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Bordered by Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and
Herzegovina (also known as Bosnia Herzegovina)
suffered greatly from the recent war and is still on the long
journey to heal its scars. In 1992 Bosnia and Herzegovina
declared independence from the former Yugoslavia after a referendum
rejected by ethnic Serbs. The country broke out in civil war
setting former neighbours, the Muslim Slavs, Orthodox Serbs
and Catholic Croats as rivals. 1995 saw the signing of the
Dayton Peace Accords, retaining Bosnia and Herzegovina's boundaries
and restoring peace and stability.
Despite the recent tragedies, tourists are slowly making
there way back again, however it will be some time before
the devastating effects from war are fully healed. Filled
with natural beauty, the landscape is overflowing with rich
forests, clear rivers, canyons and even a diminutive coast
line of 12.5 miles. Overlooking Sarajevo, the Bjelasnica
Mountains are a natural wonder. Popular amongst skiers
and hikers, the mountains are home to villages, waterfalls,
lakes and gorges whilst the bald peaks are inhabited by wolves,
bears and wild boars.
Move into the cities for mosques, cobbled streets, and Medieval
architecture. Sadly, it is in the cities where so much devastation
occurred and so many old buildings were destroyed. People
remain divided and the wounds of war are still fresh.
When to Go
With a moderate continental climate, summers are modest and
temperatures are dry, making it a pleasant time to stay. As
Bosnia and Herzegovina is still recovering from the war, there
is still no great peak season, however July and August are
possibly busier when the temperatures are at their highest,
and can reach up to 80 F. Inland, winters are cold and severe
and can get as low as 0 F. Along the coast, winters are mild
and rainy.
Travel between December and March to experience some of Europe's
finest skiing on offer, and at a more affordable cost then
its French or Swiss counterparts or visit Sarajevo during
the last week in August for the Sarajevo Film Festival,
a huge event which is attended by over 100,000 people including
some big names within the industry.
People
Bosnia and Herzegovina was a place where Jews, Muslims, Serbs,
Croats and Turks lived together in peace until Serb artillery
killed over 10,000 people and wounded 50,000. Today, the population
stands at just under four million people. Ethnic groups are
made up of Bosnian (48%), Serbian (37.5%) and Croatian (14.5%),
whilst 70% of religious groups are either Muslim or Orthodox.
Other religions include Roman Catholic and Protestant.
Language
People either speak Croatian, Serbian or Bosnian
depending on which part of the country they are from,
and dialects are present throughout different regions.
Travel
Moving about in Bosnia can be a mission. In some areas trains
are available for inter-city travel and there is a mediocre
bus system in place which is getting better. Throughout Sarajevo,
tram and buses are used, however because a lot of vehicles
were destroyed during the war, the system in place is not
very efficient. Public transport is best in the centre of
the city where it starts running at 5 a.m. through to 2 a.m.
Public vans are available for travel to the hills around Sarajevo.
It is advised to drive with great caution if travelling by
car. Roads are poor due to damage from the war and petrol
stations are few and far between when travelling outside cities.
It is recommended to drive during the day only as carjacking
is common. There are no road tolls when driving on highways.
Cash
The unit of currency in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the
konvertibilna marka or KM which is made up of 100
fennings.For up to date currency information, check the Currency
Converter. ATMs are not common throughout the country, however are becoming
more widespread throughout Sarajevo. Credit cards are accepted
in Medugorje, but generally not accepted throughout
the rest of the country. Banks will usually cash traveller's
cheques.
There are a small handful of hostels scattered throughout
Sarajevo which offer cheap and usually pleasant accommodation
in either private rooms or dorms. Many of the hostels also
offer 24 hour pick-up from the airport. Hotels are set at
remarkably high prices and vacancies can be an issue. It may
be wise to look for alternative accommodation with private
rooms and apartments. Tourist agencies such as Bosnia Tours
can find and book rooms for travellers.
Food
Traditional Bosnian food is similar to that of its neighbours.
Dishes are often heavy and meat features throughout. Soups
and stews are predominant on menus. Bosanski ionac
is a thick soup of meat and vegetables. Stuffed vegetables,
such as sogan dolma (onions filled with meat, rice
and vegetables), are also a preferred choice. To balance out
the heaviness of most meals, salads are often served on the
side. Sour cabbage, onion and tomato salad, and yogurt are
just some of the favorites.
For the sweet-tooth, baklava - sweet layers of pastry,
nuts and honey - is a must and tufahije - an apple
and walnut cake served with whipped cream - is also tempting.
Drinking strong Turkish coffee with sugar from tiny cups is
a way of life for many Bosnians.
Dress
During the winter months it is essential to rug up, wearing
waterproof jackets and warm and heavy clothing to guard against
the icy cold. For summer months light weight clothing is adequate,
however a light jacket during the evenings is advisable as
evenings can be brisk.
Visas
Australian, Canadian, American, United Kingdom, New Zealand
and most European Union citizens only require a valid passport
for entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is advised that
return or onward tickets or documents are carried. A multiple-entry
visa for 90 days can be obtained for around 60 Euros.
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