adna - Tour Guide Mostar

HolidaysMarch 30, 2017March 30, 2017

5 things not to miss in Mostar by Ana Filipović

This story originally appeared on: propercroatia.com

Passionate and persuasive, Ana Filipović loves sharing her cross-cultural insights and personal flare. Born in Croatia, grew up in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ana is currently adventuring away from her European homeland to study at Hood College, Maryland, U.S. More specifically, as she crosses the world on a ship with a study abroad program for spring 2015, Semester at Sea, her missives reflecting on her home country come from her deep knowledge and passion to develop the area.

Mostar is an unbelievable city with a long history and a very rich present. You can spend days in the city, but even a day stop will enrich your travels! Here are some things you shouldn’t miss seeing:

The Bridge. Of course. When you first see the Old Bridge forget about your camera or your new Facebook profile picture. Take a seat on the coast of river Neretva and look up. The Old Bridge is not just a bridge made for crossing from East to the West coast and vice-versa. For the post-war generations, it presents peace and unity. It signifies reconciliation. Cheer to this with a local beer. Admire the scenery and the people. And yes, now you may take your cameras out.
While at the Old Bridge, grab a bite of pita, local hearty snack made out of dough with different fillings (potatoes, cheese, spinach, minced meat, and many more). If you are a huge meat eater, you should go for ćevapi in lepinja bread with garlic and sour cream. You’re welcome.
That “Big Tall Orange Building” at the Spanish Square – is actually from the Austro-Hungarian period and has endured a lot of suffering from bullets and grenades throughout the Civil War in 90s. Today, it hosts two public and one private high school for three programs. One is Bosnian, one Croatian, and the third one is United World College (UWC) – an international IB school, with more than 33 nationalities from all around the world attending it. The square was the front fighting line between Bosniaks and Croats during the war. UWC serves as an example of unity across Bosnia-Herzegovina.
From the Spanish Square, stop by a local café Coco Loco for an enjoyable café latte. Take a break and have a snack from one of the local bakeries. The U.S. has Panera, but we have small mom & pop’s shops that will make your lips tremble from richness of the food offerings.
The Glass Bank is right across Coco Loco. It’s an abandoned building still wounded from the war. BUT, you can go in and walk up the stairs to see an amazing panorama of Mostar. Take plenty of pictures and enjoy. Because traveling is all about taking it all in. Dobrodošli!

People&PetsMarch 30, 2017March 30, 2017

Bloggers in Mostar: Ginan Rauf

As we go more and more into research about traveling and tourism, we realize that thousands of people share the passion for traveling and exploring the unknown.From day one the Tour Guide Mostar journey has been an incredible experience for our team. By collecting information about our hometown, history, architecture and contacting people who have visited us, we got the chance to communicate with real-life explorers.

This weekend we would like to introduce you to Gina Rauf. She was raised by her Egyptian father and mother from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her blog is about capturing moments from all around the world.

Read her thoughts about the time she spent in Mostar:

”Never forget things of beauty”, I tell myself as I pick up my camera and prepare to capture images of beautiful things.

do-not-forget-stone-mostar-min — Photo by Rauf Ginan

But that is no longer enough. I often find myself thinking about how fragile beautiful things can be. This is a photo taken in Mostar, a city in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina that is situated on the Neretva River.

It is a city of breathtaking beauty. Below is a view of the Old Bridge overlooking the Neretva River.

In 1468 Mostar came under the rule of the Ottomans. The city developed and flourished as an urban settlement during four centuries of Ottoman rule. Mostar is famous for its Old Bridge and Turkish house. The Old Bridge was designed by Mimar Hayruddin, an Ottoman architect, in 1556. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Mostar was occupied by the Austro-Hungarians.
The bridge was destroyed by Croat Bosnian forces in 1993 and rebuilt in 2014. For many people, myself included, the Old Bridge is a world heritage site that belongs to all of the humanity. Its destruction is a stark reminder that the erasure of history is always a threat posed by war and ethnic conflicts. Its reconstruction is a stark reminder that such erasure can always be resisted in myriad ways.
As I walked through the Old City in Mostar my heart broke. The market was awash with poorly made trinkets intended for tourists. I understand that people need to make a living and that tourists are an important source of income in a country devastated by war and unemployment. Yet, there was an inescapable sense that all these poorly made products pouring into Mostar were causing harm to a proud people with proud traditions of making objects of beauty. The neoliberal order threatened fragile things of beauty as well.
It didn’t take me long to find a small shop that stood out. It was a shop owned by a coppersmith named Ismet Kurt who was could be seen making sketches in a small space that functioned for all intents and purposes as an artist’s studio.
My husband and I started looking around. We were stunned by the power and beauty of the hand chiseled pieces:

The length of time it takes to produce a handmade piece confers a certain uniqueness. They are linked to a specific place and require specialized skills that are often passed on from father to son: as such they are emblematic of a coppersmith’s individuality and particular history. Being a producer of value in the aftermath of a war that targeted the cultural heritage of Bosnians and devastated their economic prospects is not a trivial matter.

