Europe, with an Arctic cruise, a Balkan tour and bits of France and Malta

[RooFlyer]

Back to Lukomir. We bade our hosts goodbye and started the drive back to Sarajevo.





Due for shearing.

 

[RooFlyer]

Most of the meal portions in Bosnia (and Montenegro) are huge - and might cost 15 euros with a wine or a beer. As it happens, we've also been having them late, say, 2pm. So for the most part I've had lunch and skipped dinner, so very economical!

After Lukomir I wasn't hungry again so decided for a stroll around Sarajevo and up to the Yellow Fortress lookout. Stared off in the Austro-Hungarian end

Electric trams (except in the Old Town)





View up to a ruin above town that would walk to later



It was about 6pm and it was also the first night of Eid ul-Adha, which celebrates the time when Ibrahim had a dream which he believed was a message from Allah asking him to sacrifice his son Isma'il as an act of obedience to God. The devil tempted Ibrahim by saying he should disobey Allah and spare his son. As Ibrahim was about to kill his son, Allah stopped him and gave him a lamb to sacrifice instead.

It runs for three days or evenings and traditionally a sheep is killed and shared around the neighbourhood. But in modern times, people go out to eat! The town was heaving and not all food places were open. I was looking just for a snack but couldn't even find a seat at this end of the Old Town.





I have to mention that in Sarajevo, Mostar and other major towns there are 'Museums of Genocide' and 'Museum of Crimes against Humanity'.





I passed through to the Turkish side of the Old Town. Mosques a plenty.

 

[RooFlyer]

I was getting a little peckish by this time, but as with the other side, the Turkish end was PACKED. Finally, I spotted a cafe looking place with a vacant seat so I plonked myself down.

Menu looks interesting.



It was a cake and sweet shop!



Well, I had to have something, and baklava is the national dish sweet, so why not take one for the AFF team? Go ahead, judge me. . Coupled with a glass of blueberry juice, it was energising!



A small selection of what was on offer.

 

[RooFlyer]

Suitably - all uphill. sugared up, I headed up the hill to the Yellow Fortress, about 25 mins.

Lots of 'old' Islamic buildings; in fact most were at least damaged if not destroyed in the wall, so reconstructions to varying degrees.











I actually changed my mind about Sarajevo in this walk. I had thought it was a bit tatty, no genuinely old buildings, somewhat ramshackle. But here, in the warm evening, you see the Old Town alive, everyone out having fun.



But still reminders of the war, everywhere.



A steep walk up to the Yellow Fortress, past several Islamic graveyards - legacy of the war. The YF is on the left.





The top is a prime spot for viewing the sunset over Sarajevo. And of course this. She was swirling that dress around, showing a lot of leg!



Early sunset.