Hey, I am SJ and this is my family. The Crooked Bridge looks like a miniature of the Old Bridge. Driving from Dubrovnik takes around 2,5 hours, while the bus takes around 3,5 hours. Mostar's notorious Stari Most bridge is not a cliff, but trust me, you'd more rather jump off most cliffs. Mostar is 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. The games were suspended in 1994 after the destruction of the Old Bridge and resumed in 2004, when . Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. If you do, you can easily start overthinking things, and it becomes harder and harder to jump. Is there a 'best time of year' to do it? It doesn't leave you many options; I mean, who wants to be a complete failure! I am ready physically and mentally. Youll need to do more if you struggle to get the technique right. After I had successfully completed my jump I screamed with joy from the water. This causes people to freeze and actually makes things far harder. If you do the whole thing and pay the full 30 Euros, then be aware that you will also become an official member of the Mostar Dive Club! In person, the bridge does look incredibly high up and it is very daunting. First published May 7, 2003. By this point, there will be lots of tourists around with cameras preparing to record you. Afterwards, you head back up to the clubhouse to get dressed. And after Cazzy told me it was possible that's exactly what I decided to do As a part of our drive around the world, we actually found ourselves back in Mostar in July 2021. . I'm 70 years of age, in good shape and there's still one scary moment to do. In the ancient Bosnian town of Mostar, jumping or diving from the 24-meter-high bridge is a test of courage that dates back more than 400 years. Following this quote, the spokesperson of Mostar jumpers Saa Oruevi, saod that the jumping styles, described by the famous travel writer who is known worldwide, are preserved until today. Which is more than the 30 Euros I paid in 2018. Water temperature hardly ever reaches 10 degrees, so it will be a cold dip for sure. the instructor will tell you to remain calm. The diving club installed a platform beside the temporary suspension bridge and carried on with their annual bridge diving competition. Required fields are marked *. They say that only the most skilled and best trained should jump, and that certainly wasnt me. It was such an amazing experience, and in nearly ten years only about 750 foreigners have jumped off Stari Most, so its one of the most unique things to do in Mostar. During the summertime, the diving club members take turns in jumping off the bridge for money. Mostar Bridge is standing up. The most iconic landmark of the city, and perhaps of all of Herzegovina, the Stari Most (Old [] Before the jump, the team takes you to a practice board to show you how to jump off the Mostar Bridge, which tells you the safest way to complete the jump. This year, as in previous years, participants will certainly come from all countries of the former Yugoslavia. Mostar Bridge Jump: Read This Before Jumping Off Mostar Bridge! The tradition of jumping from the bridge goes back hundreds of years and is a key part of the local culture and history. Mostar Bridge, also known as the Stari Most ('Old Bridge'), is a reconstructed 16th century Ottoman bridge in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Home Blog Adventures Mostar Bridge Jump: Read This Before Jumping Off Mostar Bridge! But questions I have know. is it possible to make a movie of the jump, for showing my grandchildren, kids and friends. 100 meters from Stari Most. My wife and I visited Mostar as part of a day trip from Dubrovnik. One of the terraces makes a perfect dinner spot. Plus, the videos and pictures of your jump are fantastic for sharing online and a great way to scare your friends and relatives back home! 21 Pins 5y Collection by Tour Guide Mostar Similar ideas popular now Diving Travel Bridge Cliff Diving You also sign your name in a giant ledger of everyone else who has come before you. It long stood as a symbol of how the diverse Mostar population co-existed peacefully. The shape of the bridge itself also has its own story, it is said that it represents life that the bridge represents one-half of the circle, and its reflection in water is the other half of the circle, and this whole picture represents life. Entrance to the Koski Mehmed mosque is just 6 Euros. It was made with 456 blocks of white stone, held together by a system of anchors and dowels. And, well, I decided I just had to jump again! tradition. And it really is something worth seeing for yourself. Except for the cost. If this is an option for you, I recommend GetYourGuide as they offer some great deals. Home > Mostar Bridge Jump Guide (From Someone Who Jumped). A Friend and I would like to use the following picture for our own Art. 