Ismet Kurt told us that these pieces were made by a local artist (cover photo), a young woman currently studying art at University who used the stone found in Mostar. The Ismet Kurt told us that these pieces were made by a local artist, a young woman currently studying art at University who used the stone found in Mostar. The geometric stylized face reminded me of some of his copper engravings. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the name of the artist but I do know that I can ask Ismet Kurt or his son. Their shop has become for me an invaluable source of local knowledge to which one can always return. Still, it bothers me that she is anonymous and that the piece is not signed.stylized face reminded me of some of his copper engravings. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the name of the artist but I do know that I can ask Ismet Kurt or his son. Their shop has become for me an invaluable source of local knowledge to which one can always return. Still, it bothers me that she is anonymous and that the piece is not signed.

Out&AboutMarch 30, 2017March 30, 2017

Standup Comedy : Live at Black Dog Pub

The Black Dog Pub in Mostar welcomes comedy fans for a night filled with good atmosphere,performance and beer.

In case you have missed it, read our previous story about Stephen, the owner of Black Dog Pub who moved from America to live in Mostar.

On Friday, April 7 this place of excellent atmosphere welcomes Chelsea Elizabeth Hart.

Chelsea is a young stand up comedian and street performer quickly making a name for herself as an act. She travelled for over a year of that to 30 countries in Europe and the middle east as a street performer.

Chelsea has been a professional street performer for 2 1/2 years, having performed in Germany, Bosnia, Norway, France and the UK. She combines her street smart crowd work and opera voice with relatable observations and anecdotes. She regularly performs with Soho Comedy Club, Monkey Business, Mirth Control, Funny Women, Backyard Comedy Club, Hot Water Comedy Club, and many others!

“Chelsea is a stand up enigma. Combining high brow and comedy in a way not often seen on the circuit. One of the most unique acts around!”
-Christopher Norton Walker

Be sure to visit this show at the Black Dog Pub and make great memories in Mostar!

Holiday Travel Holidays My Bosnian Passport Travels EverywhereMarch 28, 2017March 28, 2017

Madame Tussauds Istanbul 2017

In the early 19-th century, a 42 year old Marie Gresholtz touched base in London ,with her four-year-old child and three wax statues. The son was the product of a short-lived marriage to one Tussaud; the three Sleeping Beauties were part of her inheritance, left by her guardian Curtius, sculptor extraordinaire.

Madame Tussaud had lived in the company of wax since she was six.

Thousands and thousands of people have flocked through the doors of Madame Tussauds museums since they first opened over 250 years ago and it remains just as popular as it ever was. There are many reasons for this enduring success, but at the heart of it all is good, old-fashioned curiosity.

In 1884, several decades after her death, Madame Tussaud’s wax museum moved to its current location on London’s Marylebone Road, where millions have stood in queue for hours to get a glimpse at her work and that of her successors.

A Madame Tussauds wax museum in Istanbul cares a collection of wax sculptures representing famous people from history and contemporary personalities exhibited in lifelike poses, wearing real clothes.

Tour Guide Mostar visited Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and here are our first impressions…

The Madame Tussauds wax museum in Istanbul is a great places for all of you who want to see wax sculptures representing famous people from history and contemporary and definitely something different. Characters are excellent and look original. The activities they have in the museum make the visit interesting as it is not limited to wax work such as the Steve Jobs quiz!

The waxworks are modern and include Leonardo Da Vinci, Mozart, Angelina Jolie, Shrack…

Allow at least 3+ hours to really visit the waxworks and enjoy the trip… and do not forget to Book it online !

Bosnia and Herzegovina Places TipsMarch 27, 2017March 27, 2017

5 reasons to visit Sarajevo while in Mostar

Sarajevo is the largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina and home for more than six hundred thousand people. Because of its rich cultural variety this city was sometimes called “Jerusalem of the Balkans”. It is the only major city in Europe to have a mosque, catholic church, Ortodox church and synagogue within the same area and has been home to many different religions for centuries.

It is perhaps the mix that makes Sarajevo such an attractive tourist destination. if you are in Bosnia and Herzegovina and are not sure whether to make the trip to Sarajevo – GO!

1. This is the place where you will find one of the best ćevapcčići in the Balkans

If you are coming to Bosnia and Herzegovina then you must try eating ćevapi(chevaps). It is a favorite dish in the whole country and food lovers from all over the world always enjoy eating ćevapi in our country. Ćevapi has its origins in the Balkans during the Ottoman period, and represents a regional specialty similar to the kofte kebab.Chevaps are incredibly versatile. Eat them grilled with veggies, baked potatoes or just go for fresh salad, these meat rolls will excite your taste buds. There are several great restaurants in Sarajevo which serve traditional ćevapi, find more info about them in our Gastronomy section.

2. It is cheap and easy

Sarajevo is a very cheap city and you can get a lot for the value of your money. Weather it is the accommodation, shopping, food, drink, sightseeing or enjoying the night life, all visitors agree are delighted with what they can get here for their money.

3. Food is delicious

Traditional food is both organic and delicious. You must try local traditional food that can be found in traditional restaurants called Aščinica.

4. It is only two hours from Mostar

In spite of how slow buses in Bosnia travel, it will take you no longer than two hours to reach Sarajevo from Mostar. Even if you hate it—and you won’t, trust me—you’ll be out nothing more than a few Bosnian marks and a little of your time. Enjoying Sarajevo is as close to a sure thing as I’ve recommended on this blog!

5. Architecture is amazing

Sarajevo is famed for its tumultuous history and the city’s architecture expresses this beautifully; the Ottomans, the Austro-Hungarians, the Yugoslav wars and the Siege of Sarajevo have all left their mark, making the city one of the most interesting in Europe.