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#Post#: 5530--------------------------------------------------
Re: Travel the World with Emma
DIR By: Nikki
Date: December 14, 2013, 7:31 am
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Upon arriving in Mostar, I decided to explore the city on my
own. It was my birthday, already dark outside (around 10 pm or
so) and I just wanted to get a first glimpse of the old bridge.
Just when I was about to snap a picture, someone approached me
from behind saying "Hello". I turned around and saw a guy who
was about my age. We chatted a little until he suggested that he
would show me a beautiful place. When we went to his car I
thought that the "beautiful place" was most likely the place
where he would chop off my head and rape me afterwards (yeah,
such sickos maybe exist). Fortunately I was wrong. He took me to
Blagaj. A historical village on the source of river Buna. They
have a Dervish (a Muslim sect as far as I remember) monastery
there and a neat restaurant directly by the river where you can
enjoy a cold breeze and a refreshing drink to make the summer
heat bearable.
I had my first Bosnian lemonade there. The first Bosnian coffee
- which is, hands down, the best in the world - came the next
morning.
HTML http://www.knowledgepicture.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Blagaj-Bosnia-And-Herzegovina.jpg
The monastery
HTML http://s.sk-gaming.com/image/album/816866/5d34a63198e34db5.jpg
HTML http://us.123rf.com/450wm/rparys/rparys1301/rparys130100074/17316781-fuente-del-ra-o-buna-en-blagaj-cerca-de-mostar-donde-el-agua-que-sale-de-una-cueva-bosnia-y-herzegov.jpg
#Post#: 5531--------------------------------------------------
Re: Travel the World with Emma
DIR By: Nikki
Date: December 14, 2013, 7:40 am
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The next day we were planning on visiting arriving Sarajevo.
Unfortunately when we arrived, it was already raining and it
seemed like it wouldn't stop anytime soon. The next morning, our
host told us that he was going to his native town Tuzla in the
North of Bosnia for a few hours. He suggested taking us with him
to get to know this city as well. Said and done. After 2,5 hours
in the car we were in Tuzla, a rather industrial city.
Market square
HTML http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Public_fountain,_Tuzla,_Bosnia.jpg<br
/>
Serbian orthodox church
HTML http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdluvtXwYV1re2do0o1_1280.jpg
Somewhere in the center
HTML http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Tuzla%2C_Kapija_place.jpg/800px-Tuzla%2C_Kapija_place.jpg
Tuzla massacre memorial -
HTML http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tuzla_massacre
HTML http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Tuzla,_kapija.jpg
The Tuzla "Salt lakes" - It is a biiiiiig outdoor pool made up
of artificial salt water lakes and pools as well as artificial
water falls
HTML https://a1.muscache.com/pictures/4518693/large.jpg
#Post#: 5533--------------------------------------------------
Re: Travel the World with Emma
DIR By: Nikki
Date: December 14, 2013, 7:53 am
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After a rainy day in Tuzla (more clouds than rain, thankfully)
it was time to explore Sarajevo, Bosnia's wonderful capital.
Main square in the Ottoman quarter
This place is truly magical. I could spend hours walking around
there, just enjoying the smell of freshly-made coffee and food
and looking at handicrafts.
HTML http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/87395834.jpg
Cathedral
HTML http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5041/5211711043_83e1631dc6_o.jpg
Latin Bridge, the place where Archduke Franz Ferdinand of
Austria was killed. His assassination led to WWI.
HTML http://dsphotographic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/latin-bridge-sarajevo.jpg
Martyrs' Memorial Cemetery for victims of the Siege of Sarajevo
-
HTML http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sarajevo
HTML http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Sarajevo_martyrs_memorial_cemetery_2009_2.jpg
Sarajevo Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track from the Winter
Olympics 1984
HTML http://static0.demotix.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/a_scale_large/800-5/photos/1317762449-sarajevo-olympic-sites-crumbling-after-war-and-25-years_857295.jpg
#Post#: 5534--------------------------------------------------
Re: Travel the World with Emma
DIR By: Nikki
Date: December 14, 2013, 7:58 am
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After a little change of plans (was supposed to go to Dubrovnik
but received a last-minute invitation from a friend of mine to
visit him), I ended up in Makarska, Croatia. It is mainly a
place for those who are interested in beach holidays and a
beautiful coastline.
