The Balkans

So yesterday we got back from our trip through the Balkans and I'll try to give a brief overview of how that went:

Note:  I tried to imbed the pictures where they applied but that was proving impossible so I threw them all at the bottom with captions so just look down there.

We left Bologna 10 days ago and took a train to the port city Ancona where we took an overnight ferry to Split, Croatia.  We spent a couple hours in Split which is a beautiful city right on the beach and got a tour of Roman Emperor Diocletian's palace which is one of the most complete and unaltered Roman palaces.

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After spending the day in Split and having lunch we took a train to Makarska, Croatia which was my favorite stop on the trip.  Makarska is a beach town and the place we stayed was sandwiched between huge mountains about a quarter mile to our right, and really nice beaches about a quarter mile to our left.  We spent two days here and the weather was about 90 and sunny both days.  For the entire trip breakfast and dinner was provided at really good restaurants and the seafood in Makarska was great (director also bought as much wine and beer as we wanted).  We also went on a little full-day cruise in Makarska which cost about 30 euro for all you can eat fresh fish, pasta, beer, and wine and stopped at some beautiful Croatian Islands.  The best was Brac where we went to the beach in Zlatni Rat in Bol which was the nicest beach I've ever seen.

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After Makarska we took the bus up to Imotski, Croatia where the director has a close friend who let us stay in his huge beautiful house on the mountain top overlooking blue lake (a swimming lake at the pit of a huge mountain) and about a half mile from Red Lake which was impressive.  The guy we stayed with was nice and had some very radical politcal views which were fun talking to him about (libertarian who hates the government after working for the CIA in Iraq and a number of Croatian government agencies).  Also got to see the grave site for the God of the Sun from Illyrian times which was cool because of the impressive architectural and astrological knowledge it took to build and coordinate with the summer solstice/tombs of other Gods.

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From Imotski we went to Mostar, Bosnia.  On the way we stopped in Medjugorje which was interesting but not nearly as cool stopping at these amazing waterfalls we swam in after.  The old part of Mostar the city was really nice, the rest not so much.  Got to see Stari Most which was really nice.  The next day we met with the director of La Strada which was great to hear about there work and the huge problem that human trafficking remains in the area and how all the ring-leaders are in the politicians pockets.


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Our final stop was Sarajevo which was a really vibrant city and we met with survivors and activists for remembrance of the Srebrenica massacre which was emotional and really informative.  We also met with the International Commission on Missing Persons who do amazing work and showed us how they work from the ground up (from the science and forensics to public relations etc.). 

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Now back in Bologna classes start tomorrow (for most people).  I lucked out and got Mondays AND Fridays off.  I have a little reading to do for Art History that I'll do tomorrow.  Besides art History I am in a Humanities/Social Justice class, Italian, and an Italian Literature class.  Yesterday we went to a pub and watched some soccer and are about to do the same seeing as Bologna v. Roma is about to start.  Today I had time to explore the dorm and got a chance to go the gym and do laundry both of which are about 10 steps away from my room. Will give more updates on the trip as interesting stuff happens.


 Pictures:

Waterfalls in Bosnia

Waterfalls in Bosnia

 

Red Lake

View off bridge in Mostar

Diocletian's Palace

Beach in Makarska

Croatian Islands off Cruise

Blue Lake

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View of Croatia from tomb in Imotski

Part of Diocletian's Palace

Bridge in Mostar

More from Makarska

Zlatini Rat

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Island of Jesla during Cruise

Our group after swimming