Mostar

I saw a man jump off a bridge. It was awesome. In fact, most of my time in Mostar was spent watching guys jump off things into the river below. I was too chicken to jump myself, but I did go for a swim in the beautiful turquoise water; my entire body went numb in less than a minute. That water is freezing! When I wasn't hanging out by the river, I was either drinking with the cool guys I met, or touring the rest of the city.

Of course, Mostar was also affected by the war. The contrast is even more pronounced in Mostar - there are brand new buildings constructed right next to bombed out buildings. The contrast is jarring. I also went to a former bank building that was bombed at the beginning of the war, then used by snipers during the later stages of fighting. Some floors are still strewn with documents - bank records, loans, and books are everywhere - while other floors show evidence of fighting - broken glass, shell casings and grenade plugs are everywhere.

Stari Most (Old Bridge)

one of the guys jumping off the lower platform

old Mostar (seen from the bridge)

the local kids started a fire outside our hostel...

New Orleans pride!

 Chicago pride too!

 hanging out at Ali Baba's

I didn't get the memo about the funny faces...

in the burned out building, on the floor that has old bank documents strewn about

document dating from 1982

 
same building, one floor up

 snipers used this floor, hence the shell casings

bank entrance riddled with bullet holes

 

abandoned WWII cemetery...completely neglected nowadays, but it clearly used to be beautiful

 war and peace

locals jumping off the platform

 we waited three hours to see someone jump off the bridge...not that I minded, it's such a beautiful place

finally, someone is going to jump!