Blog du Wren

Bullet Holes and Blown Out Buildings

I see bullets wizz by on the movie screen often and think little of it. Even hearing the sound of shots* from a distance doesn't really bring the concept of bullets to life. Seeing convered with while walking down the street, however, brings that concept that I've been so lucky to avoid in my life into a little bit better perspective.

I was a little young to be following the news when the Yugoslavian wars happened (1991-1998*), but the place names have always been laced in my mind with some of that subtext. But now, while traveling the streets of some of the cities involved (Sarajevo and Mostar, Bosnia), that general vague sense of what went down now has come into much clearer view.

I'm fortunate enough to be traveling with my friend Horge who graciously acts as tour guide and historian explaining who was on which side fighting for what*, pointing out blown out after blown out and other little , etc. While it is not the kind of sightseeing I usually do, I'm glad I'm getting this perspective, getting to see this destruction that has had such a huge impact on this area in the so recent past.

Wednesday May 4 2011

File under: travel, Balkans

Toggle Comments (3)

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on Wed 04th May, 2011 03:53 pm PDT Amanda said:
Wren, have so enjoyed your updates/thoughts/contemplations while on your adventure. I am, however, wildly jealous.
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on Thu 05th May, 2011 08:40 am PDT Mom said:
Moving pictures. I can't help but wonder if we are leaving a similar trail in the Middle East. George, why is the "Don't Forget" reminder on the stone in English?
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on Sat 14th May, 2011 03:39 am PDT Horge said:
I'd guess that sign being in English is a reminder to all the many foreigners coming to visit Mostar about the West's strong role in how things played out. There's a general feeling here (especially among the Bosniak Muslims) that the West could've stopped the war anytime, but instead let things spin out of control by tying Bosnia's hands behind its back with an arms embargo on them only, but not Serbia or Croatia. So a bit of reminding foreigners that though an internal Yugoslav conflict, Western apathy contributed... <- my 2 cents
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