The Little Donkey absolutely loved the bridge, and we decided to sit at one of the little cafes overlooking the bridge and observe it in all its glory. Then, just do exactly what youve been taught so far and step off. 020 7155 9863 The Mostar Bridge Jumping Festival! It's a tradition dating back long before the 1990s war which saw the bridge bombed to rubble. If youre thinking of doing the Mostar jump, then this is the guide for you. 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. You dont need a plan to visit Mostar Bridge: just go there and everything will get to you. If youve heard about the ghosts of Mostar, please share the stories in the comments below! Mostar was named after the bridge keepers who guarded the Stari Most in the medieval times. In 2004 the bridge reopened, and from that time, it has remained one of the most famous and unique attractions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. When the river is low, the height of the bridge can be up to 28 meters, while during spring the height can be only 24 meters. 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. In the aftermaths of war, Mostar was credited as the most heavily destroyed city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. If youre a thrill-seeker and figuring out what to do in Mostar, bridge jumping is definitely an amazing experience. Mostar's youngest diver honors centuries of . I'm 70 years of age, in good shape and there's still one scary moment to do. Those cobblestones though! Ok, thats a joke! The Mostar Bridge Jumping Festival, a local tradition which involves auspicious folk hurling themselves into it off a Bridge! The dive team there are great people and youre in for a cool adventure! If you're trying to find out how to jump from the bridge in Mostar, then feel free to skip ahead to the next section where I tell you exactly how to do it. This year, as in previous years, participants will certainly come from all countries of the former Yugoslavia. After all, jumping of Mostar Bridge is a 450-year old tradition. Very good. These leave from many of the major cities in Croatia. This building is where the Mostar Dive Club is based, and, in the daytime, there is usually someone about. 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, after reading this you still want to jump the Stari Most bridge, then I salute you! But if you want to do the jump yourself, well, heres everything I learned from my experience. 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. You will then pay 30 Euros here and go about your merry day. 10 for the practice jump and 20 for the real Mostar bridge jump. 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. Then, you simply look ahead, take a few breaths and go for it. I dont know how she expected me to react, however, if she knows me at all, then she should have predicted my immediate reaction . But it is now time for the actual jump! Thats because you are now an official member of the Mostar Diving Club! Legends tell that the architect, Mimar Hajruddin, had to make it or break it. Crazy locals claim that boy is not worth of girlfriend or job without having the balls to jump off Stari Most. The jump costs 35 (10 for the training and 25 for the Old Bridge jump). One of the dive instructors will also be there to steady you and help you. Of course, tourists are briefed for jumping off safely and accustoming their bodies to the cold. Recommended. In person, the bridge does look incredibly high up and it is very daunting. Thus, on July 30, on the day of the 451st traditional jumping from the Old Bridge, Mostar will be the center of the world. This causes people to freeze and actually makes things far harder. What To Pack For Albania per adult. The water hits you before you have time to really think of much else. When we arrived back up, a large crowd of spectators had gathered. The Stari Most and adjoining areas are a valuable historical, cultural and architectural treasure to the world worth preserving, and fortunately, this was recognized by UNESCO, and they took action. Most tourists prefer to jump feet first, which is safer if youre not super confident in diving head first. So what makes the Old Bridge of Mostar so unique? Jumping from the bridge in Mostar was one of my all-time favorite memories from driving all across that part of Europe. Pop in the pub at the eastern end the Crooked Bridge for craft beer at the terrace overlooking the bridge. Honestly, this was such a rush. If anything goes wrong for whatever reason, multiple dive club members are around to help. Every day I go to the gym twice and run twice. It is beautiful and the area around it is also beautiful. 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). Floods swiped away much of its footpath in December 2000, but once again UNESCO came to help and restored the Crooked Bridge to its former glory. Mostar and notably the Mostar Bridge, or Stari Most as its known locally, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovinas major tourist attractions. 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. Every year in Mostar, at the end of July, a diving contest is organized from the top of the bridge. What To Pack For Turkey But as long as you jump, as theyve instructed, youll be fine. Well, you will splash against the green Neretva River in 3 seconds after jumping off Stari Most. After getting approved to jump, the diving instructor takes you back to the Old Bridge and confirms that youre 100% up to the challenge. . Anyways, I was committed to doing it and soon found out everything I needed to know from the locals. Mostari tradition dictates that young men from Mostar must jump from the Stari Most into the cold waters of the Neretva river as a rite of passage into adulthood. The Mostar bridge jump in Bosnia costs 25 euros per person. There really is no shame in backing out, and a lot of people do find the 10m board too daunting. Diving from Mostar bridge has always been a Bosnian tradition, now a tourist attraction . You can read our privacy policy here. Plum Fair in Gradaac from 23 to 27 of August: More Bosnia and Herzegovina records economic growth:Tourism is an increasingly important sector Damir Roajac, confectionery virtuoso, world champion and Vacks judge: He thrilled Zaim Merdan, one of the most famous names of BH culinary Bosnian woman on the MasterChef Slovenia team: Alma Reki teaches Slovenians Baarija: Historical and Cultural Center of Sarajevo, Pannonian lakes in Tuzla better and more accessible than ever. I dont think wearing a wetsuit is essential, but I would 100% recommend it. 