Got up earlier than planned as need for food outweighed need for sleep. Spent
the day exploring some of Sarejevos sights: old town, Latin bridge where WWI started with the assasination of Archduke Ferdinand and plenty of signs of the recent war - pockmarked buildings, etc.
Managed to get my bike repaired - I had been carrying spare parts since Albania that I could not get fitted there due to lack of tools. Was happy to finally have new rear cassette and chain on.
Had good conversation with man who helped me find bike shop, mainly about the recent conflict. He told me, with the sense of pride someone would show if
they bought a new car, that he had blown up the butcher's shop with 100 kg TNT. He is Moslem and the shop was housing Chetnik snipers. From where we drank coffee he showed me his 'front line' position on the other side of the river Miljacka. His brother had been killed in the war. He was a journalist and had followed Richard HOlbrooke to Bajram Curri, Albania during the Kosovo conflict in 1997. Albania was a dangerous place he said, but that he had felt safe on teh front lines of Sarajevo! It was a fascinating conversation.
the day exploring some of Sarejevos sights: old town, Latin bridge where WWI started with the assasination of Archduke Ferdinand and plenty of signs of the recent war - pockmarked buildings, etc.Managed to get my bike repaired - I had been carrying spare parts since Albania that I could not get fitted there due to lack of tools. Was happy to finally have new rear cassette and chain on.
Had good conversation with man who helped me find bike shop, mainly about the recent conflict. He told me, with the sense of pride someone would show if
they bought a new car, that he had blown up the butcher's shop with 100 kg TNT. He is Moslem and the shop was housing Chetnik snipers. From where we drank coffee he showed me his 'front line' position on the other side of the river Miljacka. His brother had been killed in the war. He was a journalist and had followed Richard HOlbrooke to Bajram Curri, Albania during the Kosovo conflict in 1997. Albania was a dangerous place he said, but that he had felt safe on teh front lines of Sarajevo! It was a fascinating conversation.
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