So, as I mentioned a few weeks
ago, I have recently been involved with the organisation of the Diplomatic
Winter Bazar, which took place on Saturday 1st December.
Having had some time to recover
and more importantly count the cash we managed to raise, it has become evident
that the event was an unprecedented success and we have raised more than we
could ever have imagined.
Drum roll please... the grand
total is 46'411.78KM (approximately 20,000GBP).
This is a huge amount of money
anywhere, but especially here and is going to go a long way to help the four identified
beneficiaries.
The day itself was slightly
fraught, and it was a learning curve for me working on such a huge event as a
volunteer (as your approach to everything has be slightly different compared to
if people are being paid)! All the usual on-site event stresses came to the
fore, the main issue which occurred was that the floor plan we had been given
was not correct and there we had huge challenges trying to get all the tables
in the space we had available.
The venue we used is the French
School, initially we thought it would be big enough, however it soon became
evident that this was not the case and with over 100 Embassies, vendors and
NGOs it was a squeeze and then add over 1,000 guests... and it was a squash!
However this is all a learning, and next year the venue needs to be much bigger
(I am holding out for Zetra Stadium)!
However, aside from all of the
challenges, everyone had a good time. The Embassies all laid on amazing spreads
of food, from paella from the Spanish, fondue and raclette from the Swiss,
cheese and wine from the French and Carlsberg from the Danish! The UK table
sold a selection of delicious homemade jams and chutneys, along with some mince
pies!
The debriefing meeting will take
place in the New Year, which gives us all some time to reflect on everything
and we can then regroup and identify what we can do to make it an even bigger
and better event in 2013!
So, as I mentioned a couple of months ago,
myself and my partner have both been involved in a British Panto, which thanks
to a number of international and local volunteers we successfully executed last
week.
Jack and the Beanstalk was the third offering
from Sarajevo and London Mature Dramatics Society (S.A.L.A.D.S) and went down
an absolute storm (even if I do say so myself)!
We put the production on in the Dom Policije
theatre, which is an impressive state-run building which houses a beautiful
theatre. Sadly, the venue itself has not had much TLC over the last few years,
so when the curtain jammed shut at the start of the first dress rehearsal we
should not really have been surprised!
However, apart from a few inevitable
challenges and technical issues (all of which we overcame) the production was a
massive success with around 600 people attending over a three night run.
In true
panto style, we encouraged plenty of audience participation and ensure that the
adults were suitably lubricated with alcohol and the kids with sugar! This
ensured that the shouting, booing and hissing was as loud as it needed to be! We
had frightful panto dames, who spent much of the show trying to show off their ‘unmentionables’,
we had a trio of baddies who have since become included on the most wanted list
for the under 5’s throughout Sarajevo. And a formidable performance from the
Hen who lays golden eggs… this performance was worthy of any Olivier
Award!
Its success
hinged on a great group of people, from actors and the production team, through
to the volunteers. It really was a team
effort and something I have been so very proud to be a part of! Since the panto
has ended, it has been great to catch up on some sleep, but I still seem to be plagued
with the words from various songs, which I cannot seem get out of my head, so
to share the love, here is a tiny snippet of the opening song:
As a result
of the ticket sales and the nightly bucket collections, we have managed to raise
over 4,000KM which will be going to Helping Hearts and Hands Foundation, who
are an active volunteer group here in Sarajevo within whom I am a trustee.
So, the
Christmas season is well and truly underway… oh no it isn’t… oh yes it is…. Until next
year ;-)
So, yet another post about the weather...
After a beautiful, if somewhat short autumn, December arrived and... It snowed!
One of the many things I love about living in
Sarajevo is the clearly defined seasons and moving from autumn to winter was
certainly this. It was only 6 weeks ago we were enjoy a BBQ on our balcony with
temperatures in the high 20’s!
Over the past 12 days, we have had several
inches of snow and temperatures have already dropped well into the double minus
figures. More importantly, I heard rumors that the ski resorts have started to
open (a little earlier than planned), so fingers crossed we should get some
good skiing in, over the Christmas break!