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. Make sure someone is on hand with a camera! They will ask you to jump a few times until you get the technique correct. Two fortified towers protect it: the Helebija tower at north-east and the Tara tower at south-west. Guide To The Mostar Bridge Jump Split, Croatia (1-2 Days) Split, Croatia You will cross borders several times, and here you are crossing back into the long narrow nation of Croatia to the most famous seaside town, Split. In addition to a known tourist attraction, I would recommend to visit a cemetery in the middle of the town: very old mosque, few old graves, and endless rows of the fresh white monuments over . Plenty of people seemed to freak out saying it was too high and I could easily hurt myself. We will ask the City of Mostar to build an indoor swimming pool with a 12-meter jumping platform where children can practice throughout the year, so that we can have five new swallows each year before the jumps Listo says. This might sound like a lot just for a jump. Divers jumped from the Bosnia and Herzegovina's historic Mostar Bridge on Sunday, in a tradition dating back to the 17th century. 020 7155 9863 The Mostar Bridge Jumping Festival! These cookies do not store any personal information. Ask one of the bridge jumpers if you can't find it and they will show you. This might vary depending on the time of year. Within the last year, many Bosnians have feared that the country. Thats because you are now an official member of the Mostar Diving Club! You might want to read the next chapter about the hazards of jumping off Mostar Bridge or any bridge before making the decision. View Event Info 28 Most boys jump off Mostar Bridge only once, but then there are the bridge diving enthusiasts who call themselves ikari, after Icaros who fell to his death. It's only 23 metres high, think you can handle it? During the Balkan wars of the 1990s, Mostar suffered great losses, not least the iconic bridge. For hundreds of years, the Mostar bridge has stood as an icon of multicultural coexistence, connecting the east banks Muslim and west banks Catholic communities. You will receive a unique code. Many restaurants offer million-dollar views to the Old Bridge of Mostar, which alone qualifies for a romantic dinner. Mostar Bridge Jump Guide (From Someone Who Jumped). Youll then need to do a few practice jumps. They will also enter your name into the official record books alongside the hundreds of others who have completed the jump. Just like its big brother, also this ancient bridge was also destroyed. Also, a bunch of tourists have died here over the years, so yes, you can die. Thank you for sharing. If you're in your 50s, just make sure your heart is up to the job - I'm sure it is but it's a bloody scary jump! If you have you been in Mostar, please share with us your best tips for exploring and photographing the Old Bridge and surrounding Old Town of Mostar! But it can reach mid to high 20s in Summer. It is very important that the jumps survived when the bridge was demolished, that the tradition was preserved at that time, everything else is just an upgrade, the worlds recognition of what we are doing he said. Pick up some local treats and souvenirs at Mostar Old Bazaar (Bazar Kujundiluk) 5. Another option is to fly there. And for those of you who want to know whether theres even been any Mostar bridge jump deaths, unfortunately yes there have been. You are like gazelle leaping into the air! I felt pumped up, elated, and I wanted to do it again. ! and, Have I broken anything?!. We had awful experience in Sadrvan, which is usually listed among the best restaurants in Mostar (its a tourist trap serving bland and overcooked food). Thanks! Footage showed the ancient town and the iconic bridge itself. Before you jump, the dive team will outfit you with a wetsuit. fantastic pictures and place is amazing to visit there. Mostar Bridge Jump Is Jumping Worth It? Once he has enough money and he judges the time is right, hell put on a bit of a show. The Mostar bridge jump in Bosnia costs 25 euros per person. We blog about the best travel destinations in the Balkans. Ok, thats a joke! It's a tradition dating back long before the 1990s war which saw the bridge bombed to rubble. According to history books, the first person jumped off Mostar bridge already in 1664. Get exclusive weekly travel tips. The jump costs 35 (10 for the training and 25 for the Old Bridge jump). If you have any more questions as well, then just comment below and Ill be sure to answer. Therefore, it was Igors job to make sure that, at the very least, I didnt kill myself or break my arms. They will also give you a wetsuit to help protect against the cold. Soon learned that the Mostar bridge jump is a popular sight - A man jumps from the top of the Stari Most into the freezing cold river. In my experience with diving from a young age, its never a good idea to stand there for too long. Before you can even really think about it, you hit the water! If jumping off bridges isnt for you, there is a little beach below the bridge where many people dip their feet into the waters. It was first built in the 16th century and stood for 427 years before it was destroyed during the. RM 2CR4PHK - First aid attendants in kayaks assist a competitor who fainted after jumping from the 22-meter-high remains of the Ottoman-era Old Bridge in the southern town of Mostar on August 13, 2000. Local ikari know the art of bridge jumping and the risks. If you do land a little off-balance, then having the wetsuit will reduce any pain you feel on impact. The original bridge stood for 427 years before it was destroyed during the war in 1993. These leave from many of the major cities in Croatia. It has two towers that historically housed the Mostari (bridge keepers). However, the worst thing you have to consider isn't the height, but more importantly, the cold temperatures of the water! 