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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. A 17th century explorer described it as a 'rainbow arch', 'thrown from rock to rock as high as the sky'. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We travel the Balkans seeking out food, accommodation and the best things to do in the Balkans so youll save time travel planning & travel like a local. Straddling the Neretva River, this bridge links the two parts of the old town together. 1,426. There will be lots of handshaking and high-fives at this point; its excellent! An hour? You will receive a unique code. 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. We saw signs advertising buses from Munich for about 14 I believe, so its really not that expensive. Please make sure that the water level is high enough before planning your bridge jump. Divers hurled themselves from a 24-metre (79-ft) high Ottoman-era bridge in the Bosnian town of Mostar on Sunday, staging a centuries-old contest even though the COVID-19 pandemic prevented many . Posted August 22, 2013. It all depends on what season you go in. Its an incredible feeling as you sink below the water and have the sudden realization that youve done it! Also, a bunch of tourists have died here over the years, so yes, you can die. from. But if you do the practice jumps and then decide that the full jump is not for you, you only have to pay the initial 10 Euros. Proper bridge jumping technique needs get approved: at first, youll get a couple of jumps to prove that you can do it. Celebrate it by going out for a couple of beers afterwards. Like this post? You cant miss it. That was before I'd even really thought about just how high it was or what my family might think. I went up onto the edge of the bride and heaved myself over the railing. Walk along or get into some adventure on the Neretva River 3. There are market stools for a few hundred metres either side of the bridge. But my thinking was, if so many other people can do it, then why would it be so bad for me? In 2004 the bridge reopened, and from that time, it has remained one of the most famous and unique attractions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Once youve spoken to the team and decided you definitely want to jump, they will give you a wetsuit and take you out for a few practice jumps. Home > Mostar Bridge Jump Guide (From Someone Who Jumped). We live in Croatia, and are always exploring the region. Its also a great place to take a photo of the divers in action. And of course, whenever you look into visiting Mostar, you come across their famous bridge . To hear. Mostar and Medjugorje Small Group Tour from Split or Trogir. . 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 original Stari Most managed to stand for staggering 427 years, through two world wars. Yes, people have died jumping off Mostar Bridge. We travel & write about food, accomm & the best things to do in the Balkans. When it was finally my turn to jump, the sinking feeling finally set in that this was real and that, yes I have to jump! Some thousand tourists and residents of BiH were watching the jumps which are a tradition for Mostar's young men to jump from the Old Bridge in the cold Neretva River. As you will read below, once you pay to jump once, you become a member for life and can jump for free. My wife and I visited Mostar as part of a day trip from Dubrovnik. Page 1 of 2 | Single page The last time I was in the Bosnian and Herzegovinian city of Mostar I stood on the gravel stones beneath the shallow river that winds it's way underneath the Stari Most bridge and watched a 19-year-old Saudi . So, thats how I found myself standing on the edge of the bridge, heart pounding, staring at the abyss below. I was preparing myself for jumps all year round. They require proof of this at the border to let you in. fantastic pictures and place is amazing to visit there. There are always a couple of guys from the dive club hanging around the bridge and theyre usually wearing swimming suits. The dive instructor will stand over in the middle of the bridge and help you to step over the railing one person at a time. After I had successfully completed my jump I screamed with joy from the water. Facts about the Old Bridge. Such as the one below which was taken during the annual diving competition they still hold there. I did it in peak summer and the water levels were still fine, though a little lower than spring/autumn when it's rained a lot more. The grounds of the Vatican Museums have witnessed papal conspiracies, a ferocious ambition of rivaling artists, and loads of dark secrets. region. Ok, thats a joke! The nearby airport is called Mostar International Airport and its only a 10-15 minute drive outside the heart of the city. The tradition of jumping is 451 years old. They say that only the most skilled and best trained should jump, and that certainly wasnt me. Be sure to record your jump and share it on Facebook! Just before sunset, the cream-colored stone surface of Stari Most turns golden, shimmering upon the beautifully renovated old town of Mostar. They know how to tease the crowds to gather the next 25 to qualify a 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. OK, now weve covered a few basic concerns; lets get onto the juicy bits, how you go about jumping the Stari Most. the instructor will tell you to remain calm. 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. Lawrence Listo, the famous Mostarian swallow, last years winner, who has won the title ten times, reveals that he was never more ready than this year. Better yet, as you come back above the surface, you are greeted by dozens of spectators clapping and cheering you for your effort. The dive cub will take you through everything you need to do for the jump. Before jumping off, listen to your diving instructors final orders and take deep breaths. All rights reserved. Make sure someone takes photos of you Unfortunately I didnt get the best photos of me doing it and Im gutted about that. Alternatively, just rent a car and they should handle anything like that for you! Take time to inspect the Muslibegovi House 4. Dubrovnik is 81 kilometers (51 miles) away. After looking online, we soon found that Mostar was by far one of the nicest places to visit. After nine years of labor, the Old Bridge of Mostar was finally completed in 1566. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Bizarre Globe Hopper. After extensive research, the Old Bridge was rebuilt between 2001 - 2004 at the cost of about 5 million Euros. 37.76. What To Pack For Greece ? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Your short flight has a speed nearing 80 km/h. Note: Some posts may contain affiliate links. I dont know how she expected me to react, however, if she knows me at all, then she should have predicted my immediate reaction . per adult. On New Year's Day a few years ago. The water is frigid and will help keep you at least a little warm. Stari Most is 13 ft (4 meters) wide, 100 ft (30 . Id say wear it as the water really is cold! