Main Sarajevo Park

You can love or hate Balkans but it’s impossible not to feel anything. Life is much more different and for being able to understand it you should come here for a while… not to be in hurry, running from one monument to another, just to find a time to sit, look and feel the city.

Park is this green part of the city where you can take a rest, read a book or walk. But parks in Sarajevo are much more special. This what can be shocking, here it’s completely normal. In the main park in Sarajevo, you can find lot of old tombs from Ottoman times as well as soldiers tombs from 90’s, Sarajevo Children Memorial (for all children killed in last war) and Sarajevo rose (sign where an individual was killed by a mortar explosion). That’s surly something strange. 

What’s more strange is to be there during the summer and see children playing around…

It’s also good to know that picnic in park isn’t well seen….

The Grand Paris Street

WOW ! You can say whatever you want but for me it’s quite a big case. For a first time outside France, the most famous architects, planners and experts in urban and territorial planning came to Sarajevo because of The First World Urbanization Forum. 

During 3 months, from june 2012, the look of Sime Milutinovica street has been changed for a typical street in Paris. More, this street was renamed to the Grand Paris street.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t in Sarajevo this summer. I regret not to be able to show you all the French look of coffee bars and shops… 

Just feel free to discover the Grand Paris Street nowadays…

Vijećnica, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

About one year ago, I asked my friends to take part in action : Books 4 Vijecnica organized by Humanity in Action Senior Fellows Network. Some replayed, some didn’t treat it seriously, knowing that reconstruction of this most beautiful example of pseudo-Moorish building has taken years and years.

Fortunately, a lot of work was done since last year and right now it’s possible to see at least part of reconstructed Vijećnica. Erected in 1896, it was place for City Hall until the end of World War II, after it became the National Library, which was destroyed during 1992 shelling. 

Vijećnica, a symbol of Sarajevo, is on the World Monument Watch List since 2008.

I also advice you to go on www.vijecnica.ba to know more about it and see some old pictures.

On M. Chat footsteps

Walking in Sarajevo, you simply can’t miss M. Chat ! M. Chat known also as a Mr Chat or Monsieur Chat is the name of the graffiti cat, which appeared for a first time in France, in Orléans in 1997. The yellow cartoon cat with big smile, mostly in running pose and angle wings, appears mostly on the walls and chimneys. The name of the artist was unknown for a long time, until 2007 when Thoma Vuille was caught in the act creating the cat.

M. Chat travels a lot. You can meet him mostly in France, but also in England, Germany, Spain, Holland, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vietnam, South Korea, USA… 

M. Chat arrived in Sarajevo for a first time in 2005 and came back in 2008 and 2009… 

Old Harbour, La Rochelle, France

La Rochelle isn’t that touristic and famous as Paris, but surly it should appear on your list: top 10 places to visit in France.

Amazing city with incredible history which makes it so different to rest of the country. 

Below you can find pictures from Old Harbour. Three towers are the symbol of the city, the most recognizable landmark, listed as a National Monument.