[Around The World #6] Visoko, Bosnia and Herzegovina. 2012.

Hey everyone!

After ages I am finally back. I'm not going to make up any excuses I just didn't have enough time and a bunch of stress the last couple of months. Therefore I also achieved lot of things. :) I passed all of my exams, moved back to Bonn, organized everything for my internships and New York.

I have to finish up the posts about my summer vacation quickly because I still have to pack my bags among other stuff since I am leaving for NY tomorrow. I thought about not doing them anymore but thought it would be sad even though it is kind of ridiculous since my vacation was 6 months ago (if I'm not mistaken, time seriously flies) and I will be back in Bosnia by the end of March anyways.

A short update: I decided not to go to Romania this year since I was offered two internships in Bosnia for spring and summer: one in Sarajevo and one in Banja Luka. I will probably stay for about 4 months. Neither would I have enough time for Romania nor money.

Concerning the last four posts (including this one): I wrote them a while ago, wasn't happy with it, deleted everything, wrote it again and didn't finish editing, looked at it now and realized that a lot just wasn't up-to-date anymore. Here I am again with not enough time on my hands, trying to keep the texts short - quoting a lot - keeping the focus on the pictures. I'm aware of the fact that this actually is neither doing the places nor the people justice. Bear that in mind. 

Let's get it crackin'.

If you've read the title you'll know that we took a trip to the lovely town of Visoko and its pyramids (which you actually can't see but guess, since that was the exact place where the pictures were taken).

Besides its pyramids Visoko has a breathtaking landscape and is the home of a bunch of amazing people.

I don't know whether all of you are familiar with the Bosnian pyramids or have even heard of them before. As a matter of fact: You should have. They are not only extremely interesting and fascinating but also highly controversial. There is a whole debate on whether they are actually pyramids or not etc., man-made or a "hill". Honestly, none of it makes sense to me. They definitely look like pyramids. Arguing whether people lived in there or not, were buried there or not is in my opinion absolutely unnecessary. I am 100% positive that they are NOT "natural" furthermore they have an extremely complex structure. I don't get why people even argue whether they are man-made or just "hills". As far as I can say, even though I am not a scientist, the wikipedia entry supporting the latter is BS. I have eyes. I don't think that nature can built something that precise.

Since I don't want to say anything wrong, here are some more information about the "bosanske piramide". Maybe I will also include a video the next days, a documentary my dear friend Haris (who was there with his mom, my mom and me) posted on FB after our trip:

Bosnianpyramid.com

Just for your information: We were on the Bosnian Pyramid of the Moon where we had an AMAZING little tour guide. If I'm not mistaken he was not more than 12 years-old and told us that he had worked at the pyramids for years, showing tourists around without asking for any money. After talking to our friends in Bosnian and a little English here and there he suddenly started talking German, the moment he realized that my mom and me were speaking it. Let me just say that his German was damn near PERFECT! He seemed proud to say that he learned it from TV. That little guy truly got himself a place in my heart, and all of my respect. 

After lunch we went to see the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun where we met a boy from Germany/Poland with his Polish father who ended up exploring the rest of the city/pyramids with us. Since it was extremely hot we didn't went all the way up and decided to visit the Tunnels. They were by far the most interesting. I had never been in ANY pyramid before and apart from that not with a tour guide as good as the one we had for the Tunnels. I tried to convince him to write something for my blog since he would have been able to write way more detailed, having obviously more knowledge. The tunnels were not only interesting because of their architecture but also because of a lot of spiritual "myths" (as some might call it) surrounding the place.

When we got out we wanted to see even more but it was already evening and we were way to tired. We decided to go back to Zenica, had coffee at our friend's house and then me and my mom got back to the hotel.

I am outraged and cannot understand why the pyramids don't get more international attention. As most of it in Bosnia, they deserve it.

All I have to say is: If you ever visit Visoko - which you definitely should, if you get the chance - hit me up for the info on the tour guides. 

