Originally Posted by
Loddfafner
Neither the words "positive" nor "negative" capture my reaction to the place. Visting Mostar in 2002 was one of the more overwhelming and also fascinating experiences of my life. I was stunned to discover that different parts of the bus station used different currencies, complicating the basic tasks of using the toilet, buying a postcard, and getting a snack. I had heard that I could use Croatian kunas, but the bathroom attendant refused to accept them. I had to piss badly after the long bus ride from Korcula past ruins ancient and modern, so found a postcard stand that would take Euros and returned change in Bosnian marks, allowing me to finally piss. The attendant was slumped over a table next to a bottle at the at point, so I threw down a bosnian mark and emptied my bladder.
That was my welcome to Bosnia.
I noted that every single surface was covered in bullet holes exepct for some sleek mosque that the Saudi government had just donated. I bought some post cards and looked for the ruins of whatever it was the post card showed. In my scrapbook, I labelled my cards "before", and my photos, "after". There were signs that seemed to say "no parking: landmines". I found a place to eat under the ruins of the famous bridge. I never did find out if what I ate was a Serbian roast or a roasted Serb.
I regret that I decided to return to Split instead of venturing further into the Bosnia.
Om a separate note, as a stamp collector I really like the Hapsburg-era issues from Bosnia. Although I have managed to track down issues from each of Bosnia's current fragments, I am sad that their design quality is poor, especially in comparison with the older stamps.
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