Jajce – two lakes and countless watermills

Jajce is an historic town just outside of Banja Luka known for its natural beauty. I chose to stay here for a day in order to break up my two stints in “rest and relaxation” places (my five nights on Jablanica’s lake and my upcoming stay on a farm). Even though it’s a quiet town, it’s nice to have a change.

5km away from the town centre are the delightful Pliva lakes and their watermills. The watermills are more apparent they are watermills(!) in the months outside summer, when there is more water, but they are all original and rather quaint. It’s a quiet place with local atmosphere to while away the hours – I counted two hog roasts and four barbeques whilst I was there.

Separately, the strays of Jajce made me chuckle. As like much of the Balkans, Bosnia has a significant number of stray dogs but the strays of Jajce are really something else. Adorable, confident and adorable in their confidentness!

Tomorrow I travel onto my farmstay in Una National Park, which will be my final location in Bosnia & Herzegovina. TTFN, x

Mostar – one train ride, one pretty town and two ice creams

Hello, Mostar!

The train ride between Sarajevo and Mostar is beautiful, especially the final hour heading into Mostar. Try to sit on the left if you can, as that is the side the water is most.

Passing the lake where I will be from Friday!

It was really difficult to take nice photos because 98% features either blurred foliage, my reflection, or both – but it was SUPER pretty!

Upon arriving in Mostar, I quickly set out to explore the Old Town. It’s very pretty and quaint, but full of tourist groups walking very slowwwwwly.

Most of the action is around Stari Most, the old bridge. It was built in the Ottoman era but destroyed during the Yugoslavian War, so the bridge you see and use today is a rebuilt replica of the original.

Mostar’s scars from the war are very apparent, with many buildings riddled with bullet holes and supported by scaffolding.

Two ice creams (lemon and pistachio respectively) to battle the heat:

And I finished the day on the hostel’s balcony, with some fig rakia from the market.

Tomorrow, I am visiting Kravica (a famous waterfall).

TTFN, x

Tirana – one lazy day

Photos from one lazy day exploring Tirana. Tirana is noticeably colourful (which is slightly contentious, as some people feel the Mayor has spent more time beautifying the city, rather than making substantive improvements), which made it really interesting to just wander around.

 

In the evening, I embraced the tourist in me and went to the Sky Bar for negronis whilst watching the sunset. The bar rotates over the course of two hours or so and you get beautiful views over Tirana and it’s surrounding mountains,

Albanians take their football VERY seriously and there is a huge screen constructed in the central square for the World Cup, so I quickly scooted down to watch the Germany v. Sweden game.

TTFN, x