I was never feeling great at airports. In fact it took me quite few years of traveling around Europe before I first flew from Portugal to Switzerland. I ques I was somewhat ecologically focused...
The neverending pandemic state brings yet another level of ugly to the already horrible airport experience. Having obtained my "CPR" test (communist party requirement) I was issued three days of international travel freedom. Heck, that is something to celebrate.
My mission was to leave Turkey, where I have spent last five months sitting through the lockdown period. Good place to be indeed. But I needed change and I have things to do in Serbia... Sadly, Serbian government recognises "CPR" test only for 48 hours. That made me storm through Bosnia in lighting speed. But my 12 hours spent there was lot of fun and hence I want to share this story with you.
First flight from Antalya to Istanbul was great. I managed to be seated next to the window and was glued to it for the whole duration of the flight. The mask wearing tirany was in full swing on this flight. Hitler alike flight attendant made sure to remind everyone about the mask slipping below one's nose. But forty minutes was doable.
Changing flight in Istanbul was another issue. I have never flew with layover before. I had unnecessary fear of loosing my luggage, which showed up in Sarajevo exactly on time.
It was the shakiest flight I was ever on. Some flights to Europe were delayed or cancelled and Germany's electric wind generators were working overtime. At one moment of "no gravity" a gentleman near me screamed like a pig because his fear. Truly cinematic moment. Luckily to me I was sitting next to a girl from Russia, with which I had insightful conversation and the flight passed by smoothly.
Getting to the city center in Sarajevo is probably best with taxi, but I would feel like total gringo doing that and would probably end up paying high price for it. So I set out to walk to the point where I could jump on a local bus. Some Turkish man followed me, thinking I know what I am doing. Well lucky for him I kinda did and I let him join me.
If you have such a short time for a city you've never been before, it becomes hard to decide what to do. But I had to print out my bus ticket for the next day and find something to eat. In Bosnia and Herzegovina one has to eat chevapi. Locals are master grillers and the meat they serve is really tempting.
After this heavy dinner I was thirsty as a camel and searched for a place to have beer. I've randomly met my newly found Turkish friend again and I took him to Tesla's bar. Sarajevsko is okey beer to kill thirst, but nothing too special and I headed back to my hostel. There I discovered that the owner is pure rakia expert and we drank until late hours. Than I realised that going to bed for two hours wouldn't help much and I headed out yet again to see if there is some place still open. Luckily for me, it was. A nightclub in the basement with some good electronic music. Two DJs have been doing their best to amuse the fun hungry Sarajevan crowd.
At 5am I was ready to grab my bags and escorted myself to the bus station and had a morning cafe to survive the ride. Slept most of the way to the Serbian border, where Police woke me up in style. Draged out of the bus I was explaining that my hands are shaking due to alcohol and not because I am a smuggler of some sort. Luckily my Serbian skills are on good level already and I talked myself out of it. In five minutes I was back on board heading to Belgrade. Having your bags turned upside down is no fun even if you're not smuggling anything. That happened on my previous entry to Serbia. I really don't know what they see on me :)
First twenty minute break in some motorest I ordered my "reparatur" beer and celebrated my successful border crossing. It is indeed a thing to celebrate these days...
All the best,
Global Local