Journey from Mostar to the Waterfalls and Beyond...

Mostar, that's why I went there, that's why I rerouted.
Mostar, the picture really says it all.
I don't know why, I met super relaxed people, well, what do I mean relaxed, they were excited and really wanted to send me to this club, the best one in Bosnia and Herzegovina and I was really two minutes away from the club and saw the people and the cars and it was clear to me, this is going to be a taxi ride home!
Then this morning to calmly do my breakfast, uh, my morning workout first, then make my breakfast, pack up Frankie, wash up, shower, shave, beforehand of course, and then I started off, to the much-praised waterfalls!
So remembering the eighties, a few people relaxed, photos come and then there's also the commentary on it.
I'm doing it differently today, I'm sending the pictures in their chronological order...
Maybe one or two more words about Mostar... what I still appreciate is this burlesque charm, when old villas decay, when you can still sense the size and splendor, still smell it, and when you feel like imagining it in its full beauty, even though it no longer has a roof and only the columns are standing and you can sense how large the rooms were...!
The property in the middle...right in the middle or the bridge, tourism...
So I am, I think three and a half hours yesterday, I left at 6:30 pm I think and was back at 10 pm and also sat in one, two, three bars and watched the people and tried to make a connection.
But it looked like one side considers themselves more Croatian and the others are just Muslims, there's not much there.
I saw few people with a smile, I saw few people who came across naturally! 90 percent of them smell like a chemical weapon and the fake laughter is unbearable, it's totally intense.
Mostar, the main streets clean and tidy, the tourist stuff clean and tidy, with the obligatory, starting from the popcorn stand, all the way to, it's all there...
And as soon as you dive two, three cross streets into suburbantown, then you have mountains of trash, then you have people in torn clothes, then you have the suffering and misery in pure splendor, ....impressive... the smiles.
I had to get away from there, I had to get out and I couldn't be out in the evening either! That would have completely escalated and I wasn't in the mood for that.
So, the next segment, today's journey to the waterfall.

You can already see it, incredibly beautiful, magnificent, amazing, that's what was the focus as the destination for today.

