Introducing Bosnia's Attractions and Recommendations: Monk Takahiro Ueda's Around-the-World Journey in Bosnia⑱.
The Bosnia section, which I have been writing over 18 articles, is finally in its final stages.
The Bosnia section has been quite a heavy article as I have been writing about the conflict as the main theme.
I hope I may have given everyone who read this a hard time.
But that's not all Bosnia has to offer.
Bosnia is a very attractive country to visit.
I happened to visit the country because of the theme of ethnic conflict and religion, which is why I experienced what I have described in the previous articles.
Bosnia is a country that, although located in Europe, offers an exotic experience that is different from Europe.
Although the country may still be unfamiliar to Japanese, it is currently attracting particular attention in Europe as a new popular tourist destination.
So, at the end of the Bosnia section, I will post the attractions of this country and the security information on Sarajevo accordingly in the next article.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula, and most of the country is mountainous.
The capital is Sarajevo.
The city is famous for the Latin Bridge, the site of the Sarajevo Incident that triggered World War I.
The Old Town of Sarajevo, influenced by the Ottoman rule, has an Islamic style even though it is in Europe.
Just wandering around the exotic old town is a great deal of fun.
And Sarajevo was called the Jerusalem of Europe, a city where so many diverse religions coexisted.
As a result, numerous historical sites, including Catholic churches, Islamic mosques, and Jewish synagogues, are scattered throughout the city.
Sarajevo had a multi-religious coexistence, which is rare in Europe.
This led to the formation of a unique culture here with a mixture of cultures of people from various backgrounds.
If you visit Sarajevo, you will immediately feel the different atmosphere from other European cities.
And Sarajevo is a city surrounded by mountains. Therefore, there is abundant nature within a few dozen minutes' drive from the city.
It is a very elegant time to take a break from strolling in the city to relax and enjoy the beautiful nature in the suburbs.
Of course, learning about the history of the Bosnian conflict, including the Tunnel Museum, will be an important part of touring Bosnia.
What kind of feelings do you have about the country you live in, Japan, when you witness the existence of conflict, an extreme situation that we have never experienced before?
Learning about the history of Bosnia through the scars of the conflict would also be a significant aspect of tourism in Bosnia.
And then the meal!
Bosnia has good meat.
This is a meat dish called ćevapčići.
It is juicy, and the feeling of eating meat is tremendous.
It has a rich flavor, but when eaten with raw onions, it is refreshing and exquisitely delicious.
And it is the Bosnian way to drink a yogurt drink to go with it.
This prevents stomach upset.
Lamb is also excellent in Bosnia.
Many people may not like lamb, but the meat here has almost none of the odor characteristic of lamb.
The meat is tender and really tasty. Please try it once.
And let's not forget Bosnian coffee.
Bosnian coffee is a style of coffee that is made thicker and you get the top of the coffee.
And what is surprising is the way the drink is taken, with the sugar cube directly into the mouth.
For more information about Bosnian coffeeSarajevo Walking Tour - Walking in the Jerusalem of Europe, Bosnia (5)I would be happy to refer you to that article as well.
At any rate, I would like to tell you that Bosnian coffee, in any case, is delicious.
Prices in Bosnia are much lower than in European countries.
Therefore, meals can be taken at a very reasonable price.
For me, this was a great blessing.
The food in Bosnia was one of the most satisfying I've had in any country I've been around.
Now, Sarajevo is not the only attraction in Bosnia.
The town of Mostar, about a three-hour drive from Sarajevo, is one of the best tourist destinations in Bosnia.
You can stroll through the old town with a view of the beautiful bridge called Stari Most, which is also a World Heritage site.
Spending time at a riverside café or bar while listening to the river's current will be a good memory.
There are also various tourist attractions scattered in and around Mostar.
Pochitelli and Bragai can also be easily reached by local tours.
If you are going to Mostar, I highly recommend visiting these two places as well.
Very beautiful landscape and serene atmosphere.
And you will be able to experience a local flavor that you would not be able to experience in Japan.
Now that I have told you about Bosnia's charms, some of you may be thinking.
He said, "I like the old-fashioned atmosphere of Bosnia, but I'm not sure about the food or the hotels."
But don't worry. I was one of them.
I have a weak stomach, eat safety first, and am very conservative.
If the atmosphere is too local, I worry about my body.
But as far as Sarajevo is concerned, there is no need to worry about that.
The New Town, located just a short distance from the Old Town, is a European city itself.
Modern cafes and fashionable restaurants line the streets.
After strolling through the old streets of the old town, you can naturally come back here to enjoy an espresso at a stylish café.
The meat dishes in Sarajevo were indeed delicious. But I was worried about my stomach if I ate only meat all the time.
At such times, I would go out to the new town to eat pasta or have a light café latte.
The idea of staying in the old town all the time makes me a little nervous, as if I am in a different world.
It is a nice break to relax in the familiar modern cityscape there.
I stayed at a hotel on the outskirts of the old town, but there are many beautiful European-style hotels near the new town.
I think it would be safer and more comfortable to stay in such a hotel if you are going sightseeing.
There are a number of beautiful hotels in Mostar as well as Sarajevo, and the low cost of living makes it easy to stay in a nice hotel compared to other countries.
A comfortable stay will be enjoyed in Bosnia.
Thus, Sarajevo is a city where the Islamic world of the old city with its Arab atmosphere and the modern new city are adjacent to each other.
You can experience different cultures while being in one city, Sarajevo.
This will be a very interesting experience for us Japanese.
It is Bosnia and Sarajevo that make me strongly feel that I am in an extraordinary place that is completely different from Japan.
Finally, I would like to talk about BEMI TOUR, who supported my stay in Bosnia this time.
I would like to thank Mr. Mirza and Ms. Matsui of BEMI TOUR for all their help.
Not only for the sightseeing tours, but also for the detailed advice and friendly support during our stay and in case of unforeseen events.
The tours are very well organized and give us a lot of local information that we would never be able to know on our own.
Unlike other major tourist countries such as Italy and Spain, there is far less information available on Bosnia in advance. Tourist guides are rarely sold in Bosnia.
Although I had learned about the conflict through several books, I could only imagine what the city of Sarajevo had to offer, what its specialties were, and what the scenery was like.
But in a way, that's why it was good in some respects.
It was such an exciting experience, like stepping into the unknown.
The lack of any information is what makes it exciting.
And it was Mr. Mirza and Ms. Matsui who guided us through such an unknown world.
It is because we are going to an unknown world that the presence of a guide becomes more significant.
If I were to go to a place by myself with no prior information, it would be an adventure, but how much would I know about the place?
How many interesting discoveries unique to the area will we pass by?
An adventure is an adventure and a valuable experience, but if you have come all this way, you want to fully enjoy the area.
If you feel this way, I highly recommend venturing out into the unknown with a guide.
Mirza-san and Matsui-san of BEMI TOUR are really reliable tour guides.
I can assure you that if you travel to Bosnia, BEMI TOUR will be your first choice.
Now that I have given you a brief overview of Bosnia's attractions, how do you like it?
We hope that we have given you some idea of what an exotic and fascinating country Bosnia is.
In the following article, I will discuss Bosnia's security information that is of concern.
be unbroken
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