Today was the most memorable day of the trip thus far. I checked out of the hostel, but left most of my stuff there. I had planned to join a couple of local girls for a hike just outside Sarajevo. The plan was to catch a bus 12 km east from Sarajevo, then hike a couple of hours up to cabin and stay the night there.
I found out about this through the couchsurfing website. Ivana, who is from Sarajevo, organised the hike and asked if anyone wanted to join. Of course, I jumped at the chance to hangout with some locals and do a bit more hiking.
It seems the girls partied pretty hard the night before so wanted to cancel the hike. But my pleas were successful and we met at the bus station in late afternoon. There was no bus running, so we grabbed a cab. Ivanan knew how to get a cheap taxi. It was an old beat up car and the driver smoked and played loud techno, but it was fun. We got dropped off at the bottom of a dirt road in the countryside. From there we hiked up and along the dirt road. It wasn't the most spectacular of walking paths, as it was dirt road the whole way. But it was lovely weather and there were views of Sarajevo behind us that we enjoyed on our frequent breath-catching breaks.
Arriving at our destination was very interesting. It was a very basic, handbuilt, wooden house/cabin. The owner, Dragan, is a local man who built this place with his son. They live there all year round, but over summer many people come to see him and stay over. It's usually an all night drinking/smoking session and he also prepares food and sells beer there. I think it was a kind of business, but really didn't feel like that. And Ivana, who has been there several times said he usually doesn't charge her to stay, just for food and beer.
We had a few beers on arrival sitting on the picnic benches on the patio. It was very nice and chill. I fancied a walk further up as the sun set, but the others wanted a rest, so I went alone. I was a bit tipsy from a few beers and a shot of the local spirit - rakia (yuck!). So it was fun scrambling along a little path in hope of finding a good sunset point. I didn't find a special place, but enjoyed hiking through some forest as the bright moon was rising over the top of the hills. I finished off the bottle of beer I'd brought with me, took a few blurry photos and dandered back to the cabin.
By the time I got back, it was dark and a group of six Polish and on French had arrived. The Poles were traveling together in a campervan and had just come from some amazing-sounds camping/partying in the forests of Montenegro. They were all nice, sociable and a few of them spoke good English. I think two or three of them were doctors, but they all seemed like party animals. The one French guy sat by himself and didn't say much, but he looked pretty content.
After introductions, the girls and I got some food. Dragan served us bread, local cheese, sausage and delicious tomatoes with plenty of cold beer.
The night got a bit blurry after that. The Polish guys were really cool and they brought the French guy into the group and soon we were all drinking absinth together and having a merry old time. When it became cold, we moved into the cabin and Dragon lit a fire in the stove and played some Bob Marley and Buena Vista Social Club.
Those cats stayed up most of the night, but the Rakia and Absinthe had hit me hard. When I overheard myself say to one of the Polish girls across the full table of people "Do you wanna come outside and see the moon with me", I knew it was time to call it a night. So after a brief glimpse of the moon and other cheesy chat-up lines, I grabbed my sleeping bag and lay down on a bench in the corner for some firelight shuteye.
I found out about this through the couchsurfing website. Ivana, who is from Sarajevo, organised the hike and asked if anyone wanted to join. Of course, I jumped at the chance to hangout with some locals and do a bit more hiking.
It seems the girls partied pretty hard the night before so wanted to cancel the hike. But my pleas were successful and we met at the bus station in late afternoon. There was no bus running, so we grabbed a cab. Ivanan knew how to get a cheap taxi. It was an old beat up car and the driver smoked and played loud techno, but it was fun. We got dropped off at the bottom of a dirt road in the countryside. From there we hiked up and along the dirt road. It wasn't the most spectacular of walking paths, as it was dirt road the whole way. But it was lovely weather and there were views of Sarajevo behind us that we enjoyed on our frequent breath-catching breaks.
Arriving at our destination was very interesting. It was a very basic, handbuilt, wooden house/cabin. The owner, Dragan, is a local man who built this place with his son. They live there all year round, but over summer many people come to see him and stay over. It's usually an all night drinking/smoking session and he also prepares food and sells beer there. I think it was a kind of business, but really didn't feel like that. And Ivana, who has been there several times said he usually doesn't charge her to stay, just for food and beer.
We had a few beers on arrival sitting on the picnic benches on the patio. It was very nice and chill. I fancied a walk further up as the sun set, but the others wanted a rest, so I went alone. I was a bit tipsy from a few beers and a shot of the local spirit - rakia (yuck!). So it was fun scrambling along a little path in hope of finding a good sunset point. I didn't find a special place, but enjoyed hiking through some forest as the bright moon was rising over the top of the hills. I finished off the bottle of beer I'd brought with me, took a few blurry photos and dandered back to the cabin.
By the time I got back, it was dark and a group of six Polish and on French had arrived. The Poles were traveling together in a campervan and had just come from some amazing-sounds camping/partying in the forests of Montenegro. They were all nice, sociable and a few of them spoke good English. I think two or three of them were doctors, but they all seemed like party animals. The one French guy sat by himself and didn't say much, but he looked pretty content.
After introductions, the girls and I got some food. Dragan served us bread, local cheese, sausage and delicious tomatoes with plenty of cold beer.
The night got a bit blurry after that. The Polish guys were really cool and they brought the French guy into the group and soon we were all drinking absinth together and having a merry old time. When it became cold, we moved into the cabin and Dragon lit a fire in the stove and played some Bob Marley and Buena Vista Social Club.
Those cats stayed up most of the night, but the Rakia and Absinthe had hit me hard. When I overheard myself say to one of the Polish girls across the full table of people "Do you wanna come outside and see the moon with me", I knew it was time to call it a night. So after a brief glimpse of the moon and other cheesy chat-up lines, I grabbed my sleeping bag and lay down on a bench in the corner for some firelight shuteye.
Sarajevo in the distance.
My hiking/drinking partners; Ana and Ivana.
The cabin.
Sunset.
Late night beers with Dragan and the Poles.
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