5.04.2010

A Bosnian Detour

It's not every day you get lost driving through Bosnia and stumble upon a military installation complete with tanks and fighter jets and end up hanging out the window snapping pictures like mad with your heart beating like crazy because you think you're going to be shot any second but you do it anyways because your brother is in the middle seat and can't reach the window and thinks this is SO COOL and really needs to be captured. :-)


He was right, of course. It was terribly cool and utterly terrifying. It was especially invigorating when, just as we got past the last of the tanks, a loud explosion occurred right in front of us. Our eyes bugged out and our hearts leaped into our throats until we realized that it was only a semi-truck blowing out one of his rear tires. :-) Needless to say it took a wee bit for our pulses to stop racing. :-) 

We didn't intend to get lost, of course, but our well laid plans of "stick to the main highway through Bosnia" came to naught once we crossed the border and suddenly the highway was shut down and we were shunted off into the hills with the aid of orange signs that we can only assume spelled "detour." Unfortunately for us the detour signs disappeared and we were left to wander through the back country of Bosnia trying to find out where in tarnation we were. :-)


 Wherever we were, it was absolutely gorgeous and, barring the whole military/explosion incident, wonderfully peaceful as we wended our way through pastoral farmland, thickly forested hills, watching shepherds in their fields, children playing by the water, women carrying groceries along the road.


 This was not the Bosnia I anticipated. My pictures of Bosnia were formed by grainy WW2 photos and, even more recently, the terrible battles of the 90's that left so many dead or shattered in body and spirit. I confess I was afraid of Bosnia before I went, but I also desperately wanted to see it, to drive over the land that has been torn by so many wars, to see the faces of the people who have survived, over and over again. In reading their history I can't begin to fathom the horrors they have seen and experienced, yet they are still here. Still getting married, having babies, working the land. We would see evidence of massacres, battles, and death further down the road, but for now there was beauty, life, and peace.






24 comments:

  1. Let's go back! Oh yes! The blown tire. Oh my heart stopped for a long minute right here. Yowza!
    I LOVE BOSNIA! What a great country and the people are amazing.

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  2. Yes, please!! I want to drive through those hills again and stop at those amazing turquoise lakes and rivers. :-)

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  3. Yeah, no on ever intends to get lost, but that's often when the most exciting discoveries occur. Thanks for sharing the gorgeous photos too.

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  4. It's always something like a blown tire to dramatize and deflate a moment all in the same time! We had three lone but very loud fireworks go off outside our house Sunday night just as we got into bed and I was certain it was the Times Sq. bomber come to our neighborhood!

    Bosnia looks lovely as your pics always are. Love the real old-fashioned haystacks! I would go there just to see that!

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  5. This was a real adventure. I'm surprised they let you take photos at all. The countryside is so pastoral it's hard to imagine all that has taken place in this country. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

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  6. It was oh so beautiful, Duchess. :-)

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  7. I agree, Susan! :-) It was a splendid adventure. :-)

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  8. Ohhh, that would be scary too, Paradis! Yipes! :-) I agree about the haystacks. I took so many pictures of them! :-)

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  9. I'm sure if they'd seen me they wouldn't have allowed it, Mary. :-) I just loved the countryside, so green, so gentle.

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  10. I love getting lost on vacation. I get to see so many things I wouldn't have if I had stayed on course. I never thought I would want to go to Bosnia, but it sounds fun!

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  11. Eep! Bosnia sounds scary! Beautiful. But scary!

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  12. Me too, Deanna! It's the BEST way to see interesting things. :-) Bosnia is GORGEOUS! Can't wait to show you more. :-)

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  13. It sure was, Joanne! Both scary and beautiful.

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  14. Bosnia is gorgeous! I always wanted to visit the country. It's fun to get lost something to find something beautiful.

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  15. I agree, Ellie! I hope you get to go soon. It's so beautiful in the spring.

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  16. Bosnia is not far from my country but I haven't been there. Looking at your photos I think Bosnia is really a European country. There are similar spots in Hungary too!

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  17. WOOT ... I would give an arm and a leg for an experience like this Krista. Gorgeous pictures and what a great trip. Often being on the edge can give you an experience of a lifetime! WOW!!

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  18. I love your area of the world, Zizi!! I've driven through so much of it and couldn't stop staring out the window at so much beauty!! :-) I can't wait to explore more!

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  19. Thanks, Deeba! It was such a grand adventure and I can't wait to share even more gorgeous pictures with you next week! :-)

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  20. What a great story! Love the combination of these serene photos of countryside and the terrifying/funny image you painted of getting lost and happening upon an explosion.

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  21. Oh thanks, Ashley! :-)It was so crazy and scary and fun. I'm glad you like it. :-)

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  22. Thanks, Jamie! I'm so glad you like it. :-)

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