Legs need to come together before I hit the water if I ever plan on having kids. He didn't stick the landing and dislocated his arm. After a few minutes, a small guy came to the front, climbed over the railings and launched himself into the air. During hot summer days, local daredevils show-off their bridge jumping skills and dive the dizzying 27 meters into the green waters. Every year there are two or three new jumpers from Serbia, Montenegro, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but unfortunately not from Mostar. According to the preliminary results of the 2013 Census of Population, Mostar is inhabited by 113,169 . Still up to it and ready to leap? Home Blog Adventures Mostar Bridge Jump: Read This Before Jumping Off Mostar Bridge! Any advice? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. And thats when I launched myself off the side of the bridge into the river below. In Australia, we achieve this by attempting to rapidly drink a 1.4L yard glass of beer while surrounded by friends and family. It is not a jump to take lightly. Go out for beers afterwards Youve just survived one of the scariest things of your life! fantastic pictures and place is amazing to visit there. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Bizarre Globe Hopper. Like this post? Men Yet I was climbing over the railing, so that I could willingly jump into the river. About us.. Many restaurants offer million-dollar views to the Old Bridge of Mostar, which alone qualifies for a romantic dinner. We travel & write about food, accomm & the best things to do in the Balkans. What did he do wrong? Dubrovnik is 81 kilometers (51 miles) away. Readmy backpacking travel to guide Mostar for information on accomodation, transport and places to eat and drink. Mar 6, 2017 - Old Bridge jumping traditional annual competition in diving organized every year in mid summer (end of July). mostar bridge jump injuries. 1218 mushie mushie . This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Just like its big brother, also this ancient bridge was also destroyed. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. She wasn't paralysed or anything, but she certainly fucked up the next few months of her life. Mostarski Ikari Diving Club has been officially operating since the end of the war in 1995. They say that only the most skilled and best trained should jump, and that certainly wasnt me. I read that for 25eu you can pay the diving club and they will train u for a bit and stuff. Some locals call Mostar the ghost town, haunted by itself. Bravely jumping off the bridge, they draw large crowds who want to see them perform their death-defying leaps into the Neretva river below. 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. When calculating risks, I usually ask how many people have died doing so (that was my main concern with Victoria Falls Bungee, as well, though I ended up doing it anyway). New Talgo trains are comfortable and have even free wifi! Swim to the shore, where diving club members are already waiting for you, ready to help you out of the cold water. All in all, it doesn't take long from booking the jump to actually doing it. Far too risky. Question Hello all, In the summer im going to visit Mostar in Bosnia, one of the most famous things there is the big bridge. Growing in confidence, I began explaining to other people that if . Home > Mostar Bridge Jump Guide (From Someone Who Jumped). In the Bosnian parts of Mostar, around 60-70% of houses were totally destroyed or badly damaged. It was lightly drizzling. It is traditional for the young men of the town to leap from the bridge into the Neretva. 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. Required fields are marked *. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Be prepared to the cold river and wear a wetsuit if its provided or just bathe in cold water. They will ask you to jump a few times until you get the technique correct. It is a stage at which Mostarian young men prove their courage by jumping in Neretva, and it is a kind of maturity exam. Find high-quality stock photos that you won't find anywhere else. Bad river conditions? Well of course, that evening while out drinking I met a few new travellers and one explained that he was going to jump tomorrow. How long did it take to train and then get approved for the jump? After all, jumping of Mostar Bridge is a 450-year old tradition. At least four deadly accidents are reported since 2012, along with countless serious injuries. If I slipped while climbing over the railing I would fall uncontrollably into the river below. A Canadian girl had joined us from one of the other hostels. Mostar and notably the Mostar Bridge, or Stari Most as its known locally, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovinas major tourist attractions. Over the course of the next three days, I didn't meet any other travellers that were planning on jumping. Despite its gentle appearance from afar, be aware that the bridge is a little slippery and has an incline, so be prepared and wear appropriate footwear. The water is shallow so you must do practice jumps first. Search from Mostar Jump stock photos, pictures and royalty-free images from iStock. 