Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/DHfUjjrAp28etVhY6
After Croatia I rode thru Bosnia and visited the city of Mostar, which is know for this bridge that was built in 1566 and then destroyed in 1993 during the war between 1992 and 1994. With help from the UN, it was rebuilt in 2004. Many daredevils jump off the bridge into a beautiful but very cold river that runs thru the city. In the photo album there’s a video of me jumping off the 10 meter platform near the bridge, which is used for training for the bridge jump. When diving competitions are held, 4 meters are added to the bridge so that the participants jump from 28 meters. Some tourists jump off the bridge, but I never considered doing that, especially after hearing about all sorts of injuries including broken vertebrae, dislocated shoulders, rectal bleeding, and torn scrotums. While I was there I saw a few professionals do the jump (they collect money from tourists and once they have about 25 euros they jump), which was very impressive.
In Mostar there are many reminders of the war. Throughout the city there are abandoned building covered in bullet holes. And throughout Bosnia you are discouraged from wandering through the wilderness because there are still lots of unexploded land mines. I was told that volleyball where players sit on the gym floor is popular in Bosnia because of the number of people who have lost legs due to landmines. The one night I would have camped in the wilderness I instead asked someone if I could pitch my tent on their property.
From Bosnia I passed thru Montenegro and then to Albania, which is very different from all the European countries I’ve been to so far. It’s the 3rd poorest country in Europe (by per capita gdp, after Moldova and Ukraine). There’s lots of garbage in the streets, run down buildings, and stray dogs. But there are beautiful mountains and beaches and the friendliest people I’ve encountered on my trip so far have been in Albania. Many people driving by would shout encouraging things to me when they saw me bicycling with all my stuff. Children (who mostly speak great English) would shout hello and reach out for high fives as I passed thru their town and those on bicycles would often try to race me for a few kilometers. I highly recommend visiting Albania, especially while it’s still not a super popular destination.
