Stuffed Peppers - Punjene paprike
We have had stuffed peppers this week. The peppers have been filled with the Balkan equivalent of clotted cream (its not sweet by the way), young cheese and thin slices of smoked pork neck.
David writes,
Hello and welcome to another multi-media newsletter from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
If you’d like to help the newsletter, you can Buy Me a Coffee.
I appreciate your faithful readership, your comments, and your generosity!
THANKS SO MUCH to Martin from Bromley in the UK, for your continued support ❤️
Our Weather.
Thanks so much for ALL your help.
Last week we launched a short survey, to help us plan the future direction for this newsletter. The response was far more than we could have anticipated, and so, a very big thanks once again. Also, thanks for putting up with receiving another email, telling you that we had monumentally messed up with the original link to the survey in the last newsletter. We are still learning about Google Forms. If you didn’t get to read the survey questions, here’s the link again.
This Weeks Vlog.
What an interesting Week.
You may remember that in a past Podcast, I spoke to Efie Derksen, from the Netherlands about Folklore in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Efie was producing a film called “My Borrowed Heritage”. Well, now the film has had its world Premiere in Banja Luka.
The film was shown at the end of a varied 3 day “Ethno” event held in the village of Dornji Piskavice and the Kastel in Banja Luka.
Some in the audience said that they found out things about their culture they hadn’t known before, and at the end, the audience gave a standing ovation. Which was such a massive complement.
The film will now be shown in the Netherlands prior to general release but here’s the Trailer.
Visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The situation seems to be turning for the better. YES!
If you want to experience a great place for culture, food, adventure sports and much more, or for just chilling and soaking up life, you really do need to come and see this country.
The latest rules (at time of writing) are HERE.
In Brief.
I went to my first book launch this week in Banja Luka. Now before you start saying, “David, I thought your local language skills are, well, not that great”, which is true, I like to experience as much as I can. Getting outside the comfort zone, is a requirement in life, don’t you agree?
The event was held outside the Library in Banja Luka centre. Social distancing was followed and masks were evident, even though regulations don’t dictate they should be worn outside.
The author launching his first book was Fedor Marjanović.
His book "Junak bez lica" ("Hero without a face") is available now to purchase if you understand/read the language.
Why not get a copy of our Banja Luka guide, CLICK HERE.
Black Currants.
Found in the city this week.
Did You Catch Our Latest Podcast?
Fancy Something Tasty?
Tamara has this cool way of baking camembert inside bread.
It’s a real “rip and eat”, experience.
Recommended Listening.
Try this album out for size.
Sevdalinka - The Music of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sevdalinka is one of the most representative musical and poetic forms of the creative power of our people. Originated by the interweaving of oriental - Ottoman and autochthonous - Slavic culture, Sevdalinka developed and became the pearl of traditional music of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
When I first came to Bosnia and Herzegovina, I was confused with the music I heard as I either drove or walked about.
There was electronic western music, something that wailed at me with some kind of ethno rhythm (which I now know is Turbo-Folk), or rather dated rock music but in the local language, “ex YU-Rock”.
It took sometime to find out what the true music of Bosnia and Herzegovina was.
It’s Sevedalinka, and I ADORE IT.
Watch the video above as a taster and if you want to know, or hear more, check out these links:
Some Interesting Facts.
Divanhana
You get to a soul of a country through its music.
Thoughts?
This Weeks Newsletter Title.
We have had stuffed peppers this week. The peppers have been filled with the Balkan equivalent of clotted cream (its not sweet by the way), young cheese and thin slices of smoked pork neck.
Delish!
And Finally.
That's our update from our village here in the north of Bosnia and Herzegovina for this week.
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thanks so much for your update i had tears in my eyes the music was so moving take care both of you