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. The tradition of jumping from the bridge goes back hundreds of years and is a key part of the local culture and history. If not, its just not for you. Medieval torture equipment exhibition in Toledo, Spain, peeks into the Middle Ages a time of the Inquisition and a system of extreme cruelty. Such as you leaning forward too much and hitting your face/stomach as you enter the water. If youve heard about the ghosts of Mostar, please share the stories in the comments below! #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } Mostar Bridge Jump Is Jumping Worth It? It may not surprise you to hear that he was also Australian. Personally, one jump was enough for me; but feel free to have another go if youre that way inclined! Here a list of things to do in Bosnia and Herzegovina. July 2018 marked 452nd annual Mostar bridge diving competition. Then, the instructor helps you through the crowds to the middle of the bridge and helps you climb over the railing. These cookies do not store any personal information. Know Before You Go He says that unfortunately this year, none of the long-standing jumpers will dare to perform swallow flight. Neretva is among the coldest rivers in the world. Now, this is not something you should decide to do willy-nilly because the waters are dangerous, and many people have been injured or even killed by merely choosing to try it for themselves. Your email address will not be published. She did not hit the water like a pin,she was shaped more like the letter G. Not ideal. Scared? Thanks for sharing this experience. In my honest opinion, hell yeah, its worth it! Readmy backpacking travel to guide Mostar formore information. As is normal with Stari Most bridge jumps, as soon someone is about to jump tourists begin to crowd around, mostly out of morbid curiosity. Even the initial flaws were honored. Crooked Bridge is just a 5-minute stroll away from the Old Bridge and surrounded by restaurants. 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. September 5, 2017 at 1:19 am. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. On November 9, 1993, Croat artillery. The art of bridge diving is entertaining to watch, so why not to support a diver and the club. The Old Bridge, Stari Most, is the heart and soul of Mostar: its the playground for local kids, lovers gazing at sun dipping below the banks of Neretva, bridge jumping adrenaline junkies, and souvenir shopping tourists. 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 history of the battles that raged in the area is also of interest. The original bridge stood for 427 years before it was destroyed in 1993 during the Croat-Bosniak War. Old Bridge) is a rebuilt 16th-century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina that crosses the river Neretva and connects the two parts of the city. Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: orientafricadive.com, +441291570953 Explore, Travel and dive the world with the African and Oriental Travel Company - African and Oriental Diving Company We went on a daytrip whilst staying in Dubrovnik. The injuries, such as broken bones, could get you into serious trouble in the water. I was hopeful for a similar result. Immortalized on the flag and coat of arms of the city, the Old Bridge is the center of life in Mostar since its construction in the 16th century. I'm 70 years of age, in good shape and there's still one scary moment to do. A professional diving athlete Andrej Beuc died here at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 2018. 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. I wouldnt have the courage for sure. We live in Croatia, and are always exploring the region. Head to my About page! 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.. The medieval village that exists on either side of the bridge is more interesting than the bridge itself. Her form through the air was not good. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Igor came running down to the river to meet me; You are no horse! 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. Risk of injuries is high, and even higher when the water level of Neretva River is at its lowest during the summer. Its also a great place to take a photo of the divers in action. Last year, he broke his finger at the competition and hurt his wrist, but he did not even think about giving up and still won the first place in such a condition. I had the stupid idea of doing jt about 3 hours ago at about 2 in the morning after a few drinks, Im alive but oh my am I fucking sore dude. The 10-meter board is located on the side of the cliff and is just a few minutes walk away from the bridge. As soon as he said this, I knewI would either have to jump the following day or never show my face again in Mostar. Feet looking excellent! Thankfully I did not have either of those things occur, but it must have been close. Mostar is small city in Bosnia, not far from Dubrovnik and Kotor. While the prospect of writing about my future travels excites me greatly, I would also like to share some stories from travels past. Either way, youll need to travel back up to the bridge to see the team, get changed, and pay. 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. Growing in confidence, I began explaining tootherpeople that if I had found someone else to jump with, I would have. @Macca Sherifi, what is the jumping technique? Primarily because neither Hamish nor Andyare athletes. Safe to Sightsee Without a Tour & Hotel Recommendations, Border Crossing to Montenegro by Bus Any Problems, Very good central hotel Sarajevo and Mostarar, See All Bosnia and Herzegovina Conversations, Has anyone travelled by train Mostar - Sarajevo, Car rental companies allowed into Bosnia - help clarify. Bridge jumping in Mostar, Bosnia. My first reaction after stepping was to wiggle my legs back and forth, a bit like a little kid does when jumping into a swimming pool. Good to know! */, Firstly, there was anAustralian T.V show titled. If you arrive there during a busy time of day, then you likely wont even need to visit the office. According to News.com.au, the Mostari Diving Club charges tourists 25 euros for their first jump, but once theyve successfully completed a dive, theyre free to dive again free of charge for life. To be honest, I was pretty stoked to see the crowds build and gather. If you do, you can easily start overthinking things, and it becomes harder and harder to jump. speckle park bull sales 2021 847-461-9794; mostar bridge jump injuries. The first Siege of Mostar was fought in 1992; the second Siege of Mostar lasted from 1993 to 1994. But the worst was gone in probably 2 days. 