A Day in the Life of an Independent Solo Traveling Woman

June 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Everything went well today, even though it had a couple of interesting moments. BTW,  I sprained my foot a few days ago and you would never know it now. It feels perfect…100%

Hard to leave my new friends – hotel staff – in Sarajevo. They were sad to see me go. They took such great care of me when I  had to stay off my foot for a day.

Bus ride to Jajce went well. When I got off the bus and walked into town, everywhere I went had no rooms available. I was thinking I might have to get on the next bus to my next destination about 4 hours away – arriving about 8 or 9pm in a bigger city. Didn’t sound inviting.

People kept directing me to ask the next place, most of which seemed to be uphill, to ask if they knew a place. I was about to give it up. Was tired of lugging my bags, probably about 28 – 30 pounds, uphill. A man who works in one of the two main hotels in town told me I probably wouldn’t find anything as there was a big national film festival in town all week.

Then, presto!!,  a German speaking woman had a room for one person in her home hostel. And it works!! It’s only about 6 feet wide and it’s clean, in good condition, large window, clean shared bath, seemingly filled with guys, 15 Euros, safe and do-able for one night. Plus she’s fixing breakfast just for me one hour early so I can have breakfast and catch my bus at 8am!!

Can’t beat the price! Then I saw a man from Canada that I had dinner with at the hostel in Mostar staying in same place so if he feels good enough, we’ll have dinner together. It’s all worked out perfectly. A day in the life of independent travel.

I needed more Bosian marks and made it to the bank 2 or 3 minutes before they close and my bus is at 8:20am so I really needed that money.

After exploring the medieval fortress at the top of a high hill, and the atmospheric catacombs where apparently Tito hid for a while in 1945, I bought some delicious cheese from a modern, very Western, supermarket. And they had 70% dark chocolate bars. Yummm!  I’m getting all my essential food groups!!  🙂

Then as I’m walking home, two imams begin to sing the call to prayer from different locations in town. I sat down and enjoyed listening.

Tomorrow I catch two buses and head back into Croatia to visit Pritvice National Park. You might enjoy Googling it so you can see the photos.

As you can tell, it has a been a full day!!

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I’ve Loved Sarajevo, Bosnia!!

June 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I have spent the last 4 days here in Sarajevo, a city of contrasts, with a history steeped in WWI, Yugoslavia and Tito, the 1984 Winter Olympics, and the Serbian siege in the early 90’s. The weather here has been quite pleasant and this is supposed to be the coolest, wettest destination on my trip.

I spent much of today exploring the city,  trying to understand the complexity of life in Bosnia during the fighting in the early 90’s and life today. Trying to blend so many religions and cultures with so much attachment to the pain of the past in order to build a beautiful future…they are flourishing and struggling.

Ah, the imam  is singing the call to prayer. It’s 8:30pm. The first call was this morning at 4:30!! I always love it-even at 4:30am!!

Tomorrow I go to a small town with lots of medieval roots to spend the night then on to Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia for one night, doing my best to avoid the tourist crowds in mid-day. Then to Cres Island to relax for a few days, enjoy the beach, explore and see the rare and recently re-introduced Griffin Vultures.

Ah, now a young imam-in-training is singing the call to prayer! He has such a beautiful voice!!

I am sad to leave Sarajevo, a compelling city about the size of San Francisco built on the banks of the Miljacka River and picturesquely climbing the steep, green mountains on both sides. A city of people who are quick to smile, of profound resilience and inner strength, who seek a Western life style, and enjoy leisure at the many sidewalk cafes.

A city filled with mosques, Orthodox and Catholic churches, and Jewish temples. Buildings with bullet and shrapnel holes that have not been rebuilt. Here is a link with more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sarajevo

Today I saw the 800 meter tunnel the people of Sarajevo built under the airport runway that allowed food, weapons, electricity and phone lines into the city during the approximately 1400-day siege by the Serbs. I also saw the Holiday Inn where media reporters stayed as they reported the events of that siege.

I have felt so safe here and have seen local women of all ages walking past my hotel window in the darkness. Crime is almost non-existent.

Time to pack my bag and get some sleep so I can be rested for my early 3-hour bus ride in the morning.

I have been gone one week today! My time has been so full it feels longer than that. And I have so many places yet to explore before I return home.

Joy to you and your family!!

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