mostar bridge jump tradition

Privacy Policy. It is a kind of tradition that has been transformed into competitions since at all times the young people of Mostar compete with courage by jumping in the river from the height of its 29m. Theres an incredible amount of excitement both in the build up to the jump and the aftermath. With a rich history dating back to 1557, the bridge was infamously and devastatingly destroyed by Croat forces during the Croat-Bosniak War in 1993. The history of the battles that raged in the area is also of interest. Crooked Bridge is just a 5-minute stroll away from the Old Bridge and surrounded by restaurants. My technique was to stand there and take three deep breaths. It was made with 456 blocks of white stone, held together by a system of anchors and dowels. If you ever go back to the Stari most bridge and wish to jump, then you can do so for free! A man jumps from the Old Bridge during the 454th traditional diving competition in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many tourists have also had a change of hearts before seeing the bridge and standing up there looking down: 24-28 meters doesnt sound like much, but it looks daunting for sure. The Ultimate Guide to Mostars Old Bridge: Bridge Jumping, Legends, and Ghosts of War. Mostar was developed further during the Austro-Hungarian period in the 19th and 20th centuries. Stari most which translates to old bridge is a reconstruction of a 16th century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it crosses the Neretva river and connects two parts of the city. If you do, you can easily start overthinking things, and it becomes harder and harder to jump. The original bridge stood for 427 years before it was destroyed during the war in 1993. Also, a bunch of tourists have died here over the years, so yes, you can die. Once done, you are more than welcome to jump in again. One of the best things to see in Mostar are the bridge divers. Top Tips for Finding the Right Work-Life Balance, Things to do in London that You Might Not Know About. Here is a list of things to do in Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina one of the most diverse places in Europe. I was preparing myself for jumps all year round. On Monday, the people of the town of Mostar gathered to commemorate the 27th Anniversary of the destruction of the town's iconic bridge during the Yugoslav Wars. Mostar was even named after the bridge keepers (mostari). Since that time, the bridge was rebuilt in 2004 and today, serves as the main tourist attraction in Mostar. Another option is to fly there. Marvel at Stari Most Old Bridge 2. But it can reach mid to high 20s in Summer. Reuters Under measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, only 100 people were. Even the local diving club is named Mostarski Ikari. The most iconic landmark of the city, and perhaps of all of Herzegovina, the Stari Most (Old [] If that bridge was located in most other countries in Europe, I feel like you would struggle to get permission from local authorities to do such a jump. When they deem enough has been collected, they please the crowd by performing an elaborate jump from the bridge, plunging down the 24 meters to the surface of the water its quite a thrilling sight! It costs 10 for the practice jump and 20 for the actual jump. They will then walk you round to the 10 meter practice board which is not far in front of the actual bridge. A professional will teach you with a few trial jumps how to dive into the river safely before you are allowed to perform the jump from the bridge itself. If you arrive there during a busy time of day, then you likely wont even need to visit the office. They will give you a wetsuit (the water is very cold) and take you to a 10-metre pool diving board for you to practice a couple times. I am happy to report that nearly 400 years later this tradition is still very much alive. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Learn how your comment data is processed. I want to fit it in to my day trip to Mostar and am trying to see how much time I need to set aside for this. Some jump steeply, another sitting in a Turkish way, some jump into the water in pair, or three persons at once; and they all happily go out on the shore, ascending to the rocks, they go to the end of the bridge to receive the gifts of the vizier and the champion wrote famous travel writer Evliya elebi while observing jumpers from the Old Bridge in Mostar. Proper bridge jumping technique needs get approved: at first, youll get a couple of jumps to prove that you can do it. Also, be aware that its very deep below the bridge, so theres very little chance of you going so low that you hit bottom. Finally, and the option we had, was to drive there. Like this post? At least one of the Mostar bridge jumping deaths was caused by heart attack: the contrast between a hot summer day and nearly freezing water can take its toll even for a healthy person. Thus, on July 30, on the day of the 451st traditional jumping from the Old Bridge, Mostar will be the center of the world. Mostar Bridge Jump: Read This Before Jumping Off Mostar Bridge! Would you ever be as stupid as me and jump off the bridge at Mostar? Such as you leaning forward too much and hitting your face/stomach as you enter the water. The shape of the bridge itself also has its own story, it is said that it represents life that the bridge represents one-half of the circle, and its reflection in water is the other half of the circle, and this whole picture represents life. Before you firmly decide on whether or not you want to jump, head to the bridge itself and take a look for yourself. If, after reading this you still want to jump the Stari Most bridge, then I salute you! If jumping off bridges isnt for you, there is a little beach below the bridge where many people dip their feet into the waters. The biggest attraction on Mostar bridge has always been the group of young divers who jump in the freezing river underneath. Here they show you the exact way to jump and how to keep yourself level on the way down. Back up in the clubhouse, they will fill out a certificate that you can take home. These guys are experienced jumpers and divers and will jump a few times each day once they get enough interest (and donations) from passers-by. Pekaras (bakeries) offer the traditional Bosnian pies and pastries filled with either meat, cheese or spinach, so if you havent tasted them, do it in Mostar! 