But before I do pack my bags, clean the apartment and shuffle off to the airport, here are a few of my impressions of this interesting city ...
When I arrived here the city was covered in a thick blanket of snow. This was quite exciting and a first ever experience for me.
... my first image on arriving in Sarajevo ...
The snow cover lasted only a week or so, then it rained for a couple of days, then the sun came out and the snow of course disappeared ... unfortunately the temperatures didn't rise when the snow melted, in fact it remained very cold with minus degrees greeting me most mornings when I ventured out of my centrally heated apartment - brrrrr.
But while the snow was there, it gave the city a bright and crisp appearance. And it gave this wanderer lots of joy to explore the landscape through this white powdery stuff.
Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos
Serbian Orthodox Bascilica - built late 1800s
... not even the snow and chilly weather
keeps these fellas from their game of chess ...
Sacred Heart RC Cathedral - built late 1800s
Running through the centre of Sarajevo is the Miljacka River - very low at this time of year, but once the snows in the highlands melt, it turns into a fairly significant waterway ...
Several bridges - both pedestrian and vehicular cross the river - including the Latin Bridge ( above ) and the Make-Haste-Slowly Bridge for pedestrians ( below ) ...
... slim pickings for these city pigeons ...
At Mejdan pavillion ...
... Mr Orangina doesn't seem to mind the snow ...
The city has a huge variety of architectural style, reflecting the different eras and the styles and needs of its many different occupiers over the centuries ...
Sarajevo National Theatre ...
Eternal Flame
memorial to the victims of WWII
City Market ...
Museum of Contemporary Art ...
Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina ...
National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina ...
Academy of Fine Arts ...
Mali Park - mid afternoon snow-scape ...
A fine sample of Steam-Punk Art in Hastahana childrens' Park ...
Fun on the Funicular with a touch of street art ...
University of Sarajevo building and then General Post Office Building ...
elaborate interior of GPO ...
Due to its long and rich history of religious and cultural variety, Sarajevo was sometimes called the "Jerusalem of the Balkans".
It is the only major European city to have a mosque, Catholic church,
Orthodox church and synagogue within the same neighbourhood ...
Ali Pasha's Mosque ...
Ferhadija dzamija Mosque ...
Emporer's Mosque ...
... the first mosque to be built (1457) after the Ottoman conquest of Bosnia.
It was built by Isaković-Hranušić who dedicated it to the Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, the conqueror of Constantinople ...
What impressed me with this mosque was that the muezzin actually climbs to the top of the minaret and sings the hauntingly beautiful midday "call to prayer" unaided by a microphone. His deep crystal-clear voice echoing around the city. Most mosques these days use a loudspeaker system and maybe a recording for the call.
Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque ...
Ciglane Mosque ...
... quite a break from the traditional mosque structure ...
Sarajevo City Centre Tower block ...
... with its glitzy 5 floored shopping mall ...
But by far, my most favourite building in Sarajevo is this newly completed office block with its unique shape and rusted iron cladding - well done whoever you are ...
So it's one last sunset from my apartment window
over the snowy roof tops of Sarajevo ...
... and one last Caffe Creme at the Metropolis ...
my fav coffee at my fav cafe ...
... and there's my chariot-in-the-sky ( with its bent propellers !!! )
waiting to whisk me off to my next exciting destination ...
... stay tuned ...
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