Reply The tradition of jumping is 451 years old. Severe bruising is the most common injury, but too many people also tell about broken bones, dislocated limbs, and even spine injuries. The last of which he did without clothes. The only justification I had for not jumping had disappeared and along with it, any chance of maintainingany respect within the Balkan backpacking community. Hi! Health and safety in places like the UK are stringent these days, and this jump is a novel and exciting way to get a hefty adrenaline boost. 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! 27-meter jump is not a joke. Home > Mostar Bridge Jump Guide (From Someone Who Jumped). As I broke the surface, the first thing I did was look back to the bridge; it was huge! If you love meat, you might disagree, though. An odd paradox and a thought I had to suppress. So, for 25 euros, the majority of which goes on the maintenance of the bridge, you get the opportunity to join the 24-metre club. I read that for 25eu you can pay the diving club and they will train u for a bit and stuff. Search from Mostar Jump stock photos, pictures and royalty-free images from iStock. When we arrived back up, a large crowd of spectators had gathered. It it Ill tell you all about what its like doing this jump, and whether there have been any Mostar bridge deaths. Also, a bunch of tourists have died here over the years, so yes, you can die. The water is frigid and will help keep you at least a little warm. 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. I'd definitely following the diving club's rules and advice on this one. Such as you leaning forward too much and hitting your face/stomach as you enter the water. Over the course of the next threedays, I didn't meet any other travellers that were planning on jumping. September 1, 2017 at 3:25 am. This timeI am regaling the tale of That Time I Jumped of That Bridge in Mostar. During the summertime, the diving club members take turns in jumping off the bridge for money. Then, the instructor helps you through the crowds to the middle of the bridge and helps you climb over the railing. Crooked Bridge is just a 5-minute stroll away from the Old Bridge and surrounded by restaurants. 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 . Should you be unable to swim to the edge, he will stop you from being washed downstream. Now, this is not something you should decide to do willy-nilly because the waters are dangerous, and many people have been injured or even killed by merely choosing to try it for themselves. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Growing in confidence, I began explaining tootherpeople that if I had found someone else to jump with, I would have. However, I had just completed a successful jump and been inducted into the Mostari Diving Clubs Hall of Fame, an honour that fewer than 1,000 people around the world can claim. This building is where the Mostar Dive Club is based, and, in the daytime, there is usually someone about. We took a day trip out to Mostar from Split. Feel the presence of Michelangelo, the Borgia Pope and other anxious souls still searching for their atonement. The Old Bridge stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed on 9 November 1993 by Croat forces during the Croat . Hamish and Andy were in there. It's only 23 metres high, think you can handle it? Home Blog Adventures Mostar Bridge Jump: Read This Before Jumping Off Mostar Bridge! He says that unfortunately this year, none of the long-standing jumpers will dare to perform swallow flight. A Friend and I would like to use the following picture for our own Art. 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. An hour? They will ask you to jump a few times until you get the technique correct. In fact, they are due to return later this year in August. Yeah, it can be really bad. Oh and be warned: dont try this at home! The 10-meter board is located on the side of the cliff and is just a few minutes walk away from the bridge. It has two towers that historically housed the Mostari (bridge keepers). Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Jumping from the bridge in Mostar was one of my all-time favorite memories from driving all across that part of Europe. Mostar's Crooked Bridge, Bosnia and Hertzegovina Is Mostar Haunted by Ghosts of War and Tragic Incidents? During the Bosnian conflict, 100000-200000 people were slaughtered, mainly on the streets of Sarajevo, Mostar, Srebrenica, and Banja Luka. There will be lots of handshaking and high-fives at this point; its excellent! I only jumped with the professional supervision of someone who does this day in day out. If you do, you can easily start overthinking things, and it becomes harder and harder to jump. Privacy Policy. My technique was to stand there and take three deep breaths. Mostar is 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. Swim to the shore, where diving club members are already waiting for you, ready to help you out of the cold water. He never jumped on his feet. (Water level? Youve jumped the Old Bridge in Mostar! You dont need a plan to visit Mostar Bridge: just go there and everything will get to you. 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. 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. Hows the jump, then? Slipping is dangerous because then you cannot prepare your body for hitting the water. The first Siege of Mostar was fought in 1992; the second Siege of Mostar lasted from 1993 to 1994. Back up in the clubhouse, they will fill out a certificate that you can take home. Each to their own. Your short flight has a speed nearing 80 km/h. Hum. OK, now weve covered a few basic concerns; lets get onto the juicy bits, how you go about jumping the Stari Most. Every diver has been recorded in a ledger for posterity. Evidently, they acknowledge the risks of bridge jumping and take great pride in their courage. Thanks! We managed to preserve the tradition and this is one of the most beautiful news from the city, even though only bad news are constantly coming from here. more, Bosnia and Herzegovina Destination Experts. My wife and I visited Mostar as part of a day trip from Dubrovnik. Water