Hello and welcome to this edition of our Blog, from Čardačani, in the north of Bosnia and Herzegovina, written by an immigrant (me), as I am neither a tourist or a citizen here.
It’s been a week, where we finally have had some respite from the ever uncomfortable heat that’s been ever present these past weeks.
It really feels debilitating having to “hide away” during the day. At least it has for me.
Feeling rain again has been exceedingly pleasant.
For a born Englishman, who grew up with rain most of the year, and wishing to be somewhere where rain wasn’t ever present, that makes me now dwell on that age old phrase of “be careful of what you wish for”.
I digress though (as usual).
I am an exceedingly luck chap. Why?
Well I have to seriously think about what the highlight of my week has been when asked. I still enjoy having a super interesting and exciting life.
This week’s answer has been easy though.
The Highlight
This weeks highlight has been an invitation to experience an amazing and even unique vineyard near the town of Prnjavor some 45 kilometres from where we live.
French wine varieties grown in Bosnia and Herzegovina are EXPORTED to France?
Yes. It’s true.
Here’s a teaser from a future Podcast about the Fazan Vineyard, where I talk to Zoran Vuković about his view on the wines we were tasting from Fazan ⬇️.
The Breakfast
Bosnian Fast Food, is for me, a delight to eat.
Obviously, it’s not something to overindulge in that’s for sure.
Tamara and I decided to get some from a local baker for a breakfast recently, and thought we might take you along with us, so check out a recent video we posted on “Postcard from Bosnia” ⬇️
The Success
In the recent European Swimming Championships in Rome, Lana Pudar from Mostar, won the gold medal in the 200-metre dolphin.
Lana dominated from the first to the final metre bringing gold to Bosnia and Herzegovina. You JUST HAVE to witness the determination of this girl ⬇️.
The Music
Some really great Indie music from this region. Take a break from your usual fare and give this Spotify playlist a listen.
You won’t be disappointed, Trust Me!
The Bridge
Last year, Tamara and I took our first summer break post pandemic. We visited the small coastal town of Neum. We had an absolute blast.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s coastline is the second shortest in the world.
#funfact
This piece of coastline has caused a huge international problem for decades as citizens of Croatia have had to cross the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina to access Southern Dalmatia, a further part of Croatia.
However. The completion of a bridge that now connects Croatian Territory to Croatian Territory, bypasses Neum. The bridge doesn’t impede Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legal access to the Adriatic Sea.
That’s another Balkan problem settled.
The Shock
As I write this, it is only a few days after the author Sir Salman Rushdie was attacked and seriously wounded in the United States.
Most people are aware of Rushdie’s, controversial life and his utmost dedication and passion for freedom of speech, but I was totally surprised to see his connection to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In 1994, he published an essay “Bosnia on My Mind”.
For me, the truth lies in the nature and meaning of Sarajevo, where, as Susan Sontag said, the twentieth century began, and where it ends. I have never been to Sarajevo, but I feel that I somehow belong to it. I am proud to be an honorary member of the PEN club of the former Yugoslavia and I hope that I will not be considered presumptuous if I say that as a result of this new relationship, in some sense I am also in exile from Sarajevo, even though it is a city I do not know.
You can read more about Rushdie and Bosnia on Balkan Stories.
And Finally
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.
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Tamara and I appreciate your faithful readership, your comments, and your generosity!
THANKS SO MUCH ❤️
Very interesting vineyard.
Oh thanks to Global warming we now in UK have very hot summers,and little rain, mild winters and too much rain so its changed now from your memories David
sadly i dont seem to be able to connect to this music