So whilst the town itself is not particularly
Festive, the thick snow on the ground, the freezing temperatures and a
beautiful Christmas tree up in our flat, there is certainly a Festive feeling
in our household! I am certainly looking forward to our first Christmas in
Sarajevo!
One of the
projects I am involved with is sitting on the organising committee for this
year's Diplomatic Winter Bazar. Winter bazars are big events here in Sarajevo
and provide the chance for the community to get together and raise a lot of
money for a variety of local charities.
This year's
event promises to be bigger and better than ever, thanks to the united efforts
of the Diplomatic Wives Club, Helping Hands and Hearts Foundation and the
International Women's Club.
Embassies are
all invited to attend and sell food, drinks and good all relating to their
county. So there will be a wide range of delicious things on offer, from wine
from the French, raclette from the Swiss, Carlsberg beer from the Danish and
homemade jams and chutneys from the British.
In additional
to the various stalls (there will be approximately 200 exhibitors), there will
be a kids zone, so parents can leave kids for an hour or so, whilst they go off
and shop (and try the wine), Father and Mother Christmas will also be making an
appearance and kids will be able to have their photo taken with him (and Dads
can have their photo take with Mrs C)!! There will be entertainment throughout
the day, including the local International choir singing a selection of much
loved Christmas Carols.
And there
will also be a Grand Raffle, with some amazing prizes on offer, which have been
donated by a large group of wonderful sponsors. This year the
funds raised will go to four beneficiaries:
Helping Hearts and Hands Foundation, Sarajevo
EDUS in Mjedenica, Sarajevo
Association for Children with Special Needs, Doboj
And under the umbrella of one NGO in Gorazde;
Primary School
“Fahrudin Fahro Baščelija“
Association for
Helping Persons with Learning Difficulties
So, put the
date in your diary:
When: Saturday
1st December, 11:00 - 18:00
Where: Collège
International Francophone Sarajevo (CIFS), Paromlinska 66,
Tickets cost
5KM for adults and kids under 12 years old.
Tickets can
be bought in advance on Saturday 24th November between 11:00-15:00 in front of
the BBI or on the door.
As
the temperature has dropped marginally, I have dug out the baking tins. There
is the most wonderful selection of fresh berries in the markets at the moment.
Whilst we an abundance of strawberries earlier in the summer, the raspberries
are still going strong and the blackberries have just started to come into
season.
We
have been eating these fresh every morning, either in fruit salads or smoothies
- when a one kilo of raspberries is around £1.20, it would be rude not too!
This
week it was our language teacher's birthday, so I knocked up a batch of
Blackberry, Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins. The result was perfect, tasty,
fresh and moist, ideal for breakfast with coffee or mid-afternoon with a nice
cup of tea.
One
of the many delights of living in an ex-communist country, apart from the
architecture and the availability of Tito 2012 wall calendars has to be State controlled
heating.
This
morning, our heating was turned on. We had not made a conscious decision that
this was necessary and if we were in the UK in control of this and the
temperatures were the same, we would be putting another jumper on, before
giving into autumn!
However,
here, in our ex-Yugoslavian style flat, someone within the depths of the state electricity
department has deemed it an appropriate time for us to have heating again.
Rumour has it, that for this to happen, the temperature has to drop below a
certain level for three consecutive days. The last two days have been grotty,
but today for the foreseeable future; it is going to be around 25 degrees!
So,
the summer clothes are not being packed away quite yet and we will have to go
against everything we have learnt about saving energy and throw the balcony
doors open for a bit longer yet!
This
Saturday I found myself standing in the middle of a cricket pitch, fielding for
an international cricket team playing the Pakistan Embassy. I had one of those
moments where I thought, how did this happen, playing cricket, in a field on
the outskirts of Sarajevo, in the beautiful sunshine on an October afternoon. In
true Bosnian style, cucumber sandwiches were swapped for cevapi. Sadly
we lost team lost to a much stronger Pakistani team. Maybe if we start to
practice now, we might be in with a chance next year!!
