Thank you, dear Tony! I just got back two days ago, was there for 10 days at a writers’ residence in a village near Sarajevo… ’twas my first time there, would you believe that? Somehow i had traveled to all the “constitutes” of former Yugoslavia, except Bosnia…
Thank you, dearest Louise! I thought it perfect for Tarot readings – because everyone is sipping on their coffee in sidewalk cafes, it’s warm and open… But it’s very strict religiously, the old town is in the Muslim part of the city, most of the local women are covered and Sharia doesn’t favor the cartomancy… Pity though, the city once was regional center of avantgarde artists and musicians, whereas nowadays it feels more like Kabul than like an European city
These look great, I wanna go shop there and perhaps sit down for a cup of coffee.
In my minds eye Sarajevo is still war-torn and it makes me happy to see these images to replace those of fear and blood.
You know, i wasn’t sure what to expect, i also thought that all of it would be somehow seizable… But it isn’t, except for religious radicalisation; during ex-Yu Sarajevo was the center of progressive art and alternative music, but nowadays the first thing you notice is covered women and men shaved and dressed like religious right… They are very friendly, i met several of them at the book fair (half of the stands are religious publishers) – despite my own prejudices, i was pleasantly surprised by the interaction – they are kind and smiling, but still – any of the three Abrahamic religions taken to the far right does irks me, at their core all three are quite sexist. We did go shopping for souvenirs and had coffee outdoors, but there is something which doesn’t feel right, i felt… inadequate. I am glad i visited, i liked it a lot, but i wouldn’t live there for the life of me.
It looks like a village that could/would inspire many genres of writing.
There is magick in the stories of the streets. I feel this way about anywhere, now I have gotten older….(in small villages or large cities)
So much waiting …. perhaps it just needs noticing?
Not talking about good or bad, it’s all there,always.
Thanks again Lena for a glimpse of another little paradise. (Your may say that you dislike this place intensely lol 🙂
It did, Jim, Bosnia always had amazing writers… And there is magic, it is felt in the air – but it is wearing a burqa… Thank you for taking the time to check out the pics xx
Wow, you are doing really well with that little camera of yours – lovely photographs! The older architecture is something we in America don’t have much of, so I always love seeing it in your pictures.
Oh dear – it’s what we “inherited” from the Ottomans lolol, you guys got really lucky that you didn’t have them over there! 😉 It’s strange – it’s Europe geographically, but it feels like… Kabul I feel like fish in water in Istanbul – i love it there and feel absolutely unrestricted and welcomed, but Sarajevo had quite a different feeling to it, albeit the architecture and the open markets are quite similar. In Istanbul you feel joie de vivre, whereas here this new level of religious observance somehow doesn’t feel right… Have you ever met a person who after having suffered from severe depression becomes a religious zealot? That’s the vibe Sarajevo sends out, as the city… If it was possibly, i wish i could hug it – the city – and hold it on my chest and lull it to sleep like a baby, i am still horrified and speechless by the terror it went through… I still can not grasp it, never will… 😦
Oh, that would be great! You are in Slovenia, right? There are dozens of cultural exchange projects, maybe i could help getting you in touch with some of the peeps in Ljubljana who do them? I am more familiar with literary circles, but i am sure they could get you in touch with visual artists… When you feel like, just pm on facebook (the fb page is featured here on the blog) and i’ll see what i can do to help! (I was in Slovenia 2y ago for work, loved it ;))
Yes, in Velenje, Slovenija, nice place to be! =) Well next time you’ll be here, let me know! And if you could help me to get connected to people who are in touch with those projects, I’d be very happy. =)
Great! I already fb suggested you as friend an ubercool Slovenian friend of mine, who knows a lot of those; this Saturday i am meeting a galrerist friend who knows it all, will ask her too and i’ll try to get you in touch with our Embassy there 😉
Thank you, dear Kenley! I think i took over two hundred pics over there lol!One of the peeps i hang out there was a pro photographer, we had this discussion whether it’s ok to take pics of people who are praying, of covered women… He said he thought it fine, i felt it wasn’t; i don’t know Muslim religious law, but what i know is that orthodox Jewish women shan’t be photographed (or, better to say – their photos published), so i presumed it’s very similar with the other Abrahamic “branch”… There were some really breathtaking images of the people gathered in front of the mosque before the prayer time, but that i thought too private to photograph I have couple of more pics which i think are special, will publish them soon, hope you’ll like those too! xxxx
Thank you, dearest Dianne! Ohh, i did have a great time, but not the sellers, i bargained like a beast (and ended up with some amazing goodies ;)) xxxx
What a beautiful city!
It is, Bonnie! Would you believe me i visited for the first time?
Beautiful!
When were you there?
