Welcome to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)!

F Fontecilla Gutierrez
Jul 8, 2019
1 min read

Stari Most (Old Bridge) in a stormy day.

After 20 hours, I finally made it to Mostar. It was the longest yet most beautiful bus ride I have ever done. We went through the mountains, drive through Austria, Slovenia, Croatia (stopped in Zagreb for a bit) and finally at about 5 in the morning we entered Bosnia and Herzegovina with the sunrise.

Over the next two weeks I will be based in Mostar studying the history, politics, and peace efforts that are being done in the city and taking in as much as I can on the techniques, strategies and programs that have been developed to address issues of violence and war.

When I think about it, my journey this year has taken me around the globe learning about some of the most horrific atrocities humans have committed in the history of our specie: wars, genocides, mass rapes, colonizations, and now the lack of care for our planet has led us to climate emergency. But also, I have been studying, learning, participating in initiative that address this issues and confront this history of violence and death we have perpetuated historically on our earth, and are trying to create a better place. I get to learn about the most beautiful parts of a place and a people, and the terrifying background that hides (and sometimes shows) beneath.

I look forward to what I am able to find in this beautiful city in the middle of the mountains!