A pantomime is something quintessentially British! So, when overseas it seems apt to get together a group of internationals and put on a show where women play boys, men play old dames, there is lots of booing at the evil king and someone has dress up as the back end of a cow!
Sarajevo and London Amateur Dramatics Society (S.A.L.A.D.S) was establish two years ago, to bring together the international community through the power of acting, raise some money for local charities and give people something to do in the cold, dark months of October and November! The previous pantomimes have been great successes and this year, I have become involved in show number three.... Jack and the Beanstalk!
Along with around 12 other internationals, we will produce, design, promote and act in a (fingers crossed) fun, colourful performance just before Christmas.
I have no doubt that I will blog more about this over the coming months, as rehearsals get underway!
As per a previous post, we have already been up to Igman, and viewed the disused ski jumps perched on the side of the mountain. To get the full set of Olympic venues, a trip to the disused bobsled run was still outstanding. After a couple of failed attempts (we got totally lost trying to find Trebevic), we eventually made it this weekend.
It was definitely worth the wait as it is a quite a remarkable sight. Now we know where it is, it is quite easy. Follow the signs up to Trebevic (via Grbevica), cross the transit road and the pass a petrol station on your right. Turn left at the T-junction (sign posted Pale/Jahorina) and then stay on this road for about 10km. It is quite a road. Beautiful views, but the road itself is in dreadful condition. At one point, there is only one side of the road with tarmac as the other side seems to be slipping away. Eventually, you will reach a large car park (on both sides of the road) and there is a section of graffiti’d bobsled track. Take a left here, drive through the car park and keep going. After a 1km or so, it will be in front of you... the back and underside of a large piece of track. Drive under the track and you can park in the little car park.
At this location, you can get a great view of a small section of the track, which is now covered in graffiti. It is also possible to get onto the track and walk up and down it - although please be careful! Be warned, do not walk off/around the track, I understand the area is heavily mined; therefore stay only on the tarmac.
We took a short walk up the track, there was a lot further we could go and we will go back at some point as I would love to walk up to the start. I understand that further down the course, the track has been heavily damaged and there are sections missing, therefore if you are faced with a gap do not just jump onto the ground and climb up on the other side, it is recommended you take someone who knows the area and the mine threat.
Another weekend spent in Sarajevo, with yet more glorious weather.
Sunday morning we set off up to Trebevic Mountain (the mountain which overlooks Sarajevo from the South side). We went to meet a number of other volunteers who were giving up their time to litter pick in and around Sarajevo. Organised globally, it was great to see that the Let's Do It campaign had made it to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The aim of the campaign is simple... 'In 2012, from 24th of March until 25th of September, a series of cleanups will sweep over the globe, touching all continents and bringing together millions of people who will be cleaning up their homes.' This weekend it was our turn. I was particularly keen to get involved as litter is a real problem throughout the country. It is one of my real issues with the country as we drive through the beautiful countryside which is marred by tons of litter, stuffed in hedgerows, lying by the side of roads and floating in river. The people do not seem to care. Even more sadly we have been behind a number of cars and watch passengers throw rubbish out of the window. It makes my blood boil.
We were given a car park/layby area off the main road which we tackled with a number of fellow Wombles from the EU delegation. Gloves, bin bags, brooms and shovels were provided, along with water, which was much needed as it was rather warm! An hour or so later, we had done a comprehensive job and place was much cleaner than we found it.
Last weekend, we were faced with a weekend in Sarajevo. This makes quite a change; therefore as the weather was still glorious I was dead-set on making the most of it! We embarked on a couple of little trips, both of which only require an afternoon and are within 35km of Sarajevo.