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. Hows the jump, then? There are rocks and branches beneath the bridge and currents can be strong. Then I hit the water. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. 2 girls in backpacking in bosniais it safe. Quite a few of the older buildings have . He never jumped on his feet. Just before sunset, the cream-colored stone surface of Stari Most turns golden, shimmering upon the beautifully renovated old town of Mostar. It doesn't leave you many options; I mean, who wants to be a complete failure! To be frank, all traditional Bosnian restaurants in Mostar were rather weak in our opinion. I should point out, that the jump in question is around 24m in height. As such, it doesnt really matter what you wear underneath. If you love meat, you might disagree, though. Pretty good. 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). That was indeed crazy! What To Pack For Albania A good party will definitely help cure the sting from that icy water. Better yet, as you come back above the surface, you are greeted by dozens of spectators clapping and cheering you for your effort. That would have made it difficult to bail out without losing face. As a means to avoid jumping, I told myselfthat I would only jump if I found another traveller to do it with. Mostaritradition 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. So technically, the current bridge is not old, but its still a replica of the old bridge. Required fields are marked *. My legs were thrown up over my head once I hit the water. Mostar is most known for its Old Bridge (Stari Most) - a gorgeous 400-plus year old bridge that was destroyed during the war, but reconstructed later and re-opened in 2004. Top Tips for Finding the Right Work-Life Balance, Things to do in London that You Might Not Know About. ? Thank you for sharing. Health and safety in places like the UK are stringent these days, and this jump is a novel and exciting way to get a hefty adrenaline boost. Is this safe? 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. That day, tourists from all over the world are inevitable guests of this pearl. The national plates, which consist of sausages and grilled meat, come at around 15-20 KM (7,50-10 ) and easily quench the hunger of two. Tell me about it! This year, as in previous years, participants will certainly come from all countries of the former Yugoslavia. Less risk of injury, etc? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. I knew I only had one shot at this thing. Hopefully they discourage you from taking a leap. While bridge jumping from Stari Most has become increasingly popular among adrenaline-thirsty tourists, I wouldnt do it or even recommend it. The scars of war run still deep and bullet-ridden facades can be seen around Mostar, especially in the eastern part. Interestingly the old bridge area is fascinating as the bridge with its Ottoman buildings, which houses cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops. I must admit that every year I enjoy jumping more and more, I think I am ready enough to win the first place again. The Stari Most and adjoining areas are a valuable historical, cultural and architectural treasure to the world worth preserving, and fortunately, this was recognized by UNESCO, and they took action. 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 boy's life will be a complete failure if he doesn't jump. Even though it was undoubtedly beautiful, it was also one of the most imposing I have ever seen. Sinan was the chief Ottoman architect of Suleyman the Magnificent. They will also enter your name into the official record books alongside the hundreds of others who have completed the jump. I say this because he wasn't dead. 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. Legends tell that the architect, Mimar Hajruddin, had to make it or break it. Mostar Bridge Jump Guide (From Someone Who Jumped). Were these fatalities unlucky tourists? Spectators gather on the bridge and by the river in anticipation of the guy promising to jump from the top of Stari Most into the cold river. Every day I go to the gym twice and run twice. Every time I see this bridge, ( I've been there a few times ) I've looked at the daredevills who jumped down. This is definitely something that not everyone knows about. The natural beauty of Bijambare leaves everyone breathless, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a paradise of eternal adventurers, Haris Fazlagi:This is the year of important and serious tourism projects. The 'new' old bridge was opened in 2004 and it's a marvellous sight. After nine years of labor, the Old Bridge of Mostar was finally completed in 1566. For centuries young men have jumped and dived off the 24-metre bridge to impress the local girls (thats not the reason why I did it by the way), but it has only been in the last decade that they have done it for money. 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. 