Bosnia and Herzegovina!

One thing I have mentioned before and I'm pretty sure holds true anywhere in the world, is that one of the best ways to experience a place is with locals, and going home with friends is one of the best vacations possible.  Last Friday 4 of us piled into a car to head southeast through Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia to Jelena's hometown of Posušje in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A gorgeous day for a drive

After dropping off our things at Jelena's parents' house, we stopped in to her grandmother's house to say hello...the view out her Baba's back porch.

We then headed up the hill where Jelena's father is from, just outside the city, to see the old stone buildings up there and watch the sun set over the mountains.

Saturday morning after a quick haircut for me (yet another perk of going home with friends!) we went to Jelena's family's business to get a tour of the production facilities.  After hearing so much about Weltplast from Jelena through class projects and other things, it was so cool to actually see it all in person.

Saturday afternoon we all headed out for a family barbecue just outside of town.

A quick walk around the lake

Jelena's dad and brother preparing the meat

I cannot even begin to describe how delicious all the food was the entire time we were there, and the amazing hospitality of Jelena's family to give us this taste of all things traditional and wonderful in Herzegovina. 

Sunday morning we got up and drove back across the border into Croatia and to Makarska on the coast for a day by the sea.

Being April, this is still pretty off-season, but we were able to take a nice walk around to the opposite side of the city for a nice view back across this little inlet of water.

A fisherman selling fresh fish out of these orange containers.

Our restaurant fish dinner, incredibly fresh and delicious.

And of course time for a lovely sunset stroll around the city and the beaches after dinner.

Monday we were joined by two other friends of Jelena's for a trip to Sarajevo.  We stopped for a quick walk and a coffee in Mostar on our way, and of course to take photos of this beautiful town.

The old town

The old bridge in Mostar, built in the 16th century by the Ottomans

Back on the road to Sarajevo.  The entire ride is just one gorgeous panorama after another...I took a lot of pictures...

Our group in Vienna often jokes about how we are constantly in a state of "cultural expansion" as we all share stories and experiences from home, so this spot seemed especially appropriate for a photo of our little group.

Eternal flame as a memorial to the victims of World War II

The courtyard of the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque

The Sebilj, apparently drinking from this means you will return to Sarajevo, so of course we were sure to drink from it.

A Viennese tram! Apparently after the war several European cities donated trams to Sarajevo, so there are a variety of styles and colors of trams on the streets

The view over the city from the Žuta Tabija (Yellow Fortress)

Some of the 12 bridges crossing the river

I'm glad we did a lot of the sightseeing activities on Monday when we arrived in Sarajevo, because we woke up Tuesday to a bit of snow on the ground and a sort of cold rain/snow most of the day.  We did a bit of shopping and things before heading back to Posušje.

Wednesday morning we got up and left Jelena at home where she's spending the rest of Easter break and the three of us headed back to Vienna.  Part of the main highway was closed in Croatia, forcing us to take this smaller coastline highway for a ways, which we were all more than fine with. 

We had bizarre weather all the way home, and I'm pretty sure somehow managed to experience all four seasons as we wound around the sea and then up into the mountains where it was snowing and again down in the valleys where it was much warmer, and in Austria there were a series of these rainbows!  At one point we were driving through the end of them repeatedly so they kept appearing directly in front of the car.  I've never experienced anything quite like that before.

And now after this wonderful week it's back to some serious thesis writing for me, but this break was a perfect little intermission to all that's been going on and all that still needs to be done!