1. Skinny jeans. Skinny jeans with carefully placed rips. Skinny jeans in white, in black, in pale washed out blue.
Convese sneakers. Keds sneakers. or Boots.
Loose t-shirts. Loose sweaters.
Every young girl wears this uniform.
You long to see new silhouettes.
2. When I first visited BiH in 2009, I went shopping, of course, in the touristy shops in Sarajevo. I recall seeing many beautiful religious icons made into jewelry. The usual Crosses, Crescent Moon, Hand of Fatima/Miriam or Hamsa, and even Star of David. One I recall linked the 3 major symbols together. I should have bought it because last week, when I went to Sarajevo to look, I couldn’t find it. I looked in vain in Mostar.
3. There is a MacDonald’s here in Mostar ( and one in Sarajevo) that looks unlike any MacDonald’s I have seen. Okay, there are plastic trays and burgers and fries, but there is also an espresso machine and a bakery case ( which features American doughnuts and muffins!) You can sit for a hour or two on comfortable chairs, eating fries and drinking an espresso in a china cup.
In case you think only the foreign tourist goes, think again.
4. No matter what angle I try, this cathedral ends up looking like a Motel.
5. Autumn here is perfect. The sun is low, but it shines. The foliage is a crisp golden yellow. The scent of fallen leaves can be sensed. The roses still bloom, and the palm trees are green.
After a rain, the wind comes through, leaving a chill in the air.
Then it is warm again. Or so, it has been this fall.
Amy in Mostar 