Exploring Another World 2004 -(Chapter 2)

... as we explore a newly restored mosque after the damage of the war. Pocetlje is about 25 km south of Mostar. Dating back to the early 1500s - the village retains its old turkish charm. It is now an artist colony.

... or stumble into the traditional lifestyle of the hills people - an experience to treasure. The sac - is also a verb as in ' a way of cooking'. Many urbanites own a 'sac', but few can cook it on an open hearth such as this. Inside the 'sac' is a tasty spinach pie. Outside this cozy warm hut is a biting cool mountain air - that defies the bright sunny day.

...and this yummy warm lunch is very welcome after the first half of our hike.

In the month of poppies - June - Ian (London), Ermin (Mostar) and I travelled north to Sarajevo

Spontaneity and a willingness to explore is second nature to Ermin and so we ended up in finding two restorans built into the landscape. This cavern forms part of the fish farm restoran in the following pictures. And SOooo inspired - Ian is conducting his perfect Symphony in E flat - OHM..... well one can imagine it....

Havent been able to find my way back since...

I wish you could have been here on this day in June when our team took an improvised exploration of nearby natural and man-made treasures. 

It was my first trip to Pocetlje. The fortress that once surrounded the turkish settlement is still explorable for those who don't mind heights and cramped, dark passages!

Domace wine - the best! opinion of some wine experts that the Herzegovinian grape vines were exported from this area to the Bordeaux area of France over a thousand years ago. This is the perfect end to an otherwise very perfect day.

Not Mr. Roger's neighbourhood... It is a human trait to try to imagine the unimaginable. The devastation in Mostar is extremely extensive and my camera cannot capture the visceral experience of walking through areas of total destruction. But it is a common enough scene - Mostar is gradually, refacing itself.

The once beautiful Naretva Hotel is now a bleak reminder of how things can go horribly wrong...





..a few days after the glamour of the Mostar bridge opening and the Prince of Wales visiting us, I was suddenly grounded - here near Pula - the stunning north coast of the Adriatic sea - for a music camp for special needs children.

Well then? What do you consider 'normal' ... ? you kinda had to be there... This is the isle of Brjuni -and we have special permission to be here to see The Marat de Sade - play of course. Aiden is a viola player in the orchestra.

The chldren are doing exercises led by the Kosovo team.
They are the reason for being here. That and some serious relaxation. Brian and Esther on the beach... talking.... talking.... talking......