Mostar is small city in Bosnia, not far from Dubrovnik and Kotor. T he bridge in the middle of Mostar is the spiritual and social heart of the city. Over the course of the next three days, I didn't meet any other travellers that were planning on jumping. Also, can I use sandals for my feet, because climbing ashore will hurt my feet because of the sharp stones. Well, you will splash against the green Neretva River in 3 seconds after jumping off Stari Most. Ironically, it was a war that finally destroyed this symbol of peace. Fatalities happen and the risk of injury is quite high. 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. I'm not too sure I'd do it again though - I think once was enough for me! All rights reserved. Narrow alleys of El Carmen host a weird mix: subcultures and street art, orange gardens, old mansions, and the most iconic sights of the city. Im that sore that I am having trouble sleeping. The guy had cojones. On November 9, 1993, Croat artillery. Though saying that, people have died in the past, and the day before I jumped a guy had to be rushed to hospital with two suspected broken arms; there was a serious element of danger here, and after hearing that particular story I was bricking it. The 451st annual bridge jump and diving competition took place on Sunday, July 30. While the prospect of writing about my future travels excites me greatly, I would also like to share some stories from travels past. But during the 1992-1995 conflict between Bosnian Muslims, Catholic Croats and Orthodox Serbs, the Old Bridge became one of the war's most famous casualties. With his plunge in the southern Bosnian city of Mostar, Amir and his friends from the local diving club are honoring a tradition that goes back . Im Hayden I am a backpacker, solo traveller and amateur photographer. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Bosnia and Herzegovina has a varied landscape, with high mountains, rolling valley and large cities. Groups of tourists standing on the bridge will pitch in a few euros or dollars to one of the local divers. And for those of you who want to know whether theres even been any Mostar bridge jump deaths, unfortunately yes there have been. Less risk of injury, etc? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Bizarre Globe Hopper. 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. The answer to this question will never be, yes, it is 100% safe!. We blog about the best travel destinations in the Balkans. Readmy backpacking travel to guide Mostar formore information. Hi! Is there a 'best time of year' to do it? Next, I had to step off the edge. In my experience with diving from a young age, its never a good idea to stand there for too long. I was hopeful for a similar result. They will also enter your name into the official record books alongside the hundreds of others who have completed the jump. He didn't stick the landing and dislocated his arm. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Before jumping off, listen to your diving instructors final orders and take deep breaths. Many locals can tell you openly that its definitely not safe to jump off Mostar Bridge. 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. Reply There were actually 3 of us. Thank goodness you didn't hurt yourself! I think I performed better in the warmups, but he had pretty much nailed his jump. Amazing. How can you say no to that? Crazy locals claim that boy is not worth of girlfriend or job without having the balls to jump off Stari Most. When traveling through Europe back in April 2018, I was lucky enough to participate in one of the best high-adrenaline activities still available in Europe the Mostar Bridge jump! Mostarski Ikari Diving Club organizes all bridge jumps for adrenaline rush seeking tourists. Sheraldo Becker will also be out with a thigh injury. Mostar was named after the bridge keepers who guarded the Stari Most in the medieval times. We then got invited into the Mostar Dive Club to sign the admissions book and receive our certificates. I'll leave this to the professionals. Yes, do. For the last 450 years, Mostar, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been home to the Old Bridge Jump, where people jump off the citys Stari Most bridge, hurling through the air for a few seconds before hitting the freezing water below. If you stop for a moment to think, you just won't jump. Not long! Earlier in the year, we decided to visit Mostar and experience the place for ourselves. Any thoughts on that? About us.. Feel the presence of Michelangelo, the Borgia Pope and other anxious souls still searching for their atonement. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. You might want to read the next chapter about the hazards of jumping off Mostar Bridge or any bridge before making the decision. Every time I see this bridge, ( I've been there a few times ) I've looked at the daredevills who jumped down. 45'. It is about now that I start questioning my life choices. Bridge jumping in Mostar, Bosnia. If that bridge was located in most other countries in Europe, I feel like you would struggle to get permission from local authorities to do such a jump. 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. In 2015, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series was held in Mostar. It was ethnically rooted civil war, were neighbors and loved ones were set against each other. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The scars of war run still deep and bullet-ridden facades can be seen around Mostar, especially in the eastern part. 