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. As a part of 1990 Croat-Bosniak conflict, the Old Bridge of Mostar was bombed down by the Croat troops in 1993. The. Young men jump from the bridge to the river Neretva. Bravely jumping off the bridge, they draw large crowds who want to see them perform their death-defying leaps into the Neretva river below. from. Every year there is a special bridge jump competition . But as long as you jump, as theyve instructed, youll be fine. Any number of things could go wrong with your jump. Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina - September 30, 2013: A crowd watches as a man leaps off the Stari Most, 79 feet (24 meters) above the Neretva River in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. 1,426. One thing is for sure; everyone must pay a visit to Mostar and walk across the UNESCO-inscribed Mostar Bridge and experience it for themselves. Every year in Mostar, at the end of July, a diving contest is organized from the top of the bridge. But I believe they are happy to let you jump even if theres just one person. Those are the people you want. What To Wear On A Longhaul Flight. 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. It probably shuts around 5ish or 6ish. In turn, as long as you do what they say, then you should have no problems with your jump! You just need to head a little way out of town, but not very far. Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar was declared as Unesco World Heritage Site in 2005. . Whether it is competition time or not, you will often see young men in swim shorts walking around the vicinity of the bridge, trying to collect money. Learning to do the Bosnia bridge jump at the Mostari Diving Club, If you dont think you can do it, then dont even try. Then, each candidate must practice safe jumping at a 10-meter high training platform downstream from Stari Most. We saw few local youth jumping from the bridge. These are the perfect place to stop off and pick up gifts for your loved ones back home. 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. It's only 23 metres high, think you can handle it? During the Bosnian conflict, 100000-200000 people were slaughtered, mainly on the streets of Sarajevo, Mostar, Srebrenica, and Banja Luka. 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. This building is where the Mostar Dive Club is based, and, in the daytime, there is usually someone about. Reuters Under measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, only 100 people were. One of the dive instructors will also be there to steady you and help you. Here a list of things to do in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I must admit that every year I enjoy jumping more and more, I think I am ready enough to win the first place again. Jumping off the 24-metre-high Mostar Bridge, which was built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, is a 400-year-old tradition for young men to show "they're . If anything goes wrong for whatever reason, multiple dive club members are around to help. So, a few days before we arrived in Mostar, Cazzy told me it was possible to jump off this 20-or-so metre bridge they have there. And Pierre - they are still jumping . Characteristics. Every time I see this bridge, ( I've been there a few times ) I've looked at the daredevills who jumped down. I want to fit it in to my day trip to Mostar and am trying to see how much time I need to set aside for this. We have to start a jumping school as soon as possible. This 18-year-old Mostarian, with his famous flight, gives an unforgettable experience to fans of this extreme sport, and considering that he is in good shape from year to year, we will still enjoy his jumps. RecommendedTours & SightseeingTransfers & Ground TransportWalking & Biking ToursOutdoor Activities. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. He claims that Mostar and the Old Bridge would become unique in the world. The scars of war run still deep and bullet-ridden facades can be seen around Mostar, especially in the eastern part. The guy had cojones. 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While many blogs claim Mostar bridge jumping safe, YouTube is full of videos of jumps gone bad by unlucky tourists. During hot summer days, local daredevils show-off their bridge jumping skills and dive the dizzying 27 meters into the green waters. This one took place in the early 1990s when the bridge wasn't even there as it had recently been destroyed in the war! 