A Trip for Two to Bosnia and Herzegovina & Croatia

About the destination: Sarajevo is the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with an estimated population of 369,534. The Sarajevo metropolitan area, including Sarajevo, East Sarajevo and surrounding municipalities, is inhabited by a significant number of people. In addition, it is also the capital of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity, the capital of the Republika Srpska entity, and the center of the Sarajevo Canton. Sarajevo is the leading political, social and cultural center of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a prominent center of culture in the Balkans, with its region-wide influence in entertainment, media, fashion, and the arts. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Old Town. The cobbled streets, mosques and Oriental style shops at the heart of the city are a world away from Europe, and when the call-to-prayer starts, one could be forgiven for thinking that they were actually in the Middle East. • Latin Bridge. Across the street from this bridge was the location of the 28 June 1914 assassination of Archduke of the Austrian Hungarian empire Franz Ferdinand, the event that sparked the beginning of World War I. A memorial to the assassin Gavrilo Princip, his footprints carved in stone and mounted in the sidewalk, used to be here but this was removed during the 1992-1995 War. • Yellow Fortress. The small fortress provides a great view of the city. Walk through the war cemetery at the eastern end of the old town. Another way is to follow the river upstream. • Markale Market Place. Marked the start of NATO intervention and thereby end of the war after a bombing which took the life of some 40 people. The main entrance is located on Ferhadija and backs onto Mula Mustafe Baseskije. The street that runs between the two roads is called Gajevo. • Vrelo Bosne. The beginning of the river Bosna where the water is pure and ice cold. In less than 20 minutes on foot from the city centre, you are out in the countryside, with no suburbs in between: unique for a large city. • Bosnian Historical Museum. The moving display on the siege of Sarajevo is a must-see - if you are able to cope with the pictures of the maimed citizens after shelling of markets. And you will be heartbroken by the pictures drawn by children. • National Museum. Static displays of the natural and human history of Bosnia and Herzegovina - including an exhibition of traditional Turkish style homes of Sarajevo prevalent in the nineteenth century, an extensive collection of insects and stuffed mammals and a large geology section with samples from around the world and a number of meteorites.

About the destination: Mostar is a city and municipality located in the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is home to 113,169 residents, making it the most significant city in the Herzegovina region, its cultural capital, and the hub of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is located on the Neretva River and is the fifth-largest city in the country. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Stari Most - The Old Bridge. This bridge was originally constructed by the Turks in 1566, but was destroyed in 1993 and rebuilt in 2004. The bridge is Mostar's main attraction and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. • Old Bridge Museum. This museum features exhibits on the history of the bridge, a panoramic view from the top, and access to the excavations below, along with a video detailing the bridge's reconstruction. • Muslibegovica House. Built 300 years ago, this house is considered the most beautiful house from the Ottoman period in the Balkans. The house is divided into separate quarters for women and men. Unlike earlier architectural styles, this house resembles a four-story house built around a central point. • History Museum of Herzegovina. This museum has a small collection of photographs from various stages of Mostar's history, including a small exhibit on a local who appears to have served as Tito's former Foreign Minister for a time. It also features an excellent video on the recent history of the Old Bridge. • Koski Mehmed Pasina Dzamija. This small but simply beautiful Ottoman mosque was built in 1618. Visitors can climb to the minaret for a fantastic view of the town. • Karadozbegova Dzamija. This modest Ottoman mosque was built in 1557. • Biscevica House. This is an Ottoman house, where visitors can only view a few rooms on the upper floor.