Do and Don’t: Mostar Edition

For our first “class” excursion of the summer we went to Mostar.  It was another city ravaged by the war – it’s amazing how much they have been able to rebuild and how much destruction is still apparent. Bullet holes ravage buildings and there are several still completely hollowed out with solely the bones of the building remaining.

So now - Do and Don’t

Do: Ride in the most ridiculously amazing bus on the face of the planet. Reclining seats and four times as many seats as there are people=okay in my book.

Do: Stop for coffee/drinks in a small town to take a break from the bus - also to get some fresh air for those of us who may have been a little car sick.

Don't: try to take a lot of pictures through the bus window even though you want everyone to see how amazing the Bosnian countryside is - they will turn out poorly. Wait until a later point when you rent a car and can actually stop to take decent picture. Be patient.

Do: Take pictures with you in them. So your family doesn't keep giving you a hard time about not being in any of the photos.

Do: Marvel at the beauty that is Mostar.

Don't: cut yourself out of pictures. Although this one still turned out cute.

Don't: wear a sweatshirt to Mostar in late June. It's quite hot. You will melt.

Don't: don't slip/trip and fall on the Old Bridge in Mostar. It's really slippery and if you fall people will probably walk on you.

Do: continue to marvel at the beauty of Mostar.

Do: Push other tourists out of the way to get an awesome picture with the Old Bridge in the background with a friend.

Do: question the integrity of the Greek salad when it comes with no feta cheese and a ton of sour cream and funny roasted peppers.

Do: Enjoy the view - even if the food is a little sketch.

Don't: assume that "ketchup" within the list of ingredients for pizza means marinara sauce - it actually means ketchup.

Don't: trip on the slippery cobblestone-y walkways. They are treacherous.

Do: take a picture below the bridge to add to the collection of the other pictures.

Don't: forget to actually enter the river. It will be very refreshing on a hot day. Also - make sure you take at least one ridiculous picture in each location. It will probably make your mom shake her head - but that's okay.

Do: stop at Počitelj and admire the ruins from below.

Don't: whine when they tell you that we are climbing to the top in 39°C weather - and don't continue to complain all the way to the top saying that this will be on the "Don't" list for Mostar, because...

this is the view from the top - and you will feel like a fool for collectively complaining the whole trek up.

Do: hike to the top and enjoy the beauty of Bosnia.

Don't: wear flip flops on this trek and slip and fall down the teeny-tiny stairs into the people behind you.

Do: wave at each other from different levels of the ruin - just because it's fun.

Don't: be deterred from taking pictures in the window just because they turn out a little dark - it's still makes for an interesting shot.

Do: make friends with the local wildlife here, too. This was the cutest sweetest little kitty I have ever met. Sorry Kingsley.

Do. Do. Do. Do. Do: Go to Kravica. It's like paradise.

Don't: forget to explore the depths of creepy old buildings that should probably be condemned - they make excellent changing rooms.

Do: continue to be amazed by how incredible this place is.

Do: jump off the bridge into the water...

...to get the super cold water all over with all at once.

Do: explore all of the waterfalls, caves, and hidey-holes (because you're not in the U.S. with all the super extensive safety laws so you can) while making up incredible stories and lamenting the fact that no one has a waterproof camera. Just make sure you get someone's attention to take at least one picture of you right next to the waterfall.

Don't: forget a jacket for the ride home. The air conditioning on the bus is cold and once the sun goes down you'll get a little chilly.

Do: stop and have an amazing meal all together after an amazing day in Mostar and surrounding area.