The Sarajevo Olympics mascot, Walphie Wolfie or something.
Our What The Fuck Am I Doing In series highlights off-the-beaten-path destinations that stretch your dollar and your feeble understanding of your common man.
Choosing Sarajevo as your tourist destination is strangely like willingly entering into a scientific experiment where you’re both the guinea pig and the scientist. Sure, it’s a mix of breathtaking views, delicious food, curious customs, and bewildering transport systems — but in what industry has confusion ever been a selling point? The answer: Sarajevo, where nothing is ever quite what it seems, and tourist enthusiasts who enjoy a good riddle tend to flock.
The fascinatingly complex history of Sarajevo, a city that has been “a crossroads of civilization” — code for “we can’t seem to agree on much.” History buffs will relish the historical layers, but for the average tourist, it can feel a bit like stumbling through a Wikipedia page on wars, treaties, and occupations that could’ve used a solid editor.
Sarajevo’s climate can be described as ‘four seasons in a day’ on steroids. You could wake up to a beautiful sunny morning, only to find your day devolved into a dramatic snowstorm by lunch. One minute you’re sweating bullets, the next you’re building a snowman in your flip-flops.
The culinary scene is a veritable tour of mystery flavors that will have you constantly questioning every dish. The ‘Sogan-dolma’ (stuffed onions) can be so overloaded with spices you feel like you’ve ingested a small garden? Or how about the beloved ‘Burek,’ pastry filled with meat that could double as a doorstop? Not to mention, the locals consume these without breaking a sweat.
You’ve entered into the world of delightful chaos where questions abound, and confusion reigns supreme. And who knows, you might find it is the best trip you ever took — or at least one that makes a great story to tell for years to come.
Here’s Sarajevo in pictures for 48 hours.
Ethnic cleaning evidence from the comfort of your plane seatNot less depressing at all. Sarajevo, I thought you were going to be a party city!Stupid cat mural, please give me the escapism I crave!I guess when cultures meet they don’t always sing campfire songs together? Oh well, this is nice.This is pretty too. Ok, we’re on a roll now!Blood-splatter memorials in places where people were killed by sniper fire? Sarajevo, you don’t have to be this real all the time!Ok, the meats will save me from the sadness and also shorten my life dramatically.You think you can escape the midwest, but you never really can.Beatiful sunset only ruined by pollution sitting in this valley.Hey, this place was magical that year for the Olympics. Good thing the memories of that weren’t ruined by future sectarian violence or anything.Wherever you go that has the baklava, you eat all the baklavas.This is the Spite House. Your background story for it is probably better than the real story.Well that’s pretty and not ruined too much by historical events on this very site. Right?Perhaps if I soar over the city I will find peace and serenity.No, making it up here did not shake the sads. 🙁And now I’m scared.Good thing I can walk down this old bobsled track from the Olympics to safety.Oh that track ended and now I’m hiking the heavily-mined hills down to the city. What could go wrong?Ok, back to civilization. That always brings redemption and security.Oh, just the place where an assassination started World War 1. #citybreakI will throw myself into carbs and meats for solace.And whatever this potential blood product is.And I’m going to need a sugar high tomorrow morning, so here we go.I will eventually meet this RHCP ambulance under different circumstances. Save me, Flea!But hopefully I won’t end up here. This is cheery.The Sarajevo Olympics mascot, Walphie Wolfie or something.Hey, I need one of these as a replacement in my backyard. Can I take it?The cat and I share the same opinion about this art.And this piece as well, really.One last drink for the road, er, train, at the station with some socialist mural.
