Goodbye Europe, Hello Adventure

I am sad that the European leg of this journey is coming to an end. What a blessing eastern Europe has been. Without planning for it, the former Yugoslavia has been the most interesting area I have ever seen. The very complicated, and incredibly brutal war that happened here is still fresh in the minds of the locals. I never felt unsafe or scared while walking around, but I never felt that I was suppose to be there either. Walking the war ruins in Mostar was emotional and heart breaking. I knew that going inside the bank would defiantly peg me as a tourist to all that saw me go in, but it was something I needed to see. I don't know why, but I did. Inside the bank everything is trashed. All the windows are broken out leaving glass everywhere. The bank was seized by the aggressors while it was still in operation. Through out the years everything has been ransacked and scattered. All the computers have been busted up. All the filling cabinets have been emptied and kicked around. Snipers used the building to kill many people and you could still feel their presence somehow.

The war still continues in Mostar, but its a silent war. When the war started, peaceful people who identified themselves as Yugoslavians, then had to realize that they were either Bosnian (Muslim), Croats (christian), or Serbian (orthodox) and figure out what to do; whether they were to fight or flee. The government has started a "human experiment" by allowing all three groups to attend high school together in the same building. Sounds like growing, but really all three groups have different classes and different curriculum leaving the next generation with three different histories of the war. That and the extreme bigotry of their parents is really pulling the city apart. The city is still divided by the front line (the major highway) Croats on one side and Bosnians on the other.

During the last election in Mostar a Croat didn't win the seat of mayor leaving many people upset. They recalled the election and nothing has come of this. They are left without a mayor. Because of this all city planning has come to a halt. The hostel we stayed at has bought a new building and wish to create a new better hostel, but can't until the mayor signs off on the plan. I was told that in a protest the city brought a donkey on to the streets asking people to vote it into office just to have the position filled. Could you imagine what these people are dealing with?

I would love to come back and spend more time when I can.



The real adventure is about to begin. We are hoping to run into some friends we have made along the way in Turkey. We have named this part The Race for Istanbul or the Turkey Trot, as I like to call it.

Leaving from Mostar we are taking a bus to Budva, Montenegro in order to catch a train that will hopefully get us to Sophia, Bolgaria. From there we are hoping to get a train direct to Istanbul. Zoey couldn't find any information about the trains in English, so were just hoping this is the way we should go. Yea adventure!!!

We are planning on get some camping done, weather permitting this week. Spending more time in Bosnia was great but now we only have four days in Turkey. Should be great non the less.

I honestly can't believe I will be in Thailand in seven days!!!!!