Thank you, dear Tony! I just got back two days ago, was there for 10 days at a writers’ residence in a village near Sarajevo… ’twas my first time there, would you believe that? Somehow i had traveled to all the “constitutes” of former Yugoslavia, except Bosnia…
Nostalgia.. Perfect 🙂
You caught it, Amy… ❤ That single word sums it all… Thank you, dear xxxx
Beautiful city, thanks for sharing!! 🙂
Thank you, dearest Louise! I thought it perfect for Tarot readings – because everyone is sipping on their coffee in sidewalk cafes, it’s warm and open… But it’s very strict religiously, the old town is in the Muslim part of the city, most of the local women are covered and Sharia doesn’t favor the cartomancy… Pity though, the city once was regional center of avantgarde artists and musicians, whereas nowadays it feels more like Kabul than like an European city
These look great, I wanna go shop there and perhaps sit down for a cup of coffee.
In my minds eye Sarajevo is still war-torn and it makes me happy to see these images to replace those of fear and blood.
You know, i wasn’t sure what to expect, i also thought that all of it would be somehow seizable… But it isn’t, except for religious radicalisation; during ex-Yu Sarajevo was the center of progressive art and alternative music, but nowadays the first thing you notice is covered women and men shaved and dressed like religious right… They are very friendly, i met several of them at the book fair (half of the stands are religious publishers) – despite my own prejudices, i was pleasantly surprised by the interaction – they are kind and smiling, but still – any of the three Abrahamic religions taken to the far right does irks me, at their core all three are quite sexist. We did go shopping for souvenirs and had coffee outdoors, but there is something which doesn’t feel right, i felt… inadequate. I am glad i visited, i liked it a lot, but i wouldn’t live there for the life of me.
It looks like a village that could/would inspire many genres of writing.
There is magick in the stories of the streets. I feel this way about anywhere, now I have gotten older….(in small villages or large cities)
So much waiting …. perhaps it just needs noticing?
Not talking about good or bad, it’s all there,always.
Thanks again Lena for a glimpse of another little paradise. (Your may say that you dislike this place intensely lol 🙂
It did, Jim, Bosnia always had amazing writers… And there is magic, it is felt in the air – but it is wearing a burqa… Thank you for taking the time to check out the pics xx
Wow, you are doing really well with that little camera of yours – lovely photographs! The older architecture is something we in America don’t have much of, so I always love seeing it in your pictures.
Oh dear – it’s what we “inherited” from the Ottomans lolol, you guys got really lucky that you didn’t have them over there! 😉 It’s strange – it’s Europe geographically, but it feels like… Kabul
I feel like fish in water in Istanbul – i love it there and feel absolutely unrestricted and welcomed, but Sarajevo had quite a different feeling to it, albeit the architecture and the open markets are quite similar. In Istanbul you feel joie de vivre, whereas here this new level of religious observance somehow doesn’t feel right… Have you ever met a person who after having suffered from severe depression becomes a religious zealot? That’s the vibe Sarajevo sends out, as the city… If it was possibly, i wish i could hug it – the city – and hold it on my chest and lull it to sleep like a baby, i am still horrified and speechless by the terror it went through… I still can not grasp it, never will… 😦
Nice, too bad you won’t be there in June, I found a lovely gallery to host an exhibition in there.. =)
Awww, i wish i could be there! Do you plan on having an exhibition in Montenegro? Then i am visiting for sure! 😉
I have many plans, if I find a place to host my photos, I’ll be happy to. 🙂 It’s a nice country, passed it couple of times. =)
Oh, that would be great! You are in Slovenia, right? There are dozens of cultural exchange projects, maybe i could help getting you in touch with some of the peeps in Ljubljana who do them? I am more familiar with literary circles, but i am sure they could get you in touch with visual artists… When you feel like, just pm on facebook (the fb page is featured here on the blog) and i’ll see what i can do to help! (I was in Slovenia 2y ago for work, loved it ;))
Yes, in Velenje, Slovenija, nice place to be! =) Well next time you’ll be here, let me know! And if you could help me to get connected to people who are in touch with those projects, I’d be very happy. =)
Great! I already fb suggested you as friend an ubercool Slovenian friend of mine, who knows a lot of those; this Saturday i am meeting a galrerist friend who knows it all, will ask her too and i’ll try to get you in touch with our Embassy there 😉
Beautiful images Lena! You did a great job at capturing the wonderful architecture and feel of the city!
Kenley
Thank you, dear Kenley! I think i took over two hundred pics over there lol!One of the peeps i hang out there was a pro photographer, we had this discussion whether it’s ok to take pics of people who are praying, of covered women… He said he thought it fine, i felt it wasn’t; i don’t know Muslim religious law, but what i know is that orthodox Jewish women shan’t be photographed (or, better to say – their photos published), so i presumed it’s very similar with the other Abrahamic “branch”… There were some really breathtaking images of the people gathered in front of the mosque before the prayer time, but that i thought too private to photograph
I have couple of more pics which i think are special, will publish them soon, hope you’ll like those too! xxxx
Absolutely beautiful, Lena. I love the colours of the jewelry and rugs in the market place. What a lovely time you must have had! 😀
Thank you, dearest Dianne! Ohh, i did have a great time, but not the sellers, i bargained like a beast (and ended up with some amazing goodies ;)) xxxx
What a lovely old town!
Thank you maviiilous! Glad you liked it! xxxx