Sarajevo: C/D?

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My girlfriend's been offered a job in Sarajevo starting this summer so we're now debating moving there.
On the one hand, we're pretty excited by the adventurous side of it, esp. since we both are pretty interested in the Balkans and the whole East meets West legacy. On the other, I'm concerned that I'm gonna quickly find myself bored in a small and relatively bleak provincial town, feeling isolated and disconnected from what's happening in the 'real' western world (eg. music/cinema wise).
The choice is made even more difficult by the fact that neither of us have been before, nor do we have time to go there before taking a decision. So it really seems like a big leap into the unknown..
Hence, I turn to ILE.. Anyone ever been there (recently..)? Classic vibrant city or remote depressing town?

― Fabrice (Fabfunk), Monday, 28 April 2003 07:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll ask a friend who was there some years ago, trying to establish democracy in the region.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Monday, 28 April 2003 08:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I was in Sarajevo for 4 days in 2000, and thought pretty highly of it. It was mostly rebuit by then, and there were few visible signs that it's been a recent warzone - except for all the UN peacekeepers, but I'm not sure if they're still there. There's a very nice cafe culture there, but mostly because many young people are unemployed and have not much better to do than lounge around drinking coffee or beer in the afternoon. The Turkish quarter is lively at night with markets, restaurants serving kebabs & burek, etc. I'm not too sure what the nightlife is like though - or what the cultural scene is like... But I do remember seeing a movie theatre! Overall, I really enjoyed my time in the city - but it was at the beginning of fall, so the weather was gorgeous and of course, it was only for a few days. I'm sure I would have gotten bored after not too much longer. However, it is only a few hours busride away from Dubrovnik & Split in Croatia which are two of the most lovely cities in the world - and quite touristy so you could go off to weekends there for clubs/etc... Though I visited in 2000, so I'm sure things have changed significantly since then for Sarajevo.

― phil-two (phil-two), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 11:01 (twenty-two years ago)

A Bosnian friend is there at the mo. I think he's back some time this week. I'll mention this thread to him when he gets back.

― Daniel (dancity), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 18:05 (twenty-two years ago)

eleven months pass...

Nezaposleni sam inzinjer elektronike iz Podgorice.
Da li postoji mogucnost zaposlenja u sa?
Kakva je mogucnost zaposlenja stranih drzavljana u sa?

― Elmir Djokovic, Monday, 5 April 2004 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.joannou.net/petullant/gollum_dress.jpg

― Dada, Monday, 5 April 2004 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

eleven years pass...

I'm heading to Sarajevo for a long weekend next month and I know some of you have been there recently (tipsy? anagram?). This'll be my first trip back in 15 yrs and would love to hear about what you loved there.

― kate78, Monday, 16 November 2015 23:12 (ten years ago)

Yeah Sarajevo is a really pleasant city, especially around the Bascarsija (old town) area which has lots of narrow streets with interesting little shops in them. There are two cosy restaurants in that district close to each other called Dveri and Pod Lipom both of which are good. If you want to splurge on an evening meal there's a really excellent restaurant in another part of town called 4 Sobe Gospođe Safije (The 4 Rooms of Mrs Safiya) and another one called Kibe which is a taxi ride out of town with good views over the city.

My top tip however would be a bar called Kino Bosna which is some kind of semi-legal squat deal in a disused cinema and was absolutely packed the night I was there. Great atmosphere and well worth seeking out.

I didn't do a whole lot of museum-hopping but obviously the Latin Bridge which is where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated is worth a look, there's a small museum close by. There's also a museum situated at the location of the tunnel which was used to get people and supplies in and out during the siege, I didn't have time to get out there unfortunately due to pressure of work.

The siege kind of haunts Sarajevo and it might be worth reading up a bit on what happened there, but if you've already been there you probably know about it anyway. I found Besieged by Barbara Demick to be essential reading, you can walk up the street where it is set and see the graveyards which are very moving (all the dates of death are very close together).

― schlep and back trio (anagram), Tuesday, 17 November 2015 06:57 (ten years ago)

That tunnel museum is fascinating, definitely try and make it.

― the joke should be over once the kid is eaten. (chap), Tuesday, 17 November 2015 08:29 (ten years ago)

Bascarsija is dope - i ate some delicious pizza over some beardo disco at this place called Barhana there

get a drink at Delikates and eat some chevapi at Mrkva

also when you're in Bascarsija, it is a tradition/legend that anyone who takes a drink of water from the begova dzamija fountain will return to sarajevo again one day (this is not to be confused with the more well-known Sebilj fountain)

if you are able, i highly recommend a day trip to Mostar - its some zelda shit

― gr8080, Tuesday, 17 November 2015 19:25 (ten years ago)

yes and the drive is superb (following the turquoise Neretva river)

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Wednesday, 18 November 2015 13:44 (ten years ago)

I did that the other way by train, also stunning.

― the joke should be over once the kid is eaten. (chap), Wednesday, 18 November 2015 13:44 (ten years ago)

Thanks for the recommendations everyone. I spent a lot of time in the Balkans in the late 90s/early 00s and I'm psyched to be heading back there. Gonna try to head to Mostar for a day if the weather's good. I haven't been back since they rebuilt Stari Most.

― kate78, Wednesday, 18 November 2015 19:10 (ten years ago)

i doubt there will be any divers in december, but you never know

― gr8080, Wednesday, 18 November 2015 20:17 (ten years ago)

three weeks pass...

What a great city.

― kate78, Tuesday, 15 December 2015 19:27 (ten years ago)

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