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. After the brave divers complete the plunge the event ends with some divers who jump with torches there is an after-party in honor of all the jumpers. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. 2 of 3 Picts i've been to Mostar before and walked the bridge. Looking back on such an event, if indeed I had the luxury of doing so at all, undoubtably I would have described it as a near death experience. Hamish and Andy both performed the Mostar bridge jump . If you have travelled through the Balkans at all, there is a good chance you visited Mostar. But lets dig deeper into the history and tragic legends of Stari Most! Stari Most ( Serbo-Croatian: Stari most, , lit. 31 athletes from the Western Balkans, participating in the jumping races held on the historical Mostar Bridge, immersed themselves in the waters of the Neretva River. Warning: file_get_contents(index.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /nfs/c05/h03/mnt/79130/domains/spitfirevsbf109.com/html/wp-includes/plugin . The only way to do this part is instantly. I'm healthy, fit and in my early 50s, and want to do it before I'm much older? His technique was pretty good. There have been at least 4 reported deaths since 2012. Very lucky to have my jump captured from multiple angles. Before the wooden supports of Old Bridge were removed, Mimar Hajruddin had already started digging his own grave. In 2004 the bridge reopened, and from that time, it has remained one of the most famous and unique attractions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Please make sure that the water level is high enough before planning your bridge jump. Since the bridges reconstruction, the Mostar Diving club has maintained records of all the people who have made the Mostar Bridge jump. It's only 23 metres high, think you can handle it? amazing blog. Were these fatalities unlucky tourists? Before we get into the nitty-gritty details, heres a quick rundown of the most popular questions people have and are the same ones that I had before doing the bridge jump. I am ready physically and mentally. We have to start a jumping school as soon as possible. Stari Most (English: Old Bridge) is a reconstruction of a 16th-century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina that crosses the river Neretva and connects two parts of the city. One of its last roles had been to allow Muslim defenders of the "left bank" cross the river and take supplies to their supporters and the population that had remained there. 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. What does that mean? Reuters Under measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, only 100 people were. The Bosnian . Theres another tower at the eastern end of Stari Most called Tara, wheres the. He recalls his beginnings, when he was five or six and began to jump from, two or three meters high cliffs, and this height increased over the years. A few years earlier, Hamish and Andy (Australian radio personalities) jumped from the bridge, and a few days after them, our son also jumped (successfully) from the bridge. They are there to jump in and bring you back to shore if, for any reason, you do hurt yourself. Yesss, I will be, but I think You should, otherwise it could be dangerous. I've seen videos of people jump of it and read stories. Your rational mind takes over very quickly. 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. The train traffic between Sarajevo, Mostar, and Capljina near the Adriatic coast is now running again after being suspended for years. 'Old Bridge'), also known as Mostar Bridge, is a rebuilt 16th-century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina that crosses the river Neretva and connects the two parts of the city. During the Bosnian conflict, 100000-200000 people were slaughtered, mainly on the streets of Sarajevo, Mostar, Srebrenica, and Banja Luka. If you visited Mostar, you would have seenthe Stari Mostandeither some nutbag traveller or some entrepreneurial local jumping from it (in exchange for tips). So, for 25 euros, the majority of which goes on the maintenance of the bridge, you get the opportunity to join the 24-metre club. The elegant bridge spanned the River Neretva and was designed by the Ottoman (Turkish) architect Mimar Hayruddin. The bridge after reconstruction. Bruises, dislocated joints, broken bones and compressed spines are common injuries for jumpers with poor technique. Not only had he performed the jump, but had done so 3 times. From that height, you hit the water at 80 km/h. Traditional Mostar Bridge Jumps, which was held for the 456th time this year, were held in the city of Mostar in the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Wild Wild Basch Publicado en junio 16, 2022 por junio 16, 2022 por This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. It seems to me that Red Bull only involves itself in sportswhere death is a realistic outcome. Around the mid 1400s, the Ottomans ruled the area (the first recorded name of the city was around 1474 as "mostari" or "bridge keepers"). Old Town, a Soviet-era prison, Patarei, trendy restaurants, nice craft beer scene. Apparently it helps to stop the body from going into shock upon landing in the icy river. The old bridge was over 400 years old but was destroyed during the Bosnian war in 1993. Earlier in the year, we decided to visit Mostar and experience the place for ourselves. However, most of the jumpers will be from Mostar. As a part of 1990 Croat-Bosniak conflict, the Old Bridge of Mostar was bombed down by the Croat troops in 1993.