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taboo5 | profile | all galleries >> Bosnia Herzegovina >> Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina (April 2003) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina (April 2003)

Mostar is situated on the Neretva River. Its name means "Old Bridge," referring to the 16th-century stone bridge built by Ottoman sultan "Sulayman the Magnificent". In the 16th century, Mostar became the chief Turkish administrative and commercial center in Herzegovina. It passed to Austria in 1878 and to Yugoslavia in 1918. In 1993, Bosnia and Herzegovina was torn by civil war. After declaring independence from Yugoslavia, Croats and Muslims began a 9-month struggle for control of Mostar. Bosnian Croats relentlessly bombarded the eastern, Muslim section of the city, reducing most of it to ruins. The Old Bridge, which, along with numerous Turkish mosques and old houses, was destroyed in the 1993-94 siege of the city during the Bosnian civil war. The Old Bridge has since been rebuilt, although attempts to restore civic unity to Mostar have been difficult.
Mostar Bosnia Herzegovina Sept. 2003.jpg
Mostar Bosnia Herzegovina Sept. 2003.jpg		 Map of Bosnia & Herzegovina with the star indicating Mostar.
Map of Bosnia & Herzegovina with the star indicating Mostar.		 On the drive from Dubrovnik to Mostar, we stopped at this ancient fortress in Bosnia Herzegovina.
On the drive from Dubrovnik to Mostar, we stopped at this ancient fortress in Bosnia Herzegovina.		 The stone watchtower of the ancient fortress.
The stone watchtower of the ancient fortress.
Me posing along this stonewall in front of the ancient fortress.
Me posing along this stonewall in front of the ancient fortress.		 Postcard showing the ancient bridge at Mostar (called Stari Most) before it was destroyed by the Serbs in the Bosnian War.
Postcard showing the ancient bridge at Mostar (called Stari Most) before it was destroyed by the Serbs in the Bosnian War.		 Another depiction of the ancient bridge at Mostar which was first constructed in the 15th century.
Another depiction of the ancient bridge at Mostar which was first constructed in the 15th century.		 Mostar was named after the bridge (Bosnian & Croatian: Stari most) & the side towers the bridge keepers (natively: mostari).
Mostar was named after the bridge (Bosnian & Croatian: "Stari most") & the side towers "the bridge keepers" (natively: mostari).
Traditionally considered the point where East meets West, Stari Most has stood in some form on this sight for over 4 centuries.
Traditionally considered the point where East meets West, Stari Most has stood in some form on this sight for over 4 centuries.		 View of the Old Bridge of Mostar with a massive mosque in the foreground.
View of the Old Bridge of Mostar with a massive mosque in the foreground.		 View of the bridge being renovated. It was destroyed by Croatian Defense Council units during the Bosnian War, on Nov. 9, 1993.
View of the bridge being renovated. It was destroyed by Croatian Defense Council units during the Bosnian War, on Nov. 9, 1993.		 The renovation of the Old Bridge of Mostar was sponsored by UNESCO.
The renovation of the Old Bridge of Mostar was sponsored by UNESCO.
When I was in Mostar (in April 2003), there still was much work to be done to repair it.
When I was in Mostar (in April 2003), there still was much work to be done to repair it.		 View of the Neretva River where Mostar is situated. It is the fifth-largest city in the country.
View of the Neretva River where Mostar is situated. It is the fifth-largest city in the country.		 We visited the Turkish House in Mostar. Mostar is part Muslim and part Catholic and Christian.
We visited the Turkish House in Mostar. Mostar is part Muslim and part Catholic and Christian.		 Outside of the Turkish House was this interesting fountain and stone pathway.
Outside of the Turkish House was this interesting fountain and stone pathway.
View of the fountain with tourists in the background.
View of the fountain with tourists in the background.		 This snapping turtle was next to the fountain in front of the Turkish House.
This snapping turtle was next to the fountain in front of the Turkish House.		 I appear to be at ease in this typical Turkish Muslim-style home.
I appear to be at ease in this typical Turkish Muslim-style home.		 Next we visited a mosque in Mostar. This is the entrance to it.
Next we visited a mosque in Mostar. This is the entrance to it.
This beautiful lamp with a medallion was suspended from the ceiling.
This beautiful lamp with a medallion was suspended from the ceiling.		 After leaving the mosque, I saw these ancient-looking buildings which are located on the banks of the Neretva River.
After leaving the mosque, I saw these ancient-looking buildings which are located on the banks of the Neretva River.		 Pedestrians and tourists were walking down this narrow street in Mostar.
Pedestrians and tourists were walking down this narrow street in Mostar.		 Nice view of the town of Mostar that I took through the window of the tour bus.
Nice view of the town of Mostar that I took through the window of the tour bus.
A closer view of the minaret seen in the previous photo.
A closer view of the minaret seen in the previous photo.		 We passed by this bombed out looking building while driving through Mostar.
We passed by this bombed out looking building while driving through Mostar.		 You can see all of the bullet holes in this building from the 18-month siege during the Bosnian War.
You can see all of the bullet holes in this building from the 18-month siege during the Bosnian War.		 The shelling by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) (Croatians) took place between 1992-1993.
The shelling by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) (Croatians) took place between 1992-1993.
A ruin from the Bosnian conflict. It resulted in ethnic cleansing and rape of the Bosnians with thousands injured and killed.
A ruin from the Bosnian conflict. It resulted in ethnic cleansing and rape of the Bosnians with thousands injured and killed.		 These men were hanging out on the street corner and appeared to be unemployed.
These men were hanging out on the street corner and appeared to be unemployed.		 These school kids in Mostar were waiting for a bus.
These school kids in Mostar were waiting for a bus.		 Later that day, I walked across the temporary bridge that was up during its reconstruction.
Later that day, I walked across the temporary bridge that was up during its reconstruction.
On the other side of the bridge were more of the old city and a mosque with a minaret.
On the other side of the bridge were more of the old city and a mosque with a minaret.		 More views of Mostar across the bridge.
More views of Mostar across the bridge.		 People walking in front of me who were also crossing the temporary bridge.
People walking in front of me who were also crossing the temporary bridge.		 These giant cables were supporting it.
These giant cables were supporting it.
In addition, these steel beams held the bridge up during it's reconstruction.
In addition, these steel beams held the bridge up during it's reconstruction.		 From this photo, the massive scale of the renovation is apparent.
From this photo, the massive scale of the renovation is apparent.		 Another photo depicting the massive destruction in Mostar and the huge task of reconstructing it.
Another photo depicting the massive destruction in Mostar and the huge task of reconstructing it.		 The day in Mostar was topped off by a visit to this outdoor cafe.
The day in Mostar was topped off by a visit to this outdoor cafe.
The cafe was a sign that the city was coming back to life after it's tragic ordeal during the Bosnian War.
The cafe was a sign that the city was coming back to life after it's tragic ordeal during the Bosnian War.

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