Saravejo War Tour

I just finished a few good books about Sarajevo during the war in the 90's and wanted to take a tour of the battle lines.  There was a tour agency across the street from the hotel The tour would take us in the hills surrounding Sarajevo as well as through the streets known as sniper alley and finally to the tunnel build under the airport to smuggle people and food in and out of Sarajevo.

Sniper Alley:

The Holiday Inn where the snipers fired down from the top floors killing women, children. and old people.

 Map showing the city surrounded. The Serbian army held all the high ground and cut off the roads so supplies, food, medicine could not make it into Sarajevo.

The war dead....

Zlanta Ribica: The Owner

The owner, know as Slobbo is an ex Tito taxidermist and lover of all things Tito. In fact, they all seem to revere their Tito.  Slobbo, old, eccentric, warm, friendly we spoke no common language but he treated me well. Bought me drinks, introduced me to his friends and through a translated we talked of Sarajevo and NYC.  What a great guy. He was a recipient of the Key Chain Award.
I mentioned Jack to him and slowly his mind came around to remember our Jack. Who wouldn't, Jack is a character.

The man, the myth the legend

 Slobbo's friend and a great guy who spoke English and live in San Diego for 15 years.

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 a bizarre looking Slobbo

 My last view as I left for the airport, I wanted this to be last place I passed...

Zlanta Ribica II

My three days here this place was my go to place for coffee in the afternoon and drinks and conversation in the evenings.

The Inside: My cappi

 Wall Posters....

Jack's Picks: Zlanta Ribica

My first stop had to be the bar jack told me about. Here is Jack's review of The Zlanta Ribica

"In Sarajevo you must spend the night so you can get a good feel for the place. You can easily walk from the Archduke’s assassination museum to a great restaurant called Dveri, it’s a really cool, plant and candlelight draped cozy nook with great food. It has a photo of Nick Nolte behind the bar, Sarah and Julie would love this place. Zlatna Ribica is the highlight, a real feast for a bar hoppers eye. Every inch of the place is covered in architectural elements, portraits, assorted oddities and Gothic fusion. Check out the bathroom for a laugh. Sit near or close to the bar and introduce yourself to the owner Slobodan who was at one time a taxidermist for Marshall Tito! Take a right at the eternal flame. There is also Club Tito or Cafe Tito near the National Museum. It’s a funky tribute to all things Tito with tanks, busts and a huge portrait of Tito with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. This is a great city. Have fun, Jack"

Well Jack was right on especially for the Bar known as Zlanta Ribica....More interesting photos to follow and stories about the owner..
The entrance

 Yep, I made it...

 

Hotel Latiski Most and Historic Bridge...

My hotel for my time here is The Hotel Latinski Most and what a find!  I have a balcony room, overlooking the historic bridge where the Archduke Ferdinand was shot that began the start of WW1. I was so close to the bridge that they questioned me in the shooting..haha
I love this hotel within walking distance to everything, and like $65-70 a night

Ripped off...

Finally, off that train. I gab a cab to the hotel but instead of paying in local currency the guy charges me in Euro. I should have been more vigilant. I learned something. Always ask hotel guy where I am staying how much the cab is from my point of entrance into the city. Oh well, I helped the Sarajevo economy..:)

To Sarajevo---

The train to Sarajevo is a picturesque ride in a Soviet Era shit box of a train. The train was filthy with past cigarette smoke thick on the windows. They let people smoke on the train as well...Sometimes, you get someone who when he lights up moves to the outside the car to blow he smoke out the window. Or you get someone in my car that I had to get up and move. I was glad to be off the train and made the best of it....

The shit box