sarajevo living: film fest.

One of the things I have been most excited for this summer in Sarajevo has been the Sarajevo Film Festival. Since the time that I arrived I have seen these posters and signs advertising the festival everywhere. Seriously - they are everywhere.

   

 

I originally bought 5 tickets, knowing that I would probably buy more. I actually missed my first movie (Ice Age 4 - we were rafting at the time) but have made it to 2 others since then: The Amazing Spiderman (which was awesome) and The Boy Who Was a King (which was a really weird documentary that's up for an award here). Today I bought 2 more tickets (Redemption Street - about the War Crimes Tribunal - and The Intouchables - a French comedy?) to go along with the 2 tickets I have left for Whore's Glory and Brave this weekend.

The design is made up of "The Heart of Sarajevo" in different colors. It's the symbol of the Film Festival and is also the award given out each year for the best film and sometimes to individuals who have made a difference as an honorary award (Angelina Jolie last year). It is a significant symbol here in Sarajevo.


The "Red Carpet" - where Angelina and all the stars walk - unfortunately I was gone the day it opened so I missed all of them :(

All in all - this is a pretty awesome experience to be a part of. The Sarajevo Film Festival was founded during the siege (and was a big deal with major turnout despite everything going on) and has continued since then. It's one of the largest film festivals in Europe and is the largest in the Balkans. It's a really big deal. I'm just happy to be here in Sarajevo - especially when amazing cultural things are happening.


And of course I had to get a couple of souvenirs. Seeing the design everywhere just made me fall in love.

Do and Don't: Rafting Bosnia Edition.

And time for another addition of Do and Don’t: Rafting Bosnia Style. Yesterday we spent the entire day out near Konjic (about 1.5 hours outside of Sarajevo) rafting down the river.  It was an amazing relaxing day and I was able to take quite a few pictures. We also came up with more dos and don’ts (it’s becoming quite popular amongst the rest of the group) as we floated down the river.

Do: go with a place that offers multiple meals. Then you get breakfast before starting and food when you get back – all of which is delicious. Also make sure you eat at a restaurant with an awesome view of the town.

Do: get a group shot before leaving... 

...also make sure you get a second shot with you in it per the request of other group members and friends and family at home.

Do: take adorable friends with you.

Do: make sure there is at least one ridiculous shot of yourself before you take off – in this case, making your “tough” face.

Don’t: push your friend into the freezing cold water before making sure there are no children around as explicit material might escape her mouth frightening them.

Don’t: jump in backwards into the raft on top of the guide – you are likely to injure yourself as well as the only person who actually knows what he is doing.

Do: continue to take pictures of your adorable friends.

Do: have an amazing guide that doesn’t speak much English – so all he tells you to do is paddle right and left and stop paddling but then yells at everyone along the river in Bosnian only allowing you to make out random words here and there like “Woman” and “Yellow”...

Don’t: be afraid of helmet hair – it’s going to happen, so you might as well document it.

Do: climb on any and every rock and capture pictures of you and your friends on top of them with gorgeous vistas in the background.

Don’t: be afraid to dive off the rock and into the freezing water – as long as you jump far enough you won’t hit any rocks.

Do: collect a pet rock from Bosnia – Don’t: lose the rock in the river later…

Do: enjoy the water directly from the river - it tastes delicious and won't be hazardous to your health.

Do: take time to relax - all day long - every chance you can.

Don't: expect this trip to be like a rafting trip you've been on in the states - the biggest rapid we came across was probably a class 2 - maybe a wussy class 3...but don't let that get you down - floating the river while admiring the Bosnian countryside might be just what you need.

Do: set things up just right to take an amazing picture of your adorable friend.

Do: trust your Bosnian guide that doesn't speak English with your camera - because he knows what he's doing.

Do: attempt to photograph your friends in the other raft - because you get shots like this...

...and this of your super cute friends.

Don't: be surprised that a raft full of only females garners a lot of attention as you float the river - also, be prepared for rafts full of older men attempting to gain your attention through such means as splashing you with water, grabbing onto your raft, and yelling "Colorado" at you from up river as you haphazardly paddle away as quickly as you can.

Do: ride the rapid sans the raft - just make sure you take a big breath and be careful not to lose your contacts.

Don't: run into rocks just because your contacts are stuck in one spot in your eye and you can't see properly - you really should be able to sense them coming...maybe?

Do: go with the guide that will allow you to take off your life jackets and helmets to relax and soak up the sun.

Don't: forget to smile and thank your guide as you leave - because you had an absolutely awesome and relaxing day in the sun with beautiful Bosnian vistas to enjoy.

Do: enjoy dinner to the fullest at the end of the day - you will be famished, and it will taste like the best meal you've had in Bosnia yet.

Do: finish off your day at the Sarajevo Film Festival watching The Amazing Spiderman in 3D with friends.

Do: have a fantastic day with friends - take lots of pictures - and crash hard, sleeping through almost all of the normal ruckus outside the windows.

sarajevo living.

So. First - there is no judging for messy rooms and crummy pictures. I know the lighting sucks and I know that we could probably use a good cleaning day. I just want to give you all an idea of where and how we are living.

This is the bedroom for most of us. Out of 14 students, 7 of us girls reside here. You can see 5 of the beds - there is another one in both the bottom left and right corners that you can't quite see. As hesitant as I was about living in close quarters with 6 other girls, it hasn't been bad at all. Notice the fan. We have 2 and no air conditioning. Melting has been a frequent daily/nightly occurrence.

On the other side of the room (separated by some wardrobes) is this small/cozy common area - comfy couch and chair as well as a table. It's nice, but we actually don't hang out in here a lot.

This is bedroom number 2. The 3 lucky girls who arrived first claimed these beds. They even have their own shower (though I definitely use theirs because the hot water works the best in there). The 4 boys have their own room (2 bunk beds) but I didn't take a picture of it - I kind of feel like their room is off limits...


Oh - and Elizabeth is waving in this picture, not covering her face. That was poor photo timing on my part.

This is the common area in which we spend most of our chill time in the hostel. There's a computer for those who would like to use that. Wifi works best out here - so we all kind of sprawl all over the floor...

...and in this little area with the wicker furniture. The whole set up works quite well for us thus far.

And here is where I keep my shoes. We don't wear them in the hostel. I know this is the part you were most interested in, so I just had to share it (I just love that I have a little cubby :)

Our front door. With cute little Kat and Anya hiding from the wonderful rainstorm we got this evening. It really was blessed and needed. It's been in the upper 90s/lower 100s the past couple days.

And - this is the bar right next to us. It is quite convenient when you want food but don't wish to traverse too far (not sure why it has the British flag in the background - we ponder this frequently, but can't really ask because owner speaks very little English). However...

...but we fall asleep to this every. single. night. This video cannot capture the noise and general merriment that wafts loudly from two floors below to our lovely rooms. It takes a little getting used to, and the EuroCup Final made it absolutely impossible to sleep 2 nights ago - Spain won - it was an allllllll night party.

p.s. sorry again for the crummy pictures and video...not quite up to my standards at all - lowers head in shame.