At the end of the month I like to look back on what I’ve done and where I’ve been. On how I felt and what was on my mind. It turned out that my Instagram pictures actually give a pretty good impression. So, I decided to put them together in a blog post. Here’s November where I stayed two weeks in Sarajevo before I took my bike for a ride to the Croatian coast. An exciting month full of social stuff, warm showers, blue skies and new opportunities. Scroll down to find out more!
Hiking in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Pretty busy for a peak without view. Humanitarian Tour to Crni Vrh on Igman.
˝Wild soul, warm heart˝ The Wild One & me hiking on Trebević
˝A walk in the woods˝, the abandoned Olympic bobsled track
One of the things I love about Sarajevo is that it’s surrounded by mountains. This is Trebević and that beauty in the back is Jahorina, isn’t it wonderful? And seriously, this is only a 3-4 hour hike from city centre. As a Dutchie I’m used to dríve twice as much before I could even get a glimpse of some peaks. So yeah, for me this is really special. And I love it ?
Sarajevo, A Concrete Gem Amidst Mighty Mountains
Biking in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Up up up to Bjelašnica. I’m back on the road again… By bike! After a 7 month hike I’m reunited with my old love. She’s gonna take me to Buna, Neum, the Croatian coast and hopefully back to Zagreb. No idea how long it’s going to take, no idea what the weather will be like, but we’re gonna give it a try ?
After a pretty late start in Sarajevo, I biked up up up until I found a nice place to camp. Oeff, I forgot how tough biking on a fully loaded bike is. And oeff, there are some muscles that I didn’t use for a long long time! During the night the temperature dropped below zero, but believe it or not, the morning sun is warm. I think I even got sunburned today! This is a view on Bjelašnica on the right and Visočica in front. One of my favorite mountains ánd favorite roads through the Bosnian mountains. Happy to be back!
Might be a brand new road, it’s a pain in the ass. Or legs. So much steeper than it seems. When you stop it’s difficult to get yourself rolling again. If you don’t stop, you don’t get to see the views behind… Bikers issues. This is my second day on the bike and I kind of realize that on a bicycle you really have to push through sometimes. It’s a completely different sport. I actually have to go much deeper than when I’m hiking. It’s interesting, it’s painful, but most of all it’s super, super beautiful. All of it.
And that snowy mountain is Treskavica. It’s one thing to cross all those mountains on foot, you get to feel and experience them. That’s what I did last year when I hiked the Via Dinarica White Trail. By bicycle on the other hand, you get to see them. You see how they are connected, how they form the landscape, but also how each mountain has its own character. It’s own shape with it’s own specific features. This is perhaps why I like to go back to places, why I like explore both by bike and on foot. It’s like a puzzle that slowly starts to show an image. I need time to see that and I love the process of this image that is growing, getting its shape. While growing, shaping and forming they nestle themselves in me. Those mountains. I’d like to get to know them, because the more time you spend with them, the more I realize I don’t know them at all.
Hello Herzegovina! Such a good idea to make a detour on the south. Although it can get windy, it’s much much warmer. It feels like spring!
˝Servis Bicikla˝ It’s funny, this bicycle sign reminds of home. It’s a universal sign, I know, but still it feels Dutch. #fietsen And my bike is alright, one flat tire, but no need for a service yet.
Biking the Via Dinarica Blue Trail in Croatia
Hello blue sky! After taking this photo I rolled down into the Cetina canyon, gorgeous, but terribly cold. Couldn’t believe the difference with just a few minutes before. Later, while my tent turned into an iglo, I scrolled down all the blue sky photos I took. Oeff, nature is strong. And oeff, I’m so thankful to experience it all.
Brrrreautiful Bivak
Biking Via Dinarica Blue Trail, Omiš. Ok, I have to admit that I want to walk up that white rocky mountain there, pitch my tent far away from the road and enjoy this powerful feeling of sleeping alone in the wild. Instead I take a super long lunchbreak at the pier, stare at my bike and give my feverish body what it needs. Warmth and rest. Not so bad neither.
Looking back, thinking feeling writing
In the middle of a thought…
Split, Croatia. This is where I decided that it was enough for now. A perfect moment to stop. For now.
It’s a way of living. I choose to do so. I live on the road. I choose the Dinarides to do so. ~~~~~ I’m on my way. There’s no conclusion, I’m rather in the middle of a thought. “What is your message?” a friend asked. “I don’t know.” There are loads of things I want to say, stories I want to tell, thoughts I want to share, places I want to show. But a message? It would be good if I had one. One clear message. “That’s okay, then you are the one that opens doors.” I think he’s right. I open doors. ~~~~~ One week ago I opened a new door. One for myself. Or actually I closed one, which made it possible to open new doors. I decided to give up my house in Amsterdam, stopped the rent and CHOOSE to keep on doing what I’ve been doing for the past 18 months. ~~~~~ Trekking around, Exploring the Balkans, hiking the Dinarides and sharing my stories with the virtual world. ~~~~~ It’s a way of living. I choose to do so. I live on the road. I choose the Dinarides to do so. ~~~~~ Photo credits to Kristel without Instagram.
Jeheej! I’m nominated for the Dutch Hiking Blog Award!
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˝Last year Eva hiked many kilometers through the Dinaric Alps, on Vibram FiveFingers shoes. After that she went back to Amsterdam. Once she was there, she decided to continue with a new Adventure: walking back to the Balkans; ˝From Amsterdam to Sarajevo˝, again on FiveFinger shoes. While she’s hiking, she keeps a blog EVAdinarica Project where she shares her experiences in an open and honest way. Not only the beautiful side of the story, but also the difficult emotions and the things she struggles with. Especially that is what’s so special about her blog: it is honest and real.˝
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No need to say that I’m so so honored…
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Ok, so usually I don’t ask, but… sharing is caring. And voting too. So, if you like reading my stories and if you would like to support me keep on writing and hiking, please vote via the link in bio ?
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Thanks a million!
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Liefs,
Eva
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