100 meters from Stari Most. It costs 20 Euros to sign up for the bridge jumping into the water and an additional 10 Euros for your practice jumps from a smaller 10-meter platform. In Summer, the water is at its lowest and so the distance is highest. That averages . the instructor will tell you to remain calm. Swim to the shore, where diving club members are already waiting for you, ready to help you out of the cold water. Before jumping off, listen to your diving instructors final orders and take deep breaths. This school has been on the bridge for hundreds of years and they are essentially its guardians. Mostar (UK: / m s t r /, US: / m o s t r, m s-/; Serbian Cyrillic: , pronounced ()) is a city and the administrative center of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the historical capital of Herzegovina.. Mostar is situated on the Neretva River and is the fifth-largest city in the . On New Year's Day a few years ago. Almost as legendary as the bridge itself is a photo of jumpers jumping from a 27-meter high bridge into the crystal water of the icy Neretva River. The Ikari - the flying men of Mostar - are keeping a 500-year-old tradition alive. While many locals say that the Old Bridge is haunted, to our misfortune we didnt catch any ghost stories. Check out our article on this gorgeous trip by train from Sarajevo to Mostar! In person, the bridge does look incredibly high up and it is very daunting. The first bridge in Mostar was built by the Turks, under the command of Suleyman the Magnificent, already in the 16th century. After all, jumping of Mostar Bridge is a 450-year old tradition. I think it combines its striking Ottoman architecture, the beautiful blue Neretva river it crosses, the divers who leap from the jump into the depths of the river, and the long history which has seen it destroyed and then restored from the rubble. Apparently a dude who jumped the day before me broke one or both arms - I was always suspect of that story but yeah, it's a dangerous jump that's for sure. The. The surrounding Stari Grad, the Old City of Mostar, is a perfect example of a historically important multicultural town with pre-Ottoman, eastern Ottoman, and Mediterranean architecture. The Old Bridge of Mostar has been an essential part of Mostars history right from the beginning. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Local tradition says that a 16-year-old boy must jump from the bridge as a right of passage, but more importantly, it is said that the boys life will be a complete failure if he doesnt jump. Being a symbol for the town and for the whole of Bosnia, as soon as the war was over there were meticulous plans to rebuild it exactly the same as it was before the war, right down to the smallest detail. Amazing. Jumping off bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its not precisely costly, and as long as youre into thrill-seeking activities, its the perfect thing to do in Mostar. Youll need to do more if you struggle to get the technique right. Prince of Neretva, only once managed to get close to the record of Mostars swallows like Emir Bali, who won 13 titles as the best jumper, and won the most titles in the history of the jumps in Mostar. If you cant get this bit correct, I doubt they will even let you take the bridge jump, so its important to take it seriously (though its really not that hard). The jump costs 35 (10 for the training and 25 for the Old Bridge jump). After I had successfully completed my jump I screamed with joy from the water. Be sure to record your jump and share it on Facebook! And I can personally validate that this is true. In fact, when you head inside, you'll see images all over the walls from up to 50 years ago. Straddling the Neretva River, this bridge links the two parts of the old town together. Then it's time to jump off the . The Mostar Bridge Jumping Festival, a local tradition which involves auspicious folk hurling themselves into it off a Bridge! Athletes were seen getting ready to jump before taking the . But questions I have know. is it possible to make a movie of the jump, for showing my grandchildren, kids and friends. What they usually do is jump for the tourists, but every now and then a foreigner comes along who is stupid enough to want to jump themselves. I must admit that every year I enjoy jumping more and more, I think I am ready enough to win the first place again. Hell eventually reach his climax of wowing the crowd with a death-defying Stari Most bridge jump. A painstakingly faithful replica was completed in 2004. If you love meat, you might disagree, though. Stari Most was constructed by the Ottomans under the commission of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16 th century. Posted August 22, 2013. This is a bucket list adventure for me. After living in Croatia for 5 weeks, we decided we should drive through and stop off in Bosnia Herzegovina before heading back home to the UK. Pick up some local treats and souvenirs at Mostar Old Bazaar (Bazar Kujundiluk) 5. All rights reserved. You'll find me working out of a cafe in Bali, perhaps on a riverboat in Brazil or maybe even an airport lounge in New Delhi. Hows the jump, then? Those are the people you want. I wish you the best of luck and, most of all, have fun! Take time to inspect the Muslibegovi House 4. Famous for the old bridge of Mostar "Stari Most", which spans the river Neretva, and for the daring bridge jumper, countless visitors flock to visit this charming town. 4.00 USA - 19-Aug-19 - . How can you say no to that? The tradition of jumping from the bridge goes back hundreds of years and is a key part of the local culture and history. If youve heard about the ghosts of Mostar, please share the stories in the comments below! It has two towers that historically housed the Mostari (bridge keepers). Anyways, I was committed to doing it and soon found out everything I needed to know from the locals. That is, of course, as long as you jump correctly and don't hurt yourself. "It looks like the arch of a rainbow," the travel writer Evliya elebi remarked in the 1600s. I would'nt do it at the mostar bridge, a jump would be enough. One of the dive instructors will also be there to steady you and help you. You will receive a unique code. It's only 23 metres high, think you can handle it? Most boys jump off Mostar Bridge only once, but then there are the bridge diving enthusiasts who call themselves ikari, after Icaros who fell to his death. By this point, there will be lots of tourists around with cameras preparing to record you. @Macca Sherifi, what is the jumping technique? All I could think about was do not fuck this up, do NOT fuck this up, while the dozens of tourists who were all clamouring to take my photo were probably thinking the opposite; I really hope he fucks this up.. , mostar bridge jump tradition yes, you can take home th century costly, and long... Way to jump the Stari most bridge and wish to jump off the bridge was rebuilt in 2004 today! 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