On Sunday, we did the fairly long drive from Jajce to the big city of Sarajevo. Not really a long distance, but a fairly long time because we took the back roads and probably averaged about 60 km/h (36 mph) or less.
Based on Max's trip computer, he gets better fuel economy driving like that than he does doing a consistent 90 km/h (54 mph) on the motorway. Must have something to do with the gearing and the increased headwind at higher speed... that kind of thing. I just find it interesting.
Yesterday's drive, 163 kms (101 miles).
The first part of the drive was scenic and fairly enjoyable...
Scenery along the way.
Notice the clear blue sky!
Selling stuff by the roadside.
Scenic viewpoint.
Scenic viewpoint part two!
And then we got into an industrial type of area that seemed to go on forever. Just not very scenic at all. Except for the flowers. This may have had something to do with a graveyard tradition similar to Day of the Dead in Mexico? There were people selling flowers everywhere, and we did notice some people visiting graveyards. No idea, it was just a thought.
Flowers for sale.
More flowers.
Lots of traffic.
We had figured Sunday would be fairly quiet, but apparently not!
I had set up our driving directions to the campground above Sarajevo using the "no toll roads" option on google maps. When we got close to the city, it was trying to put me on a toll road. I pulled into a gas station to check things out. It turned out that google knows best (in this particular situation!) and to have gone the free road would have been a total waste of time. The toll road at this point looked brand new, and the toll for the section we were taking was going to be 2.50 marks ($1.85 CAD, $1.50 USD).
Money well spent.
There was hardly anybody on it.
However Google maps had NOT properly calculated the route to the campground, and fortunately I checked it in advance and manually reset the route. Apparently some campers have tried to use the google maps routing, and it takes you through a narrow and very steep road that is not suitable for a motorhome. Glad I do the research in advance!
The campground sits high above Sarajevo.
Great view!
View at dusk.
Max, parked at GPS 43.843928, 18.418549
We decided to stay at this campground because it's located only a 20 minute walk downhill to old town Sarajevo. People in the reviews complain about the hike back uphill, but I'm sure we can manage it. Also, most parking in the city itself is paid parking anyhow, and there have been reports of theft in the city. For €17 ($24.50 CAD, $19.70 USD) we have peace of mind that Max is safe and sound while we hike down to explore the city today. Full report on Sarajevo tomorrow!
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Record low deal on the original Kindle.
And in Canada...
Today is All Saints Day & tomorrow All Souls Day for Catholics all over the world and it's the time most folks go to visit & tidy up family tombs & graves - although most don't observe the custom with quite the exotic flair that Mexicans do. I was under the (perhaps mistaken?) impression that the Bosnian War pushed many ethnic Croats who are Catholics from Sarajevo so it's interesting to read from you that there must still be enough there who follow the tradition well enough to keep the florists in business.
ReplyDeleteYes, that is what we had expected all the flowers to be for. Plus we saw crosses and memorial plaques to be placed by the gravesites too. We really love they way they celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico, it is such an interesting way to remember your loved ones and they really make a big deal of it.
DeleteThe highest percentage of religion here is Islam at 50% then Eastern Orthodox at 31% and the Catholic at 15% so I guess there is still a fair amount of people that would observe this tradition.