Travel Through Bosnia and Herzegovina on a Harley-Davidson
By Peter & Kay Forwood
Bosnia-Herzegovina on a Harley (11/12/97 - 13/12/97)
Distance 410 km (78350 km to 78760 km)
This is part of the third section of our around the
world trip.
Complete Trip Overview & Map
Coming from Yugoslavia
11/12/97 A 2 km line of trucks awaited the ferry across
the Sava River to Bosnia. With a short wait we were in Bosnia almost before
we realized. All border crossings very informal and quick. No payments required
for us or the motorcycle as we already had Bosnian visas. We had been advised
in Yugoslavia that it was DM 50.00 per head for a visa at the border. The
road through Yugoslavia was flat rich black soiled breadbasket country,
Croatia was heavily forested. On entering the "corridor" between Muslim
and Serbian Bosnia the most dominating features were of shot up and destroyed
buildings. Reconstruction is zooming alongside destruction and capitalism
is growing with the steady flow of trucks bringing imported goods.
12/12/97 This morning we headed towards Tuszla and onto
Sarajevo. The good road worn smooth by trucks and covered with a thin film
of clay from vehicles entering from side roads was particularly slippery
in the light drizzle. Great concentration was required in some areas and even
to break slightly meant loss of control of the motorcycle. Tuzla seemed an
industrial centre with smoke pollution coming from the power station and
wood fires in homes. It wasn't till about 50 km from Sarajevo that the total
destruction of homes and entire villages became the dominating feature of
our attention and once in Sarajevo every building had bullet marks in the
walls. Most hotels are still gutted and we stayed in private accommodation.
But it is two years since the war finished and the streets are thriving
with businesses, the rebuilding is rapid and the shops well stocked with
imported goods.
SFOR troops are apparent everywhere in the city but as consumers not law
enforcers obviously helping the economy recover.
13/12/97 Not wanting to impose an extra burden on Sarajevo's
infrastructure problems (water only 6 hours a day) we left for Dubrovnik
in Croatia. A magnificent road winding through hills then down a river valley
past a series of dams. A drizzly start clearing to a sunny day marred only
by the totally war destroyed villages along the way.
Move with us to Croatia
or go to our next visit to
Bosnia and Herzegovina