Memory Lane: Mostar’s Old Bridge and Bazaar Streets

Mostar was our day trip from Dubrovnik, and it instantly felt like stepping into a different world. The day was bright and sunny, the river was that unreal turquoise, and the Old Bridge (Stari Most) looked even more dramatic in real life.

We saw it first from the river side, then again from the main street where the town funnels you towards it. Divers were already hanging around, waiting for the crowd to build before making the jump. I didn’t expect the cobblestones either, or how old the whole place feels under your feet.

The bridge itself has a heavier story than I realised at the time. The original was built in the 16th century during the Ottoman era, destroyed in 1993 during the war, and later rebuilt using traditional techniques. Today, the Old Bridge area is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it genuinely feels like a place that has had to fight to exist.

We wandered through the bazaar streets, past the Pasha Mosque area, and yes, past plenty of “designer” handbags that definitely did not come from Milan. Eventually we walked far enough away from the crowds to slow down and stop for something warm. I had sirnica (the cheese-filled one), while my husband went for a classic burek. Simple, filling, and exactly what we needed after hours of wandering. Somehow it tasted even better because we’d earned it.

It was only a day trip, but Mostar didn’t feel like a quick stop. It felt like a place you carry with you.