Here are some pics:
HTML http://jensop.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/makarska2.jpg
HTML http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/13/51/00/makarska-from-the-headland.jpg
HTML http://www.happytellus.com/img/makarska/makarska_911.jpg
HTML http://www.podstranasplit.com/f/50.jpg
#Post#: 5535--------------------------------------------------
Re: Travel the World with Emma
DIR By: Nikki
Date: December 14, 2013, 8:08 am
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Next up was my first trip to Montenegro. I visited Kotor in the
beautiful Bay of Kotor which is home to Europe's southernmost
fjord.
Kotor has so many beautiful narrow cobblestone streets, old
churches and houses, fortified city walls and a beautiful small
port. If you manage to climb up the countless stairs to the
fortress, you are rewarded with a beautiful view of the entire
city and the fjord.
View from the fortress
HTML http://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/destination-immersion-blog/wp-content/uploads/images/iStock_000013280362_Kotor_Small.jpg
City walls
HTML http://www.photo-montenegro.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Old-Kotor.jpg
Stairs leading up to the fortress
HTML http://enphoto500x500.mnstatic.com/kotor-fortress_152556.jpg
Old town
HTML http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6077/6120199616_0625e35fa1_b.jpg
Main square
HTML http://www.img2.cdm.me/sites/cdm.bild-studio.me/files/styles/301x227/public/multimedia/foto/2013/08/kotor-s-main-square.jpg
One of countless churches
HTML http://jimbojack.com/Photography/Caucasus_%26_CE_Europe/19_Montenegro.jpg
#Post#: 5536--------------------------------------------------
Re: Travel the World with Emma
DIR By: Nikki
Date: December 14, 2013, 8:34 am
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Perast is a little village in the Bay of Kotor. The main
attraction are 2 islands which can be reached by boat from the
small harbor in Perast. One of the islands is an artificial one
with a beautiful Orthodox church. It can be visited. The other
islands also has an old church on it which - as far as I
remember - also served as prison. It isn't open to the public.
HTML http://www.perast.svebor.com/slike/perast1.jpg
The 2 islands
HTML http://images-02.delcampe-static.net/img_large/auction/000/206/540/908_001.jpg
Church of Our Lady of the Rock
HTML http://img.geocaching.com/cache/3fd06a2b-44b9-4dfd-9884-72d71400f53b.jpg
HTML http://www.kalina-tour.com/Ways/History/Photos/2perast3.jpg
HTML http://www.yenbaet.com/img/s1/v55/p1137305192-3.jpg
#Post#: 5537--------------------------------------------------
Re: Travel the World with Emma
DIR By: Nikki
Date: December 14, 2013, 8:44 am
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I didn't like Budva at all. The old town was charming but
nothing special. The other areas of the city had nothing
charming at all. Huge and modern hotel complexes next to old
buildings from the Communist area. It looked rather odd. Maybe
that is why only the Russian tourists seemed to really enjoy it
there without complaining that.
Budva is mainly catering to those tourists who are looking for
parties which start at 3 pm in the afternoon and don't end until
7 am in the morning. Unfortunately that was nothing for me after
2 weeks of traveling without getting lots of sleep.
Budva impressions...
HTML http://www.astoriamontenegro.com/fajlovi/1277374596.jpg
HTML http://www.portmontenegro.com/Budva/Budva-images/Budva-large.jpg
The beaches near the Old town are too damn dirty. People leave
their trash and cigarettes everywhere. Ewwww. They also tend to
get crowded very early. At 8 am we were still lucky enough to
get a small spot for our towels.
HTML http://www.willgoto.com/images/Size3/Montenegro_Budva_Petrovac_72da3ed658c24f3495e3b8ea3b6a472f.jpg
Near Budva you have the hotel and restaurant village of Sveti
Stefan. Unfortunately they don't let you go on the island if you
don't have a hotel or restaurant reservation. That is why we
didn't bother going there.
HTML http://www.apartmani-djurasevic.me/English/picts/foto_sstefan.jpg
#Post#: 5538--------------------------------------------------
Re: Travel the World with Emma
DIR By: Nikki
Date: December 14, 2013, 8:53 am
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Back in Croatia, we visited Dubrovnik.