That was the way there. Actually pretty relaxed, I'd say. No stress. The tour went with ups and downs. Frenkie handled it super, super well. And the GPS built in an unbelievable detour, which in turn was funny. And in the end was only somehow seven kilometers, eight kilometers longer. Exactly, so now I am with this anticipation waterfall. My memory last time, there's this picture of me, how I'm standing in Aragonien under a waterfall, basically stepping out of a cave and then the water pouring down over me, directly from the mountain. And then I arrive there and already see a gigantic parking lot. Right, left, this, that. I hope you said it, anyway. René? Exactly, pineapple. And I think to myself, come on, you're still driving past the free parking lot, because it's jam-packed full. There, every, there, what you somehow find. And just keep driving and just arrive there and just take the one for the buses, because the car parking spaces don't look particularly great. I'm standing there not even two minutes. Some security guy who tries to explain to me in broken English that I should please take the parking lot on the other side, because that one is for buses. I explain to him that those are parking spaces that are for cars and they're more the size of a polo field. Doesn't interest him. At some point he shrugs his shoulders, sort of like, I can do that for it. I think to myself, okay, you drive over, want to start Frenkie, Frenkie won't start. Or not like that, oh shit. Well, I've got a super charger gifted to me by my friend Christian and clipped it on briefly. Power on, Frenkie starts. So I have a relay problem. As I said, I haven't figured it out yet. I sat down, checked all the connections. I actually wanted to go to the auto electrician. That's another story, why that didn't happen. Anyway. So I then parked over on the other parking lot, turned on the fridge. I've got a bit of food in it, so it doesn't somehow disappear on me during the time, in the infinitely many hours that I'll now spend at the waterfall. Because I know, I only have a two-hour drive ahead of me to arrive at the national park. All clear. And I notice this security everywhere. Everywhere. They're walking across the parking lot, they're discussing with some tourists and there's really everything from all over the world there. And predominantly really big, fat cars. So little me with my flip-flops shuffled up to the entrance there. And tourist stands everywhere. So from jewelry to wine, schnapps, oil at absurd prices. I could only walk past because the people really do smell. Like unpleasantly smell. Like chemical weapons. Chemical bomb. No idea if they'd been to Douglas beforehand or what. And they'd somehow taken all samples of everything. As I said, across the board through the nationalities. And I think to myself, oh shit, there's a train standing there, like with a trailer attached behind. I drive the tourists back and forth on the road. And I go up to the guy and said, man, hey, how does it look? Do you speak German or English? And he's like, um, I don't know yet. And I'm like, okay, I don't know means you speak English. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, so. It then, I'll cut it short, took a funny four minutes until I found out that if I take the stairs, I walk six minutes. And if I ride with him and he leaves in five minutes, it would only take four minutes. No, kids, check. You can also take photos along the way. And there's a small viewing platform on the stairs going down. And I kick down there and think to myself, oh shit, oh shit, you don't really want to give yourself that, Iven. And at the same time I start laughing and think to myself, lucky you packed the swim trunks. So I shuffle down there. Masses of people, one stall next to the next. They've built a bar into the series. All around are bars and some, I have no idea. I tried to hide under my hat. Went into a somewhat protected corner, because they're building something there, there was construction, so I took off my underwear, put on my swim trunks, went down to the lake and got in. And yes, it's cold. And no, I didn't get out right away. I really only got out when nothing worked anymore. I was in there for half an hour. And swam up and down this entire waterfall, because it was just beautiful. All around me, somehow fish up to 25 centimeters in size, who came curiously now and then when I drifted on my back, following the course of the river so to speak. And that's totally interesting, because those are, you'll see right away in the photos, it's like a roundabout, this waterfall. That's totally cool. And that naturally creates funny current conditions. And in the middle is like a sandbank, there the water is only waist-deep. So you can't crawl through. Yeah, I had fun. Meanwhile, I turned around now and then of course, the tourists are sitting, like if they could, they'd still put the terrace over the lake, definitely. That's totally crazy. And one next to the other pushed through you. I then somehow saw how one brought his fork to his mouth and the one sitting next to him on the left was just moving his knife to cut something. And he pokes the food completely under his nose. And I think to myself, those are exactly the moments I no longer need and want. At least not in such a extreme... No, that's not right, the environment is cool. Yes, now let's take that back in these non-existent distances from each other. Okay, so I nicely relaxed swam my round there, until I was really pig cold. I was then alone in the lake, despite the felt millions of people who were there. Apart from a few kids who were in there for five, maximum ten minutes. Nobody was in the water. They all also somehow, when I'm in there and not somehow panting, and briefly dive under and back out. They also looked quite strangely. Could of course also be the white ass, which fortunately was then stuck in the swim trunks. Exactly, then I got out and since I only took that first picture from the platform above, and then was in the water first, I took the others afterwards, to cool down for another round beforehand. And he also wanted to go to Spiek, that was also great. And it's, when you're there at the edge in front, you're not allowed to swim over there, I got an announcement right away, someone came right away with the whistle, so much for the security topic, how he would have wanted to get me out of there. I just didn't want any stress when I come to shore, that five security guys are standing there right away, who then, I don't know, capture me or give me a lecture with raised index fingers or I have to pay a fine or, but I have no idea. I went just a bit further and as I said, then came the whistle and hectic hands, hands waving through the air, that I should get out of there. And then just went back and I also ignored him when he then somehow said, now come here to the beach and so on, he didn't actually say that, but body language yes. I just kept swimming around there and didn't let myself be disturbed. And when I was really cold, I got out. And he wasn't there anymore then. He was then funnily enough standing up there when I came to the exit at the parking lot and raised his eyebrows after I grinned at him. And then there was a high-five and a laugh. So those are the rules that someone set up there. Those weren't his either, I couldn't understand it either. Exactly, so I then took the photos and then went to Frenkie and then, then it really got going.

