I spent all of yesterday in Mostar, Bosnia and it was beautiful. Mostar is making headway but it used to be one of the most divided cities in the country. Even the university in town sat on an ethnic border with separate classes for students of different ethno-religious identities. One of the most recognizable monuments of Mostar today is The Bridge. The bridge is at the center of the old city, in the middle of the Turkish quarter, and in 1992 it was bombed by Croats and destroyed. The bombing separated the people of Mostar by their political views and also physically and visually since it further cut off communications across town. In 2004 the bridge was finally rebuilt not just for engineering's sake and convenience, but as a symbol of the end of the war and the progression of Mostar into integration and acceptance.
The day in Mostar was one of the first sunny days I've had since coming to the region and walking through the old town with the bright turquoise water sparkling along the side was incredible. Then we spent the afternoon with the Nansen Dialogue Centre which was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize last year when Obama won it. There are a ton of NGOs in the region, many whom I've met with in the past few weeks, who focus on cross-ethnic dialogue and reconciliation, but NDC is definitely one of the strongest, and an inspiring organization to meet with on such a great day!
Mostar is so beautiful!
a poster promoting the rebuilding of the bridge
The Bridge!
CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW I'M GOING TO BE IN DC BY THE END OF TODAY AND YOU WON'T BE? wtf nicole - GET IT TOGETHER.
ReplyDeleteand you know....you're freaking gorgeous in that picture.
ReplyDeleteMISS YOU FELLOW DYNAMASAUR <3
MOLLY!
ReplyDeleteI just saw your's and Brad's status updates and got super duper sad. But honestly you and John Stewart in one place? My heart would actually explode so maybe it's best I'm far away.
And thanks fellow dynamasour, you're gorgeous all the time!