On that note and again a long post: toodles! I'll be back with Mostar and Međugorje in a couple of minutes.

Yours,

Lea.

A Bosnian HAUL.

Good evening dolls,

In between my posts concentrating on cities & culture I had to put one, which focuses on the more extravagant sides of life. ;-)

Yes - even though I should save my money for moving, I went crazy in Bosnia regarding shopping. You only live once. Besides that I was using money I got from my grandpa and was supposed to spend on a trip. After all - shopping is a part of being on vacation, isn't it? Plus I was also getting some items for my new apartment. I already unpacked most of them and they are now in my first own home, making it look exactly the way I wanted it to look. :-) If I get the chance [meaning: if I have time for it] I will take pictures of my new place where you'll maybe recognize some of the items below.

I love to shop in Bosnia because of the prices, which are way lower than in Germany - even though it is getting more expensive there, too. Besides that I love the fact that they sell a lot of stuff I would never ever find out here & I am not only talking about traditional jewellery or furniture for example [even though that's what I mostly went for this time]. Unfortunately the fact that it is relatively cheap - for instance to someone from Germany - could be a problem since you start spending money really fast & therefore lose it even fast. That's something you always have to take care of. Also, if you go to a bazar, always be careful of scammers. There are a lot who are - like in most places with tourists - more than happy to have someone in there store or near there sales booths who doesn't speak the language or doesn't how things are working. If one of the above applies to you, watch out you'll end up paying way more than the item is actually worth. Also, it is useful to know how to haggle. I am not good at it but I had an ace up my sleeve: Locals who were haggling for me. Always excellent but it's working without them, too. Even I made some pretty good deals this time despite the fact that my Bosnian friends weren't always around.

That's all. I'll stop rambling...

Anyhow: I am >> big haulin' << now. ;-)

Yours,
Lea.

************************************

Tea light & lamp bought in a cute little store next to the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque.

 Bits & bobs from Međugorje.

Mary, rosary & holy water from Međugorje.

 Tourist map & magnet from Mostar & the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. I also bought looots of books in Mostar but I got them for my birthday which is why I couldn't take a picture of them. Just two mention two of them (both worth a read!): "This Was Not Our War - Bosnian Woman Reclaiming The Peace" by Swanee Hunt & 'The Story Of Srebrenica - A Novel About The War In Bosnia" by Isnam Taljić.

Information about the "Bosanska Dolina Piramida" in Visoko and a souvenir Haris & Mersija bought for me.

My pride - my new Bosnian coffee service. Handmade and from Sarajevo's famous Baščaršija neighbourhood.

Isn't it beautiful?!

Aaaaaand the matching table. They actually use this size as a stool. The table looks the same, it is just bigger. Unfortunately I haven't had enough money for a big table and thought the little one would do the job as well. PLUS: I have also seen people using this size as a table.

In the same store I bought this amazing mirror. I haven't unpacked it for the pictures since I was moving this Friday.

This is a picture my mom took of me and my wonderful 'shopping-friend' Aida - a woman we met during a tourist tour that day - when we were buying table & mirror.

Noooowww... up next: jewelry ^.^

BTW: ALL of these pieces are either solid gold or silver.

 A traditional Sarajevan bracelet.

I found these babies in the cutest little jewelry store in Sarajevo (one of HUNDREDS!!!).

Me wearing them.

Also from Sarajevo...

 I fell in LOVE with these little jade earrings...

... and the store I bought them in. It's located right in front of the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque. In my opinion the BEST jewelry stores - in the world - are located near or around it. 

A beautiful set containing a matching pair of earrings, a ring and a pendant I purchased in the beautiful city of Travnik.

The earrings are solid gold, handmade hamsa earrings from a store in Sarajevo. The evil eye is from the same store I bought the set above in. 

The store in Travnik.

And last but not least: Gifts I received from the family :-)