The sun was still shining after we finished our delectable Bosnian feast in old town Mostar, Bosnia. Our whistles wet and tummies filled we joined the lovely man we’d met on our way in and he lead us around town with a steady stream of stories and history of his beloved Bosnia.
I was charmed by this stream, bricked in serpentine fashion as it splashed and gurgled its way down to the Neretva river.
Sunbeams warmed us on our side of the Neretva but storm clouds were brewing in the distance, looming closer and closer with ominous darkness.
At last we clambered down large concrete steps to the pebbled beach of the Neretva and gazed up at Stari Most, the Old Bridge. Built in the 16th century, it stood for 427 years until it was destroyed in 1993 during the Bosnian conflict. A massive restoration project funded by Spain, Turkey, Italy, the Netherlands, Croatia, and the United States allowed for the restoration of the bridge and surrounding historic buildings and neighborhoods. They did a splendid job.
It is a beautiful part of the city now, children race over the slippery stones of Stari Most, Muslims and Christians pass each other without incident. It’s hard to believe that only a few years ago the citizens of Mostar suffered mass executions, ethnic cleansing, and rape as their city was demolished by heavy artillery.
Now it’s the sort of place where you want to linger, visiting with locals in a cafe, sipping demitasse cups of Bosnian coffee, strong and black, sweetened with lumps of sugar.
(For more information on the lovely Bosnian coffee tradition, I found this post to be fascinating)
Bosanska kafa (Bosnian coffee)
(Inspired by Bosnian Recipes)
Serves Two
*traditional Bosnian coffee is made in a dzezva, but I do not have one so I used a small pot.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup water
3 Tbsp coffee, ground to fine powder
Sugar to taste
Directions:
- Fill pot with water and heat until it just begins to boil then remove from heat.
- Add coffee powder and stir until well mixed.
- Return pot to heat until foam rises, but doesn’t boil, and remove from heat.
- Spoon a teaspoon of foam into two demitasse cups, add coffee and sugar to taste.
- Let coffee sit a minute or two after stirring to allow coffee grounds to settle.
This photos are absolutelly beautiful 🙂 I especially like the one of the stream and the bridge with the city in the background. The coffee looks delicious too! (I can’t help it, I can’t survive without caffeine :P)
Thank you, Ksenia! I love that one best too. 🙂 The coffee is really delicious – though I haven’t quite mastered getting all the grounds to sink to the bottom yet. 🙂
I loved your photos! They really are beautiful and catch the atmosphere and natural beauty of the place; the coffee looks very inviting too!
I like the way this new theme of yours showcases your beautiful photos……love it. I wished I loved black coffee
I’m so glad, Joumana. 🙂 It is such an amazing place and I loved how the storm came in so black and brooding with the sun still shining. 🙂
Thank you so much, Ozoz! 🙂 I’m afraid I like my coffee with sugar and cream too. 🙂 No straight black for me!
Beautiful photos! I love comparing coffee from everywhere. Amazing how different it can be! What a cute little cup too.
Thank you, Katie! 🙂 I love comparing coffee too! 🙂 I got these little cups when I lived in Portugal and I just love them. 🙂
Oh, what beautiful pictures!! And I’m in on the coffee! Looks nice and rich!
Having coffee with the natives, in native tradition, is probably the perfect way to really delve into Bosnian culture. These photos are gorgeous! I feel like I am walking through a dream world when I look at them.
Thank you, dear Southern! I’m so glad you like them. 🙂
I think it’s a lovely way too, Joanne. 🙂 I do so hope to go back one day and do just that. 🙂 I’m glad the pictures delight you too. 🙂
All wars are bewildering, but I have to admit I found the Bosnian war particularly so when it was going on. Possibly because the countryside does look so idyllis and peaceful and that we saw it going on on our TVs in the middle of a gorgeous summer.
Lovely pictures of the wildflower meadow and great bear story before! What a nail biter! You obviously had a great time over there Krista. Thanks for sharing it all with us, it’s not somewhere “everybody” goes!
I agree completely, Paradis. Beautiful places with homes and families should never see war, but they always do.
I’m so glad you liked the story and meadow photos. 🙂 It was fun to write after I stopped shaking. 🙂
YES! thanks for sharing someplace I’ve never been, and now most definitely want to visit 🙂
You are SO welcome, Margo! I absolutely loved Bosnia – I know you can’t tell 🙂 – and I’m so glad you want to visit now too. 🙂
such a beautiful place!!!