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. Then, just do exactly what youve been taught so far and step off. Privacy Policy. Thanks! Scared? 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. A potential lifesaver. Red Bull regularly run a high diving competition from the Mostar bridge. 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! 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. There are many small touristic shops and cafes. mostar bridge jump injuries. History of Mostar Bridge Mostar Bridge was commissioned by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1557. What To Pack For Turkey By the 1550s Ottoman . Is this safe? Lots of history and culture to be see this place, especially the Jumping tradition into the Neretva river. But if you do the practice jumps and then decide that the full jump is not for you, you only have to pay the initial 10 Euros. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Here you can practice your jump technique under the watchful eye of an experienced diver. This overview shows a short view of all matches of matchday 28 in the 20/21 season. They dive club will take you to a spot a hundred metres downstream from the Stari Most where a ~10m platform is set up. Andalusia in south Spain is amazing: Sevilla, Granada, Crdoba and Cdiz are just lovely to visit. 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 next morning at about 10 am, very hungover, Mike and I and a few others wandered down to the bridge. Hi travellers! As of 2015, only five women were on the list. After living in Croatia for 5 weeks, we decided we should drive through and stop off in Bosnia Herzegovina before heading back home to the UK. Mostar was even named after the bridge keepers (mostari). Thus, on July 30, on the day of the 451st traditional jumping from the Old Bridge, Mostar will be the center of the world. What does that mean? Jumping from the bridge in Mostar was one of my all-time favorite memories from driving all across that part of Europe. Cedric Teuchert replaces Sheraldo Becker because of an injury. All in all, it doesn't take long from booking the jump to actually doing it. Built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, the high-arched, stone bridge is a masterpiece. Then it's time to jump off the . i've been to Mostar before and walked the bridge. Being a symbol for the town and for the whole of Bosnia, as soon as the war was over there were meticulous plans to rebuild it exactly the same as it was before the war, right down to the smallest detail. Neretva is among the coldest rivers in the world. This is definitely something that not everyone knows about. I'm healthy, fit and in my early 50s, and want to do it before I'm much older? speckle park bull sales 2021 847-461-9794; mostar bridge jump injuries. Your rational mind takes over very quickly. It was so worth it. 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). 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 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. So technically, the current bridge is not old, but its still a replica of the old bridge. If youre a thrill-seeker and figuring out what to do in Mostar, bridge jumping is definitely an amazing experience. 2 of 3 Picts He entered the competition for the first time in 2000. Those cobblestones though! We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. September 5, 2017 at 1:19 am. I think May or September would be best. Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar was declared as Unesco World Heritage Site in 2005. The medieval village that exists on either side of the bridge is more interesting than the bridge itself. We had to hand over 25 to the local dive club in order to jump. There will be lots of handshaking and high-fives at this point; its excellent! Even though it was undoubtedly beautiful, it was also one of the most imposing I have ever seen. Official annual bridge-jumping competitions started in 1968 and are still held each summer. I didn't want anyone thinking that I was thinking of jumping. In Australia, we achieve this by attempting to rapidly drink a 1.4L yard glass of beer while surrounded by friends and family. 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! If they say it's okay to jump, then do it! I don't normally do a lot of research on travel destinations before I arrive, but before arriving in Mostar I was aware of the Stari Most bridge jump for two reasons. Terribly unsafe. This is one of the best places to see in early September. My technique was to stand there and take three deep breaths. Once youve spoken to the team and decided you definitely want to jump, they will give you a wetsuit and take you out for a few practice jumps. The water is always cold which can trigger heart issues. Before arriving in Mostar, I had alreadylearnt about the reputation ofthe Stari Most as a jumping location. Very lucky to have my jump captured from multiple angles. Every year there are two or three new jumpers from Serbia, Montenegro, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but unfortunately not from Mostar. 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The practice dates back to the time the bridge was built, but the first recorded instance of someone diving off the bridge is from 1664. Thanks! 