latin: Castra) in the centre of the city; it is one of the oldest buildings in the country, whose origins are not certain but but it is believed that it was built in the 3rd century by the Romans.

The town of Prijedor, within the municipality of Prijedor, is located in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the banks of the Sana and Gomjenica rivers, and at the south-western hills of the Kozara mountain. Prijedor is the 3rd, largest municipality in the Republika Srpska entity, after Banja Luka and Bijeljina and the 7th largest in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It always reminds me of a penpal that I had during Yugoslavian times.

Hvala puno Jasmine, posebni dodaci kolekciji! :))

UNESCO - Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar, BiH

Recieving the stamps of HP Mostar inspired me to track down and post this beautiful b&w view of the Old Bridge of Mostar, which is one of the two unesco sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I have received it more than two years ago from Eldin on behalf of Ana - so thank you both :)

The historic town of Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country. It was named after the bridge keepers ( mostari ) who in the medieval times guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over the Neretva. The Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's most recognizable landmarks.

It is also a symbol of the Bosnian war in the early 90's, which also casts a dark shadow over my country. Very sad and so superfluous, when everything could have been dealt with much more care and humanity. It is enough to say that the Old Bridge stood proudly for 427 years until it was destroyed on November 9, 1993. In 1998 Unesco established an international committee of experts to oversee the design and reconstruction work; it was decided to build a bridge as similar as possible to the original, using the same technology and materials. The reconstructed bridge was inaugurated on 23 July 2004.

It is traditional for the young men of the town to leap from the bridge into the Neretva. In 1968 a formal diving competition was inaugurated and held every summer. Here is  video so you dont have to imagine ;)

Emperor's Mosque, Sarajevo, BiH

The Emperor's Mosque (Careva Džamija) was built in 1457, and as such is the first mosque to be built after the Ottoman conquest of Bosnia. Considered one of the most beautiful mosques of the Ottoman period in the Balkans, the mosque features a roomy interior and high quality decorative details. Most of its splendour is owed to Suleyman the Lawgiver, one of the most renowned Sultans of the Ottoman Empire, who rebuilt it in 1565 after a great devastation.

Sarajevo - unique symbol of universal multiculture - continual open city is on the Unesco tentative list for 15 years now, and to be frank I am greatly surprised its not already on the main Unesco list! Its such a magnificant city with rich and turbulent history.

Whats also magnificant about this postcard are the stamps used - issued by Hrvatska Pošta Mostar, one of three companies responsible for postal service in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These two are from the set of four issued in 2006 representing native birds, in this case the Great Crested Grebe and the Hoopoe. Gorgeous creatures! And special thanks to Goge :)))

Horses, Bosnia and Herzegovina

After some consideration I have arranged a swap with a person from Bosnia and Herzegovina, my dear neighbouring country. She has chosen the cards for me to send, but didn't wait for me to choose as well and just sent me animal cards because animals are on my list. All four cards depict horses, three are paintings and can barely be distinguished from each other. On top of it, one of the cards is meant for the Vacation RR, whose main idea is to send viewcards from the country visited. Of course I was disappointed...but because the stamps are beautiful I still choose to put it on my blog :)

Map Of Bosnia And Herzegovina

An excellent map card of Bosnia and Herzegovina that came as a surprise from my dear postcrossing friend Jasmin :)

The map shows folklore and traditional manifestations of the country and places them in their region. It makes me wish to be able to travel in my own car (if i had one!) through this wonderful and unique country! I have visited Sarajevo once, and liked it soooooooo much xD I definately want to re-visit, and expand my experience <3>