We heard about an eco-village which is located about 12km from the city, so this was trip one. The drive is beautiful, leaving the city on the Pale road and then following signs to Hresa. It is quite a climb up through some wonderful little villages (I have vowed that we will cycle this route before winter arrives… although it could be something I regret saying)! EcoFutura is signposted all the way and the last 2km are on dirt tracks. The village itself offers basic accommodation, a restaurant which is open until 9pm (and serves alcohol), there is also a small Go-Ape style tree top rope experience and children’s tree house play area and a small football pitch, basketball and volleyball courts. There are also some small walking trails and apparently mountain biking trails will be open next year. We opted for some lunch, the restaurant is run by Vegehana (a vegetarian restaurant located in the centre of Sarajevo) and I am a big fan. The falafel and ginger drink comes with a very big recommendation. There is plenty of outside seating, which is very informal, seats are hay bales and the area is shaded. Inside the main building there is more restaurant seating, a large children’s playroom and a lounge area with a pool table. After we had eaten we took a walk around the grounds, it is small, perfect for kids, but the main attraction for adults is probably the restaurant, although we did have a go on the seesaw and swings! Being a Saturday afternoon it was busy which is great to see and the majority of visitors were locals, which is even nicer to see. It sits at about 1,200m so it is noticeably cooler than in the city which makes a welcome change in the heat of the summer. I would absolutely recommend it for an informal lunch in the countryside, and if you have kids, then it is an absolute must.
On the way home, down the long mountain road (just before entering the small town of Hresa) we spotted a house selling tomatoes and cucumbers. We decided to stop. We interrupted a family having a long, leisurely Saturday lunch, but they were more than happy to help us. Thinking we would just get a punnet of tomatoes and be gone, I was delighted when I was pointed in the direction of green house and told to pick my own! The vines were bursting full of ripe, juicy tomatoes so we have no problems quickly picking 2kg! It was a wonderful experience, something so simple made me very happy. We have been enjoying a range of tomato salads ever since and they really are delicious!
Trip two took us out of the Sarajevo in the other direction. Following the road past the airport for 10 mins or so, there are signs to the right up to the Olympic Mountains, Bjelašnica and Igman. I have skied up at Bjelašnica on a couple of occasions and we heard that there was a paragliding competition taking place. The road to ski resort is long and windy and there are mine signs lining the route (so don’t leave the tarmac and head off into the bushes for a wee). Despite being a keen skier, I have not actually ever made it to a ski resort in the summer months, we took a trip to Jahorina in June and I was very disappointed, so I did not have high hopes about Bjelašnica. However, I was pleasantly surprised. These mountains are much greener and meadow like which is lovely. The parking was free and as an added bonus the main chair life was running. Costing 10KM for a return trip, we jumped on - which was a bizarre experience being in flip flops and not skis! The view was fantastic, again being much higher, it was a perfect temperature. There isn’t much to do at the top, there are no restaurants/cafes open, so you can either walk or get the chair lift back down. We opted for the latter... which was very lazy. Sadly, we missed the paragliding which was a shame.
Back in the car, we decided to pop along to Igman as neither of us had made it there yet. Igman was the home to the cross country skiing and ski jumping in the 1984 Olympic Games. The road to Igman was littered with people enjoying the sunshine, picnicking and playing football. Igman is located on lower, flatter ground therefore making it much more accessible. Follow the road past where the cross country track was located - it is not sign posted as such, but looks like suitable terrain for this sport and there are also some faint tracks in the grass. There is then a left turn, which is sign posted with a wooden sign which welcomes you to Igman and include the Olympic rings and logo etc... We missed it first time. This little road takes you to a bowl area and into a car park and then you see the two disused ski jumps perched on the hill side. It is actually quite errie - two disused ski jumps just sitting there in the shadow of the hillside. The bowl area, where the skiers would come to a stop is a lovely grass area and people were playing football. There looks like there is a restaurant, although it was closed.
We decided to climb up to the jumps, there are steps on each side. They really are very steep, much more so than I was expecting. The officials building on the side of the run is now abandoned with broken windows and UN signs all over it - sad signs of the troubles here in the past. The view from the top is great, looking out over some nursery ski slopes, the group of lads playing football and pine forests towering on the hillside in the distance.
