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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 30, 2020 15:38:01 GMT
I'll bet you didn't think you'd be driving through an earthquake zone.
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Post by onlyMark on Dec 30, 2020 15:41:09 GMT
Not knowingly I probably have several times, but I didn't expect it this time.
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Post by tod2 on Jan 1, 2021 9:46:04 GMT
Thinking of you and the missus Mark. You should be entering Croatia by now. Thembe Elephant Reserve is missing you!
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Post by onlyMark on Jan 4, 2021 14:57:24 GMT
After various hiccups regarding changes in rules, extras to rules that weren't mentioned anywhere and dealing with expiry times of covid certificates - I arrived alone in Sarajevo in torrential rain and darkness last night, dealt with an extremely verbose landlady who was very friendly but even though she knew I didn't understand a word, still rattled on and on. I sort have have internet but it is an unpassword protected access belonging to I don't have a clue who, but it's works sporadically for now. Mrs M has had a major hiccup with test results not arriving in time and having to stay behind, that's why I've been all on my tod - but a daughter arrived at the airport this afternoon - unbeknownst to her, her test results had also expired three hours before her landing and I was biting my nails wondering if they'd say anything. I knew because I'd received a copy of it but was unable to open it with the internet until she was in the air. Apparently the certificate was looked a little sideways at but was let through.
In conclusion for now, after doing some back tracking meaning a 1550km journey turned into 2300km, a complicated series of events where you are at the whim of any of numerous officials at the borders of Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia - I arrived safe and sound. The city is steeped in history, is a mish mash of buildings, has plenty of stories to tell, not big and impersonal and I look forward to exploring it when the weather is a bit better.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jan 4, 2021 15:02:30 GMT
It sounds like the sort of thing you love, even if it cannot hold a candle to your African adventures. Of course I am intrigued at how a 1550km trip turns into 2300km. I have had to backtrack a few times but never that much.
Your landlady knew that if she just talked long enough, you would pick up the language.
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Post by htmb on Jan 4, 2021 17:24:38 GMT
Glad you made it safe and sound. Looking forward to eventually hearing the rest of the travel story. I’m guessing you’ll also have many interesting tales of the city to tell.
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Post by bjd on Jan 4, 2021 17:45:12 GMT
I envy your being in Sarajevo. Though perhaps it's pretty cold now? After all, they held the winter Olympics there in 1984.
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Post by onlyMark on Jan 4, 2021 17:54:56 GMT
htmb, I think there'll be plenty of things to find out about. There are a few major things like the old Olympic area but what will interest me is the stories from little stuff on street corners, and I have a big list of that stuff so far to see. One favourite of mine will be to go to a big supermarket tomorrow to stock up. I went to a small shop today just down the street and if I go by the labels and not any pictorial clue, I understood one label in a hundred - and that was Lurpack butter.
K2, she can talk all she wants, and does when I've crossed paths with her today, but the language has more or less no clues to what the word is. You know how you can hear a word and maybe guess what it is from a Latin root or something else that you might know, well these are just gobbledygook so far. But, I did make a break though when I translated 'airplane' from when she said something like 'avion'. I am used to Mrs M speaking Slovenian and though the two languages are quite different, neither has words in it I can guess very well at all. Bonn - Sarajevo door to door = more or less 1550km. Bonn - Bosnia border - Graz - Sarajevo = more or less 2300km.
Bjd, not too cold at the moment. There is a smattering of snow on the hills but not in the city and temps are six to seven Celsius during the day. Bit foggy and misty though with some rain.
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Post by htmb on Jan 4, 2021 19:36:28 GMT
Several years ago I had a student whose father was a forensics specialist. The whole family moved to Sarajevo for a year for the dad to work. I don’t remember the exact stories the parents told me after they’d returned, but do know they had some fascinating tales to tell. Many of them also sad, of course.
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Post by tod2 on Jan 5, 2021 7:49:32 GMT
Good to hear from you Mark. You are definitely our adventure specialist!
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Post by onlyMark on Jan 5, 2021 8:21:22 GMT
The motivation is boredom Tod. If luckily the opportunity arises to not have to have a nine to five job I'm quite happy.
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Post by lugg on Jan 5, 2021 18:46:41 GMT
Glad you and one daughter arrived safe and sound. Hopefully Mrs M will be with you soon. As others have said, I too am looking forward to reading about your adventures.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 6, 2021 3:25:13 GMT
In conclusion for now, after doing some back tracking meaning a 1550km journey turned into 2300km, a complicated series of events where you are at the whim of any of numerous officials at the borders of Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia - I arrived safe and sound. The city is steeped in history, is a mish mash of buildings, has plenty of stories to tell, not big and impersonal and I look forward to exploring it when the weather is a bit better. What a ride! Hope Mrs M gets there soon & with no hassle. Nice luck with your daughter & the certificate. You certainly have us all waiting for more chapters!
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Post by onlyMark on Jan 6, 2021 8:02:20 GMT
At the moment I can do plenty of photos of overcast skies, rain and dampness but I'm hoping for a little more than that if/when it clears up.
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