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. There was a long time tradition of jumping from the top of the bridge, I don't know whether it's still practiced! Ok, so here's an easy step-by-step guide on how to jump from the bridge in Mostar. The Old Bridge is certainly a haunting sight after dark when day-tripping tourists are swept away, and only occasional locals traverse the stone arch. Just before sunset, the cream-colored stone surface of Stari Most turns golden, shimmering upon the beautifully renovated old town of Mostar. It costs 10 for the practice jump and 20 for the actual jump. Some jump steeply, another sitting in a Turkish way, some jump into the water in pair, or three persons at once; and they all happily go out on the shore, ascending to the rocks, they go to the end of the bridge to receive the gifts of the vizier and the champion wrote famous travel writer Evliya elebi while observing jumpers from the Old Bridge in Mostar. They will also enter your name into the official record books alongside the hundreds of others who have completed the jump. The art of bridge diving is entertaining to watch, so why not to support a diver and the club. As we mentioned, dont try to jump off the bridge without permission. 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! Things to do in Mostar; Old Town In a stunning setting such as Mostar, you can see why travellers flock from the four corners of the world just to see this spectacle. I wish you the best of luck and, most of all, have fun! Daredevil high divers celebrated the occasion by resuming their championship event at the bridge, jumping from its 90-foot-high arch into the Neretva River. Here is a list of things to do in Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina one of the most diverse places in Europe. Be prepared to the cold river and wear a wetsuit if its provided or just bathe in cold water. Your short flight has a speed nearing 80 km/h. Facts about the Old 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. 4.5. Another option is to fly there. While many blogs claim Mostar bridge jumping safe, YouTube is full of videos of jumps gone bad by unlucky tourists. It is said that the tradition began just after its inauguration and since 1968 an annual diving tournament is held there. Water temperature hardly ever reaches 10 degrees, so it will be a cold dip for sure. During the summertime, the diving club members take turns in jumping off the bridge for money. There will be lots of handshaking and high-fives at this point; its excellent! It was 30 minutes? I want to jump it. A smaller Ottoman-era stone-arch bridge named Kriva cuprija, the Crooked Bridge, crosses one of the tributaries of Neretva just a stone throw away from the Old Bridge. I was in the tiny village of Llanthony in the rural Welsh borderlands. The bridge stood for 427 years until it was destroyed by Croat forces in the Croat-Bosniak War on November 9, 1993. 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. In turn, as long as you do what they say, then you should have no problems with your jump! It popped into my head again the other day. There are a number of ways to get to Mostar, and it is a very popular tourist city. july 29, 2018 23:27 gmt. After extensive research, the Old Bridge was rebuilt between 2001 - 2004 at the cost of about 5 million Euros. It is a common spot for hosting the Red Bull Cliff Diving Championships, which then get broadcast worldwide. 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 biggest attraction on Mostar bridge has always been the group of young divers who jump in the freezing river underneath. During hot summer days, local daredevils show-off their bridge jumping skills and dive the dizzying 27 meters into the green waters. It was great fun watching Joe (the American) and Dom (the Austrian) jump first, and there's a real buzzing atmosphere of excitement all around the bridge. It has two towers that historically housed the Mostari (bridge keepers). In my honest opinion, hell yeah, its worth it! All I could think about was do not fuck this up, do NOT fuck this up, while the dozens of tourists who were all clamouring to take my photo were probably thinking the opposite; I really hope he fucks this up.. @Macca Sherifi, what is the jumping technique? Although the competition is held in the middle of the summer (end of July), water is very cold so only the most trained and the most skilled will try to jump. Even the initial flaws were honored. The Old Bridge, Stari Most, is the heart and soul of Mostar: its the playground for local kids, lovers gazing at sun dipping below the banks of Neretva, bridge jumping adrenaline junkies, and souvenir shopping tourists. That averages . Feel the presence of Michelangelo, the Borgia Pope and other anxious souls still searching for their atonement. 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. Before we get into the nitty-gritty details, heres a quick rundown of the most popular questions people have and are the same ones that I had before doing the bridge jump. I would'nt do it at the mostar bridge, a jump would be enough. 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