That was an incredible tour. That was totally insane.
I mean, I haven't seen so much landscape, so many mountains, so many different kinds of vegetation in practically such a small area before.
The fact that there were motorcyclists all around me is so understandable, because I was driving switchbacks with 120-degree turns at times.
That was so crazy!!! That's insane. That's really insane.
And in between there were stretches where I remembered my phone and quickly took a few shots out the window.
And for anyone missing all the clutter in the middle of the windshield, let it be said that the chain, the black supporting chain from Gambia, didn't hold up.
It gave up. That means I have to rig something up first so it can go back on. Exactly.
So I really, really drove insane stretches. Impressive. And it was fun.
And right in the middle I see, as I come out of one mountain, on the other side of the mountain, a giant construction site. And I think to myself, oh shit, that's exactly the slope where the road goes.
And indeed it is, two cars side by side won't fit.
So it's with driving forward and backward at times, with amusingly commenting on things, honking, with the appropriate quip from my side. In case you don't remember: "If someone honks, give them a thumbs up. Horn works, try the lights!"
And then I eventually arrived at this construction site.
And the following photos, I hope I was able to capture a bit of it, show how the Chinese just throw up something like that.
Crazy, totally crazy. And today is Sunday, they're working. So I saw the crew then, I passed by there at noon, coming out of the containers.
And that must be a monster project. Just under four kilometers later is the Chinese headquarters.
Administration building and an old villa like that, an old Stalin-era building. With fat cars parked in front too. And written below in English: "We are where energy is needed!"
All right, I thought to myself and just kept driving.
Still, it's an impressive thing, for sure.

Damn, I couldn't capture that in its full size.
That goes up all the way to the mountaintop, so I'd say 300 meters. And at the very top there are two giant pipes coming out of the mountain. So still below the ridge, so to speak. The valley behind it seems to be about to be flooded soon.
Well, the next pictures that follow are basically the pictures from the journey from the waterfalls and finally to here in the park.
I've now been driving through the park for the last 15 kilometers. ...
Unfortunately, neither the camp down here is open, nor the hotel, nor the info point. Which I think is a shame, because without a "guide" I wouldn't want to just wander around here somehow.
Because that's already with not such fun paths, because nature park, then somehow not quite so easy, I think. I'll have to see.
Fact is, the way here was incredibly exhausting. So Frankie was a few times with the engine temperature over 100°.
I naturally, before I set off, topped up another 500 milliliters of water again today.
And no idea, now somehow cars are coming into the parking lot. Maybe they work here, I'll ask them. Um....Lots of "ums".
I'm looking here at mountains, at an incredibly beautiful sky and I think to myself, it is indeed impressive.
Um...There it was again. I made it.
So also there in terms of the barrenness of the landscape in between, especially because the green really pops, still somehow a bit like Ireland.
So stones without end, partly in the same formation as I know them from Aragón, up in the mountains. Crazy, really crazy, crazy landscape.
So not standard at all, so to speak, whatever standard is.
I think, or maybe not. Yes, that's for sure.
In any case, it was awesome. Exhausting, because it was totally hot.
And when I then drove through a total of six tunnels and slowly came back down from the mountains, it's also a bit more pleasant here.
The wind is blowing, which means the sun still has power, of course, naturally. However, it's not so hot anymore.
And that does Frankie and me, I also believe, quite good.
Check, let's see what else nice I have for you.