This city is just too beautiful for words. It was extremely hot
when we arrived but we still couldn't resist climbing up the
city walls.
HTML http://www.telegraph.co.uk/incoming/article35141.ece/ALTERNATES/w620/OVERVIEW%2B-%2Bold%2Btown%2Bharbour.jpg
HTML http://www.c2cyachting.com/wp-content/gallery/days-1-2-dubrovnik/day-1-2-croatia-dubrovnik-jpg.jpg
HTML http://www.dubrovnik-online.com/images/slideshow/tours/dubrovnik1.jpg
HTML http://the-travel-advisor.com/wp-content/gallery/dubrovnik/dubrovnik-15.jpg
HTML http://media2.valamar.com/CmsMedia/Destinacije/Dubrovnik/topici/Dubrovnik.jpg
Anyway, that's it from my Balkan trip this summer. ;)
I'm flying back to Dubrovnik soon but I won't have much time to
spend there. :-[
#Post#: 5545--------------------------------------------------
Re: Travel the World with Emma
DIR By: Emma
Date: December 14, 2013, 9:56 am
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Hola Nikki, you have successfully overwhelmed me with all the
brilliant pictures and the short narratives of yours. You are
just my kind of traveler. I'd like to explore a great deal
rather than go to a resort and spend 7 identical days there in
the name of relaxing. And Croatia might still be poor but its
beauty is breathtaking. Loved everyone single picture no matter
where you went. I did think it was a bit daring of you though to
adventure out on your own on your birthday, especially that late
at night in a foreign country. It had all the signs of a perfect
crime so I am very glad that you'd at realized that while you
were out on that night. Gotta be careful next time, girl. This
is one of the reasons I can't afford to travel as much because I
have no one to travel with me, as all my friends are either
married or have boyfriends and they tend to travel on their own.
And I am still fairly young so I don't feel it's a great idea
for me to travel alone especially when I tend to explore a great
deal.
Looking forward to your Bosnia trip.:)
#Post#: 5550--------------------------------------------------
Re: Travel the World with Emma
DIR By: Nikki
Date: December 14, 2013, 10:36 am
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My friend wanted to kill me when I texted her the license plate
of the guy saying: "I'm going on a little road trip with
someone. Here's his license plate in case I don't come back".
Fortunately everything went just fine. He visited me in October
and now I'm going back there. My little adventure seems to have
turned into a really good friendship. Hahaha.
Croatia is beautiful indeed. It has so much to offer and there
is still so much that I haven't seen yet. I want to return one
day with a rental car so that I can stop at all the picturesque
places. It sucks when you are travelling by bus and see so many
lovely landscapes passing you by without getting the opportunity
to get off the bus to take a picture.
I like travelling alone from time to time because it allows me
to meet a lot of people who can tell me something about their
country or take me to places where I haven't been yet. Obviously
I don't always get on strangers' cars in the middle of the
night. I prefer walking tours by locals and meeting people in
public places. Actually when I was in the Balkans, my friend had
to return home for some days (she lives in Croatia but a little
more in the North close to the Italian border) and left me
alone. I had lots of fun anyway because I could go wherever I
wanted without her complaining and asking me to let her sleep a
bit longer or spend a bit more time with her on the beach. She
is also the only friend that I can actually go on holidays with.
Last year I was in Spain with another friend and she was really
driving me insane. She wanted to save money so every single day
of our 10-days trip we ended up eating spaghetti and tomato
sauce for lunch and dinner. Obviously she also didn't want to
spend money on public transportation. It was fine with me
because I'm used to walking. Unfortunately she wasn't so I
basically had to put up with someone complaining day and night
about blisters and leg pain. As soon as I got back home, I
didn't just go to the Chinese takeaway and bought rice with
seafood, I also thought about where to go next because I needed
a vacation from my so-called vacation.
Let's see if I can visit many places while I'm in Bosnia. I will
just be there for a few days but there are many beautiful
villages and national parks close to where my friend lives. I
also want to return to Mostar because there are some places
which I haven't really seen yet. It was just to hot in summer to
walk around for too long.
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