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. The Mostar Old Bridge is also known as Stari Most, Mostar Most, Bosnia Bridge, Mostar Bridge, Mostar Stari Most, Mostarski Most, or Stari Most. Proper bridge jumping technique needs get approved: at first, youll get a couple of jumps to prove that you can do it. Crooked Bridge is just a 5-minute stroll away from the Old Bridge and surrounded by restaurants. This timeI am regaling the tale of That Time I Jumped of That Bridge in Mostar. The force and impact often causes severe bruising. It is not a jump to take lightly. We witness a daring and incredibly high bridge jump in Mostar, Bosnia. Legends tell that the architect, Mimar Hajruddin, had to make it or break it. While walking on Mostar Bridge at night, a cold gust of wind made me feel chilly from inside, as I pictured the horrendous incidents this old bridge had witnessed through its 450-year history. Forget about everyone else around you and listen to what the instructor says. Let me know in the comments below! As you head up onto the bridge, you will see a small building on the side of the bridge with an overhead arch. Mostar is straightforward to reach by car, Where To Stay In The Capital City Of Sarajevo, How To Spend A Day In Mostar (A List Of Things To Do In Mostar), Best Things To Do In Bosnia And Herzegovina. It seems to me that Red Bull only involves itself in sportswhere death is a realistic outcome. MOSTAR, Bosnia-Herzegovina For more than three decades Semir Kazazic-Miro has been leaping from a bridge and plunging 70 feet into the ice-cold, fast-flowing waters of the Neretva River below. Once youve perfected your technique, theyll take you back up to the bridge for the actual jump. Bruises, dislocated joints, broken bones and compressed spines are common injuries for jumpers with poor technique. He never jumped on his feet. Before you can even really think about it, you hit the water! Risk of injuries is high, and even higher when the water level of Neretva River is at its lowest during the summer. As such, it doesnt really matter what you wear underneath. */, Firstly, there was anAustralian T.V show titled. Zac ess Legs need to come together before I hit the water if I ever plan on having kids. When I hit the water my legs ended up somewhere over my head and as someone that is not particularly flexible, muscles were stretched in ways they are not meant to go! Each to their own. While many blogs claim Mostar bridge jumping safe, YouTube is full of videos of jumps gone bad by unlucky tourists. Firstly, there was anAustralian T.V show titled 'Hamish and Andy's Gap Year'. 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. 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. For the last 450 years, Mostar, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been home to the Old Bridge Jump, where people jump off the city's Stari Most bridge, hurling through the air for a few. Evidently, they acknowledge the risks of bridge jumping and take great pride in their courage. 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. We live in Croatia, and are always exploring the region. Hell eventually reach his climax of wowing the crowd with a death-defying Stari Most bridge jump. 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. Did you recover alright? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. But I believe they are happy to let you jump even if theres just one person. What To Wear On A Longhaul Flight. They know how to tease the crowds to gather the next 25 to qualify a jump. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. '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. I know a guy who did this when were in Bosnia in 2006. 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. 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. It may not surprise you to hear that he was also Australian. 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. 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. I was not prepared for the speed that I would hit the water. Mar 6, 2017 - Old Bridge jumping traditional annual competition in diving organized every year in mid summer (end of July). The first bridge in Mostar was built by the Turks, under the command of Suleyman the Magnificent, already in the 16th century. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Somehow, at the last second, I managed to pull my arms and legs in, grab my balls, and make myself pencil-thin as I speared the water. The Old Bridge of Mostar is among the most important Islamic architectural structures in the Balkans. They will ask you to jump a few times until you get the technique correct. His students later designed the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and helped to create Taj Mahal. This was something I had to do; I had a feeling that this was an after-dinner story I could dine out on for years to come. The bridge was drawn by a famous architect, Mimar Sinan, and constructed by his student Mimar Hajruddin. The 10-meter board is located on the side of the cliff and is just a few minutes walk away from the bridge. How long did it take to train and then get approved for the jump? The Old Bridge (Stari Most) is an imposing sight in the city. Then, the instructor helps you through the crowds to the middle of the bridge and helps you climb over the railing. The Crooked Bridge looks like a miniature of the Old Bridge. https://www.bizarreglobehopper.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/mostar-bridge-daylight-bosnia-and-hertzegovina.jpg. 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.