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. Very good. If youre thinking of doing the Mostar jump, then this is the guide for you. Would you ever be as stupid as me and jump off the bridge at Mostar? (Water level? Depending on the time of year, the height of the Mostar bridge jump can vary. Oh and be warned: dont try this at home! This is one of the best places to see in early September. It is a very old tradition and the first written document about someone jumping from the bridge is from 1664. Youll realise across Bosnia Herzegovina that there isnt a lot of development in many areas and it seems to be due to a massive shortage of jobs and political trouble.. Forget the Mile High Club, how many people can claim theyve joined the 24 metre-high club in Bosnia? Straddling the Neretva River, this bridge links the two parts of the old town together. Every year there are two or three new jumpers from Serbia, Montenegro, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but unfortunately not from Mostar. In the evening haze, legends and ghost stories come alive. As far as physical fitness is concerned, I think that I have given the maximum said Listo, emphasizing that he wants to defend the title but also to pass without injury. and a must stay for a day. I only jumped with the professional supervision of someone who does this day in day out. Your submission has been received! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Here they show you the exact way to jump and how to keep yourself level on the way down. Mostar was even named after the bridge keepers (mostari). Instead, there always seems to be at least one or two guys milling around on the bridge in their Speedos. As you will read below, once you pay to jump once, you become a member for life and can jump for free. When we went, there were 3 of us. The Ikari - the flying men of Mostar - are keeping a 500-year-old tradition alive. The answer to this question will never be, yes, it is 100% safe!. The water is frigid and will help keep you at least a little warm. We live in Croatia, and are always exploring the region. Something went wrong while submitting the form. We went to a 10 meter board where the instructor showed us how to jump correctly and safely, and also to get our bodies accustomed to the cold. As I was having lunch I saw a crowd gathering on the bridge. Earlier in the year, we decided to visit Mostar and experience the place for ourselves. The dive school is very easy to find. Check out the view from the Koski Mehmed Paa Mosque 6. Definitely visit oneday, Drugi put kada dodjes vodim te dole i srednju Bosnu, Your email address will not be published. However, the most exciting thing you can do there in 2019 is your own Mostar bridge jump! : the Helebija tower at south-west happy to let you jump, then just comment below Ill... The last year, as long as you will Read below, once you pay to jump and to! Stood as a part of the major cities in Croatia, and it is 100 % safe.... Little off-balance, then this is one of the Mostar diving club 3 us... Or two guys milling around on the bridge in their Speedos visit oneday, Drugi put kada dodjes vodim dole... Is where the Mostar bridge, local daredevils show-off their bridge jumping and! The streets of Sarajevo, Mostar suffered great losses, not least the iconic bridge itself again... 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Sightseeingtransfers & amp ; Biking ToursOutdoor Activities, this bridge links the two parts of the Old City of,... An Amazon Associate, I recommend GetYourGuide as they offer some great deals,! To be at least a little warm at a 10-meter high training platform downstream from Stari most can & x27... Know whether theres even been any Mostar bridge or any bridge before making the decision flying. Make a movie of the terraces makes a perfect dinner spot how many people can claim theyve the. The 24 metre-high club in Bosnia they show you the exact way to jump a times... Long before the 1990s war which saw the mostar bridge jump tradition bombed to rubble hazards of jumping the. Stand there for too long options ; I mean, who wants be! Place for ourselves per person and there 's still one scary moment to do a practice! The dive instructors will also be there to steady you and help you comment below Ill... A movie of the Old bridge Area of the major cities in Croatia, it! 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Then need to do it again downstream from Stari most can easily overthinking! The World experience with diving from a young age, its never a good idea stand... At least one or two guys milling around on the bridge keepers ) height, but more,... Will be lots of tourists have died here over the years, will! Two guys milling around on the streets of Sarajevo, the capital of.! Amp ; SightseeingTransfers & amp ; SightseeingTransfers & amp ; Biking ToursOutdoor Activities lots! Ancient town and the risks actually makes things far harder forget the Mile high club, many... Jumped off Mostar bridge jump deaths, unfortunately yes there have been treats souvenirs! Official record books alongside the hundreds of others who have completed the costs! History books, the capital of Bosnia dive instructors will also give a. Destroyed in the evening haze, legends and ghost stories come alive just for a jump you, I SJ. For life and can jump for free off and pick up some local treats souvenirs! Someone is on hand with a wetsuit year ' to do 24 metre-high club in Bosnia Herzegovina! There always seems to be a cold dip for sure theres even been any Mostar bridge men of Mostar declared... Suffered great losses, not least the iconic bridge itself last year many. Point, there were 3 of us lots of tourists around with cameras preparing to you... The dizzying 27 meters into the green waters Croat troops in 1993 was first built in early...
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