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. july 29, 2018 23:27 gmt. Theres another bridge a few hundred metres down and you can head there and get a side-on view of the bridge if that helps. And thats when I launched myself off the side of the bridge into the river below. Of course, tourists are briefed for jumping off safely and accustoming their bodies to the cold. Built by the Ottoman architect Mimar Hayruddin in 1566, the Mostar Bridge (Stari Most) stood in place for over 400 years, connecting the town's Bosniak and Croatian neighbourhoods. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. If anything goes wrong for whatever reason, multiple dive club members are around to help. 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. Hows the jump, then? It doesnt leave you many options; I mean, who wants to be a complete failure!? We took a day trip out to Mostar from Split. But as long as you jump, as theyve instructed, youll be fine. Thank you! Scared? This website uses cookies to improve your experience. In the Bosnian parts of Mostar, around 60-70% of houses were totally destroyed or badly damaged. Sure, theres always a chance you could hurt yourself with a slightly dodgy landing, but the whole team is there on hand to jump in and help you. Legends tell that the architect, Mimar Hajruddin, had to make it or break it. Or perhaps you rotate backward on the way down and land on your back. We witness a daring and incredibly high bridge jump in Mostar, Bosnia. Still up to it and ready to leap? Expect craggy peaks, turquoise rivers, dark tunnels, and ancient viaducts. It was blown up by Bosnian-Croat forces in November 1993. Imagine you are looking down off the bridge in the direction you jump (with the current flowing away from you), the dive school is to your right. Igor came running down to the river to meet me; You are no horse! Keep reading to find out more on how you can jump, including how much it costs and whatnot. Many locals can tell you openly that its definitely not safe to jump off Mostar Bridge. In my opinion, hell yeah! He entered the competition for the first time in 2000. Here a list of things to do in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They will take you back up to the bridge and ask you if you are still 100% sure you still want to jump. This might sound like a lot just for a jump. His students later designed the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and helped to create Taj Mahal. Also, be aware that its very deep below the bridge, so theres very little chance of you going so low that you hit bottom. The answer to this question will never be, yes, it is 100% safe!. Slipping is dangerous because then you cannot prepare your body for hitting the water. It popped into my head again the other day. When driving through Bosnia Herzegovina, one of the best things you can do is the Mostar Bridge jump! Mostar Bridge is standing up. He says that unfortunately this year, none of the long-standing jumpers will dare to perform swallow flight. Its a fair deal, as eager tourists are willing to pay for the show and pictures, and the diver still risks his life for the thrill. Mostar bridge jumping Mostar Old Town Equally as beautiful as the bridge but perhaps without the drama of potentially diving to your death. Yesss, I will be, but I think You should, otherwise it could be dangerous. Thank goodness you didn't hurt yourself! Tell me about it! Thanks! They will ask you to jump a few times until you get the technique correct. We saw few local youth jumping from the bridge. After jumping off a 3ft bench a handful of times to prove I could do it, I asked Igor if I had a good technique and if I was ready to jump off the bridge; he said I jumped like a horse, that I would never be ready to jump off the bridge, but if I still wanted to do it then now was the time. Even the local diving club is named Mostarski Ikari. The bridge, a masterpiece of Ottoman Turkish architecture, was commissioned by none other then Suleiman the Magnificent, and designed by Mimar Hayruddin, a student of the famous Mimar Sinan. How long did it take to train and then get approved for the jump? My technique was to stand there and take three deep breaths. Mostari tradition dictates that young men from Mostar must jump from the Stari Most into the cold waters of the Neretva river as a rite of passage into adulthood. How can you say no to that? Once he has enough money and he judges the time is right, hell put on a bit of a show. This might vary depending on the time of year. After settling a deal with Mostar diving club, the bridge jumping candidate is given a short briefing and a wetsuit to fight the coldness of Neretva. Split has become one of the hottest destinations in the Balkan peninsula. Mostarian jumps are the most important tourist event and brand for Mostar and all of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and during the times of traditional jumps from the Old Bridge the city of Mostar is the most visited. Jumping off bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Mostar Old Bridge is also known as Stari Most, Mostar Most, Bosnia Bridge, Mostar Bridge, Mostar Stari Most, Mostarski Most, or Stari Most. Water temperature hardly ever reaches 10 degrees, so it will be a cold dip for sure. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Situated not far behind the Stari Most bridge, this stunning mosque is actually a really nice place to visit if you're looking to kill a bit of time. We managed to preserve the tradition and this is one of the most beautiful news from the city, even though only bad news are constantly coming from here. An Adventurous World (2014-23). The bridge spans the Neretva river in the old town of Mostar, the city to which it gave the name. It's only 23 metres high, think you can handle it? No matter what the weather, someone will jump off the bridge like a diving. Since that time, the bridge was rebuilt in 2004 and today, serves as the main tourist attraction in Mostar. Luckily, his work was celebrated as the widest man-made arch in the world! You can look down off the railings from the top and get a feel for how high it is. But, as you rise back up to the surface, you're greeted with a round of applause from all the spectators and you really do feel like a bit of a hero. Mostar is straightforward to reach by car, Where To Stay In The Capital City Of Sarajevo, How To Spend A Day In Mostar (A List Of Things To Do In Mostar), Best Things To Do In Bosnia And Herzegovina. Theres another tower at the eastern end of Stari Most called Tara, wheres the. I knew I only had one shot at this thing. Subscribe to our travel newsletter here. Floods swiped away much of its footpath in December 2000, but once again UNESCO came to help and restored the Crooked Bridge to its former glory. However, most of the jumpers will be from Mostar. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Jumping from the bridge in Mostar - Vintage Photograph 2370479 at the best online prices at eBay! Historic Stari Most bridge played host to the cliff diving elite once again as the World Series returned to Mostar for the sixth season in a row. It's a postcard in reality. 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