The Baker - Pekara
A Pekoteka is a place to by bread, buns etc. They don’t bake on the premises. Thats a Pekara!
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 everyone who has supported so far ❤️
Our Weather.
This Weeks Vlog.
We’re Getting There.
When I first arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the major projects that the NATO Stabilisation Force (SFOR) had, was to assist in the clearance of unexploded ordinance from the recent conflict.
An immensely dangerous task. Back then, both injuries and deaths from mines were almost a daily occurence. Tragic.
Over the following decades the country was slowly and painstakingly cleared of these evil things.
Today, only 1.96% of the country remains to be cleared.
A new Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Suspected Areas app, has been developed as part of the “Country Assessment of Mine Suspected Areas” and “EU Support to the Creation of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre’s (BHMAC) Information System Web Platform”.
Visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Tamara and some new friends from Malaysia
The situation seems to be turning for the better.
Here in the north of the country our local airport (Banja Luka - BNX), flight arrivals and departures include the following:
Stockholm, Dortmund, Eindhoven, Belgrade, Malmo, Frankfurt, Tivat, Basel, Memmingen, Mulhouse, Gothenburg and Brussels.
Berlin service starts soon.
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 Other News.
You might find occasional e-mails from us popping into your inbox, with articles and podcasts that we have done and think a post of its own is worthy.
David recently interviewed Nemanja Knežević about Keeping Traditions Alive in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
I am someone who finds history fascinating.
I’ve recently found out, that on our doorstep, here in the village, on the 4th of August 1737, there was a rather large skirmish between Ottoman troops based in Banja Luka and retreating Austro-Hungarian forces from an unsuccessful attack on the Kastel (fortress).
The Battle of Banja Luka was the turning point in the Austrian campaign against the Turks. The inexperienced Prince Hildberghausen led his raw recruits into Bosnia in an attempt to bring it under Austrian control.
The Ottoman forces deployed across the river from Banja Luka itself as they descended from the hills with the central core of Janissaries flanked by the Albanians light infantry and assorted Sipahi (cavalry) respectively. The Austrians took up a defensive position next to the River Verbas with a reserve on the other side of the river as reinforcements.
Historically, the Sipahi of Ali Mohammed turned the Austrian left flank and forced a withdrawal towards the River Verbas where many Austrians drowned including Hildberghausen himself.
On the 5th August, Mehmed Ali-Pasha ordered to pursue the fleeing Austrians. As the Bosniak troops went partly unorganized in pursuit, 500 soldiers were lost near Klašnica when they reached the Austrian troops.
It took another 150 years before the Austrians attacked again.
Why not get a copy of our Banja Luka guide, CLICK HERE.
Found in the city this week.
Fancy Something Tasty?
Where are we all?.
My online friend Christian Payne (Documentally), has a map which shows where all his newsletter community are.
It’s quite fascinating to look at the world and realise how diverse a readership he has.
I think it might be nice to do the same? I realise its not original on my part, but it might be really cool here too?
Here’s the Map if you’d like to add yourself.
I think that this is a little of Tibilisi in Banja Luka.
This week we decided to have a sort of late breakfast during a trip onto Banja Luka. The location? Bizzare.
Looking through the menu I came across “Fora”.
It looks like Khachapuri, one of my two fave things to eat when in Georgia.
Verdict?
It wasn’t bad to be honest.
But there’s Georgian Khachapuri and then there’s Georgian Khachapuri.
If you visit Banja Luka do try Bizarre, BUT, word of warning, the coffee just “doesn’t cut the mustard” and is very expensive.
And Finally.
That's our update from our village here in the north of Bosnia and Herzegovina for this week.
We hope you like our new way of creating our weekly newsletter.
We hope you'll continue to follow our adventures, and to engage with questions and comments.
We are always so excited when we receive them.
PLEASE, do stay safe wherever you are.
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Absolutely delighted about the news that so many mines have been found and cleared, lets hope the rest can be cleared up soon too. Thanks so much about the story of the Austro- Hungarian battle near you i love reading stuff like that, keep up the research. all the very best.
Thanks for a great Blog/Vlog this week really fascinating about that tea keep safe and well the two of you, great the coffee link is back on