Some things I love about Bosnia and Herzegovina

I love the natural beauty of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) - the moutains, meadows, rivers and streams. Much of BiH is cover in beautiful tress and when we arrived in November, the winter season found the deciduous trees brown and striped of their leaves. But as spring came, so did the trees and the hills became green and lush. Lot described the hills as “fuzzy”. Now we are back at the fall and as we drove last week, we could see the colors starting to turn and the leaves beginning to fall. I love the foliage of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

The word for honey in BiH is “med” and this area has a rich tradition of beekeeping. Beehives dot the landscape as we drive across Bosnia, and I love watching for them.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has an abundance of unpolluted environment and many plants producing nectar, making it a perfect place for honey production. Honey is locally produced, primarily by small-scale beekeepers and one can purchase locally produced honey at roadside stands or at any outdoor market, as well as small shops at the mall.

The honey color ranges from lightest yellow to dark almost brown – depending on where the bees gathered pollen. There is meadow honey, woods honey and dark forest honey.  Not only is there a range in color, but in flavor also. The flavors are varied and distinct (as well as how fast it crystalizes). Light honey tends to be a mild flavor, with dark honey being a stronger more pronounced flavor. Bagrem (Acacia) honey is my favorite. 

I am delighted by the haystacks I have seen in the countryside. In rural BiH, we've seen very few square tied bales created by baling machines (like is common in Idaho) but rather these lovely hand-thrown haystacks. The begin with a vertical pole fastened in the ground, most often 8-10 ft tall. The hay is then stacked/thrown/organized around that pole, with the finished product sloping downwards to shed rain. I love to see them as we drive through rural areas.  

I love the laundry of BiH. Some people may think this is weird and locals may take offense (but please don’t 😊). Although almost all households are equipped with an electric washing machine, air-drying clothes outside on a clothesline is a long-standing practice. In the winter, clothes are dried on a drying rack on the balcony or in the house. Lot thinks I’m crazy but as we drive from place to place, I enjoy watching for laundry hanging on the balcony clothes lines. 

I think laundry is a great equalizer – everyone must do laundry! Regardless of income, ethnicity or religion, everyone does laundry. I get a little glimpse of who lives at the house or apartment, based on the laundry – those who work in the field/work overalls, women/dresses and/or children/small pieces laundry. I love the socks, and shirts, sheets and underwear all clean and hanging up to get dry. 

These are just a few of the things I have come to love about Bosnia and Herzegovina.