Water vapor rises up from the deep canyons.
Our host at Zvono's told us it was a short drive to Saraevjo, perhaps 2.5 hours if we took the direct route, longer if we took the back road through the Dumitor National Park. Always eager to travel the road less traveled, we elected the scenic route.
The drive north was wild and beautiful. The narrow, one lane road took us into numerous rough cut tunnels through mountains and over lanes hanging on to ascending cliffs. Surprisingly the roads were mostly paved as we wound up through deciduous and pine forests to high treeless and rocky valleys. Small farming communities were clustered here and there with steepled churches, graveyards, and cows with full hanging udders lazily munching on unfenced green fields.
The real magnificence of Dumitor however is in its three breathtaking deep canyons and the sparkling wild and emerald rivers that flow through them. The deepest canyon in Europe, 4,250 feet snaked its way through the valley as we stood high above on a cliff. By the time we reached the border where Montenegro and Bosnia meet, it was late afternoon, and we were now looking for a quick drive on the main road to Saraevjo.
Well, not exactly a quick drive. The border crossing was slow but quicker than it was getting out of Croatia. It was the 28 kilometer detour on an unpaved road over a mountain and around a ridge that really slowed us down. Apparently, the main road to Saraevjo suffered some damage in an afternoon rain storm the day before. The signage was basically a big arrow next to the closed road pointing to a dirt road with no indication where we were going. Fortunately, the family in front of us (from Sarevjo returning home) talked to someone along the way to clarify directions, and we blindly followed behind him, eating his dust the whole way.
We reached Saraevjo late in the day, tired and dust covered, as the last remnants of sunlight glowed on the red roofs. Our accommodations for the night were not easy to find either, but we finally arrived. Our host in Saraevjo, is Oliver,...his place is called Olywood. He is a remarkable fellow who has worked hard to build a new home high above Saraevjo, from where the Serbs held Saraejvo under seige. Bombed out buildings still stand close by and many of the homes are still remnants of the war in Bosnia. The view is spectacular. To make ends meet in a country where 70% of the people are still unemployed, Oly can accommodate 12 tourists in bedrooms in his home, and some tents for car campers.
More on Saraevjo tomorrow.
All is well with the Worrall Travel R's in Bosnia i Herzgovina.
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