Hello and welcome to this edition of our newsletter from Čardačani, in the north of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Your Concerns

We have been getting messages, emails etc regarding what is being printed and broadcast in the international press regarding ongoing events here in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thank you for getting in contact.

I have and do read, news from other than Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially the United Kingdom.

While it is without a doubt a really uncertain time politically here in the country, and a crises unseen since the end of the conflict in 1995, the chance of going back to the days of extreme violence, is in my opinion, is very slim. The feeling “on the ground” from normal everyday people is that they really don’t want to lose any more family members to ideology.

I for one, feel safe, and confident that this will all be solved in time without violent conflict.

I don’t like talking politics as part of the newsletter as you know, but felt I owed it to everyone to at least say something. Thanks for the concerns. Its nice to know people care.

OK.

So lets get back to something completely different 😀

Despite the weather being mentally crazy, 21C one day, freezing the next and not to mention rain, rain, rain, we have managed to get out and about a bit.

Just outside our nearest town of Laktaši, is a recently built stadium for the local basketball team, “Igokea”.

Now, I have only watched one basketball game in my life. That was some years ago, when, visiting my daughter in New York. I was treated to a game in Madison Square Gardens between the New York Nicks and Toronto Raptors.

It was quite the experience I have to say.

Tamara had often mentioned that we should at least see one Igokea game as they are, after all, our local team. Supporting all things local is important I think.

Our decision was made whilst having lunch in a new, boutique “RistoBar” in Laktaši. A rather tall black guy came in to collect a take away. He spoke with an American accent. A basketball player maybe?

The Balkan leagues have a fair number of International players in their squads.

Taking this opportunity we struck up a conversation and we were not wrong. Deshawn Stephens is in fact with Igokea. He will be a guest on a future podcast, and I think it’s going to be interesting to find out how Americans view living in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Digressing.

We bought tickets to watch Igokea play Slovenian team Cedevita from Ljubljiana.

Sadly, Igokea lost. But it’s the supporting that matters not the win/lose.
If you’re a basketball fan, the game is below to watch.

Tamara and I are committed to watching as many home games as possible. This could become an addiction 😀

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Answering a Question Often Asked

Through both the newsletter and also on our social channels, we get asked throughout the year, quite often in fact, about how people can take either long term visits or even settle here in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This made us think about producing a podcast about this.

We published it last Wednesday as an add on to the newsletter.

If you missed it at all you can listen again on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

OR

Clicking on the insert below:

An Englishman in the Balkans

90 in 180 Days

Listen now (23 min) | In this episode of the podcast David and Tamara explain the 90 days in any 180 rule for people visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina and also what you will require to do if you wish to apply for long term residency…

Read more

7 months ago · 1 like · 2 comments · David and Tamara

By the way, if you like the content we create and would like to help us produce more, then maybe consider Buying Us a Coffee?

A Visit to a Farm

Yes, we have visited a farm located not too far from the local village of Aleksandrovac. Another place we have meant to see and finally have done it.

The farm is where Trappist cheese and Beer is now produced. It used to be produced at a monastery situated very close to Banja Luka.

Banja Luka has had a Trappist monastery for over 150 years. The story of the Trappists is not too well known however and that’s what Tamara and I wanted to find out, so maybe when you come to visit you’ll want to find out more for yourself.

In the next week we will have completed a video to show you, as well as a podcast I did with Draženko Budimir,

who is the director of the farm and also who has a very deep insight into the history of the Trappist community.

AND

For the first time, we will produce content in the local language, that we hope you’ll enjoy, especially if you are a reader that lives away from the western Balkans.

Watching

We just finished Squid Game. Addictive without a doubt and watching something like this with a Korean perspective was fascinating. A little too violent for my taste but then I am getting squeamish as I get older 😀

And it looks like Season 2 might be interesting too. Let’s see.
Recommended!

Listening

This past week has been a Stevie Nicks revival for me

And finally this week

If you’re reading this for the first time, enjoy, and if you would like to support us, then maybe you can Buy Me a Coffee?

If you want to read back editions of the newsletter, listen to previous podcasts (we have quite an archive now), or catch other content, all this is available on the web interface, just like a regular blog.

Oh, and you can also share the newsletter with friends, relatives and colleagues using the button below.

Tamara and I appreciate your faithful readership, your comments, and your generosity! 

THANKS SO MUCH ❤️