18 pictures that, in the end, sum up this three-and-a-half-hour drive quite well...
A cross-section of impressive images, moments... I would have loved to have a camera running...
Crazy, it's really crazy! It is a beautiful country, definitely!
And when it got narrower and narrower and also went uphill again a bit, the last ridge of hills I had to cross here, fortunately a truck came onto this road in front of me and of course I had to brake a little.
Right, I don't have the picture with the cows either... and cows just in the middle of the road... somewhere in the middle of nowhere... you come around the curve, only a fat Ducati overtakes me beforehand and really tears it up, and leans into the curve and I just hear it squealing!
It didn't crash and he wasn't alone either... two of his buddies had already passed before and there was a car in between, exactly, which means I stepped on the brakes nicely before going around the curve and there were six cows standing on the road and they were just crossing over!
And because of this braking maneuver my phone just got out of reach.
I picked it up when I came to a stop.
Exactly, the truck came in front of me and in the meantime it had really been extremely annoying for an hour and a half, when they with their FUCK SUVs, giant Daimlers, giant BMWs, giant Volvos, I have no idea, some Skoda things, when they almost scraped against Frankie.
I really had a funny cursing afternoon today!
And "bagpipers" was still the nice one! Of course, afterwards I always loudly apologized not only to myself, and at the same time continued to encourage myself to be like that, but of course I always sent an "I didn't mean it like that" afterwards!
Just these moments of shock, when you come around such a hairpin curve and you're on the outside lane and here comes an SUV with, I don't know, if it said 30 on it, they were going 60, easily, and comes towards you with the left tire already over the center line and you think, yeah man, I think it's cool that you want to swagger around the curve, but I can't get away to the right here because it goes downhill there...
And then these shocked faces every time from these idiots sitting in there, with their funny, I have no idea, these are like drawers that open up, I saw how they're sitting in there! Their gelled hair and their "Ray-Ban" sunglasses, that wasn't funny yet, but then their "Dior" or "Gucci" sunglasses and somehow the car full...
You hear the music when they blast past you, because they're really close. And you no longer ask yourself why accidents happen.
Of course I also had the annoyed ones who were then behind Frankie, so had three climbs where I went up in first gear, actually had to brake so hard three times that I was practically rattling along on the shoulder that doesn't exist there, along the precipice, or tried to keep Frankie away from the rock wall when I was in the inside lane.
Was exhausting and then as I said, the truck came and a 20-tonner or 30... well it was also fully loaded with earth.
It just clears a path like that and suddenly the SUVs drive down onto the gravel, with their four-wheel drive whatever, and the shock on their faces wasn't linked to incomprehension and anger at me somehow, but they were really scared and the truck driver also cut the curve completely relaxed.
So I drove behind something that the universe fortunately placed directly in front of Frankie and showed all the arseholes, now I said something like that after all, well the bagpipers, briefly, people, stay in your lane!!!
That's no fun! That's no fun when someone's driving in your lane!
And so I basically came over the last hilltop here and now I'm standing with Frankie where I'm standing!
I've already done a lap of the grounds here! Everything's closed! Nobody here! Nothing available! People keep getting out of cars and walking around here!
So I don't know, I'll definitely spend a relaxed night here!
Pictures to follow...

Oh right, that's true, Blagaij and Pocitelji, I obviously drove past them, after the disaster at the waterfalls.
I saw the number of vehicles and the people there and it was clear to me that neither the monastery nor this open-air village would make me stop.
Absolutely not, absolutely not.
I mean, I think it's nice, it's Sunday and people dress up nicely and go out and that's okay too.
It was just too much for me. When the distances are less than 15 meters, I'm out.
Now here comes another car. They're all driving somewhere. Although, they're just queuing at the ATM too. That's crazy. Now dogs are getting out and going for a pee first.
Exactly. Did I want to tell you more about it? Do I have to? Do I need to? No, I don't need to. Still nice though.
And as I said, those things are cool. They really are beautiful waterfalls.
Please try to be there before 10 o'clock. So 10 in the morning or after 9 PM. Because at 9 PM they close the shops down there and then it gets a bit quieter too. Then there aren't so many people sitting on the terrace watching you splash about.
And I didn't see any neoprene. Well, it's slowly getting warm now anyway.

It took me a bit to figure out what you meant! 🤣
I thought you knew the graffiti artist!!! 🥳
Oh lovely, thank you so much for the laugh!🤣
I really properly celebrated... two Golf, oh...that's standard for them, 1-series Golf really cool, there are some real gems driving around everywhere.
So the old cars are still driving here, 123, 124, actually the E-Class in sedan form galore... in all sorts of different versions and they're still driving around here, for sure...

There's a story behind that, of course.
It goes back to Visoko, when it somehow came up that the day before my arrival in Visoko or down there, I had seen this little funny tent camp of the Saudis.
And yes, showed a photo too! Becir tells me that many people from the Arab countries come to the area and ask when this waterfall or this river gets turned off? How long does it run during the day?
And the people don't understand it at all, naturally, so they can't fit it into their mental model at all, and at some point he then understood what they really mean and asked again!
You mean, we turn it on here in the morning and turn it off in the evening? And they're like yes, like a faucet! And Becir says, it comes from the mountain! We can't control that!
And that apparently totally blew the Arab's mind, because he can't comprehend it! (Yapping in the background) yeah exactly, you look just like you should be barking at me, you mutt... that's a flying fox, so if you kick it, it flies... also cleared off right away... exactly that's enough 😘