For our transfer from Split to Dubrovnik, we decided to get there via a day trip through Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also a former part of Yugoslavia till 1991, Bosnia shares a border with Croatia and was just a 2 hour drive from Split. As we left the seaside climes of Split and climbed up in altitude, the terrain dramatically changed to more greenery covered mountains and limestone hills.

Medjugorje

Our first stop after crossing the border was at the Bosnian town of Medjugorje. The tiny town is famous for its pilgrimage site dedicated to Mother Mary after a series of her apparitions to 6 locals starting in 1981. After Lourdes and Fatima, Medjugorje is the 3rd largest pilgrimage site in Europe, drawing the faithful and tourists alike from all over the world.

Mostar

After spending some time at the Medjugorje main church of St James, we then headed out to Mostar. This town is most famous for its Stari Most bridge (Old Bridge) that joins fortifications on two sides of the town across the Neretva river. Built in the mid 1500s while the region was under Ottoman rule, this architectural marvel of its time is the iconic sight associated with Mostar. Although the bridge was unfortunately destroyed during the Balkan conflicts of the early 1990s between the Bosnians and Serbs, it has now been restored to its former glory and reclaimed its UNESCO World Heritage status.

Today one of the sights to enjoy is that of locals diving off the bridge into the waters below from the top of the Stari Most. The custom supposedly began with locals trying to impress their lovers by this feat of courage, but today the divers only jump in exchange for tips from tourists who are eager to capture the perfect Instagram shot.

Another highlight of Mostar for us was the delicious lunch we enjoyed at Konoba Sadrvan. We feasted on massive portions of a traditional Bosnian meal, heavy on the minced meats and fluffy breads, all washed down with tasty local wines. The Turkish influence was evident even in the thick coffee and indulgent desserts.

After walking through the cobblestone alleys and peering into some souvenir shops, it was unfortunately time to cut short our Mostar visit and get on the road again to our final destination of Dubrovnik.