Hiking with Heidi (Part 1)

Tour Phrase

“It’s only 15 minutes walk back to the hotel – and it always seems quicker going back up hill!”

That’s Heidi, our super fit, mountain walking, cheese making guide from Switzerland (yes that’s right!). For every time allocation that Heidi gives us, I have to double it for the less fit of us.

We are on a tour of The Balkans – 7 countries in two weeks.

Mostar, Bosnia

Heidi, Me, Alex
Kinza, Darcy, Nick

“Jump! Jump!”

We wait on the bridge for the guy in speedos to jump. He works the crowd – pouring water on himself, flexing his limbs, leaning over the parapet, almost going….but then retreats. There’s not enough money in the collection tin yet to make taking the plunge worth while.

We do see a few ‘brave’ or maybe silly men dive into the river. Rather them than me.

Sarajevo

Roughly 90% of the buildings in Sarajevo still have bullet holes in them. It is quite sobering to see; that a war nearly 30 years ago still leaves its marks physically and mentally. I remember seeing the siege of Sarajevo on the news but not really understanding the reasons behind it. I’m still not sure that I do; the Balkans have a really complicated history that is still being lived in the present.

Belgrade

An action packed day featuring a visit to a castle, an informative walking tour, a stunning golden crypt, some fun with chocolate fountains, rounded off by afternoon tea at a posh hotel. Oh yes and a hail storm the day before!

Sofia

“Not my problem!” The angry guide tells the irate Italian women in the queue in front of us. We have been waiting nearly an hour. The Italian ladies have absorbed us into their group after we discover that they only let ten people at a time, for 10 minutes, and a massive tour group has just arrived to go in before us. The angry guide has also prebooked a tour at 10:15am. The old man behind the gate reluctantly lets us in at just before 10am. We bunch together at the cash desk sucking a Japanese man into our group too. The angry guide tries pushing in front; the Italian ladies don’t take any of that!

Now we wait outside the chapel, the Unesco rated, Boyana church. The big tour group is running late inside. Creaking, the tiny door opens, and the last few remaining people come out. The angry tour guide is there, pushing in. We ‘shove’ our tickets towards the lady, who lets us in plus two other ladies. Once inside we can admire the wonderful paintings adorning the walls and ceilings. Our time overuns too. I think I hear the bell ring once – the guide impatiently waiting outside.

We take our victory photo in the garden.