temperature hardly ever reaches 10 degrees, so it will be a cold dip for sure. The Stari Most defines the city of Mostar. In fact, theres a good chance you will have seen people jumping or diving from the bridge in the past. Professional jumpers subject tourists to dousing with water to get accustomed to the temperature and in spite of precautions/strict instructions injuries still happen, no fault of the instructors. As far as physical fitness is concerned, I think that I have given the maximum said Listo, emphasizing that he wants to defend the title but also to pass without injury. It would be a shame to ruin your holiday with an injury! The bridge after reconstruction. Like this post? The shape of the bridge itself also has its own story, it is said that it represents life that the bridge represents one-half of the circle, and its reflection in water is the other half of the circle, and this whole picture represents life. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. He claims that Mostar and the Old Bridge would become unique in the world. As Ive said, doing this Bosnia bridge jump can be really dangerous if not done right, Practice practice practice Theres nothing wrong with doing little practice jumps over and over again to ensure you feel comfortable. Hey, I am SJ and this is my family. Thank you for sharing. Yet I was climbing over the railing, so that I could willingly jump into the river. That day, tourists from all over the world are inevitable guests of this pearl. Crowd continues to build. It was ethnically rooted civil war, were neighbors and loved ones were set against each other. Mike jumped first. In fact, most people visitingSplit or Dubrovnikin Croatia will take a day trip to Mostar to see the iconic bridge. Bad river conditions? Over the course of the next three days, I didn't meet any other travellers that were planning on jumping. Yes, its a Bosnian legend: jumping off Mostar Bridge is how a boy becomes a man in Mostar! Climbing the railing. When you jump, widen your arms like wings and hold your core tight, keeping legs together. Andalusia in south Spain is amazing: Sevilla, Granada, Crdoba and Cdiz are just lovely to visit. For its time, the bridge was technologically advanced for a single-span stone bridge. So technically, the current bridge is not old, but its still a replica of the old bridge. The history of the battles that raged in the area is also of interest. I dont say this lightly please make sure this is something you want to do and something you are comfortable with. We need you around! Question Hello all, In the summer im going to visit Mostar in Bosnia, one of the most famous things there is the big bridge. 1218 mushie mushie . One of its last roles had been to allow Muslim defenders of the "left bank" cross the river and take supplies to their supporters and the population that had remained there. For more information, please see our The Ultimate Guide to Mostars Old Bridge: Bridge Jumping, Legends, and Ghosts of War. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. She compressed/fractured 3 vertebrate. 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. 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. '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. As I was having lunch I saw a crowd gathering on the bridge. Thanks! The elegant bridge spanned the River Neretva and was designed by the Ottoman (Turkish) architect Mimar Hayruddin. I've seen videos of people jump of it and read stories. speckle park bull sales 2021 847-461-9794; mostar bridge jump injuries. She wasn't paralysed or anything, but she certainly fucked up the next few months of her life. Its also a great place to take a photo of the divers in action. It is incredible how quickly you decelerate. I couldnt believe it. But I believe they are happy to let you jump even if theres just one person. As of 2015, only five women were on the list. Any thoughts on that? I think I performed better in the warmups, but he had pretty much nailed his jump. It long stood as a symbol of how the diverse Mostar population co-existed peacefully. We thought, wow how lucky was that that we turned up and straight away there was somebody on the bridge ready to jump. I am afraid that swallow style will disappear. While many locals say that the Old Bridge is haunted, to our misfortune we didnt catch any ghost stories. A Canadian girl had joined us from one of the other hostels. Despite its gentle appearance from afar, be aware that the bridge is a little slippery and has an incline, so be prepared and wear appropriate footwear. There are rocks and branches beneath the bridge and currents can be strong. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. If you do land a little off-balance, then having the wetsuit will reduce any pain you feel on impact. A village gathering around the river Honddu is one thing though, Mostar Bridge Jumping Festival is quite another. A potential lifesaver. So I hope, there will be an opportunity to forefill my last dream @Macca Sherifi, my last experience was a cliff dive from about 15 meters at Kamenjak. It was such an amazing experience, and in nearly ten years only about 750 foreigners have jumped off Stari Most, so its one of the most unique things to do in Mostar. ? Before jumping off, listen to your diving instructors final orders and take deep breaths. September 5, 2017 at 1:19 am. The Forbidden City ghost stories are lesser known, but with its history of over 600 years, it's said to be one of the scariest places in China. It documents a couple of Aussie comedians and their travels around Europe and the mischief they get into. 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. Once I got to Mostar bridge, I started talking to a couple of the local divers at the Mostari Diving Club to find out some more information. Good luck to you mate. I waited a few extra moments for him to get settled and readyto watch my jump. Bring a towel I was freezing after my jump and I didnt have a towel until I climbed back to the top, so make sure theres on at the bottom for you. Better yet, as you come back above the surface, you are greeted by dozens of spectators clapping and cheering you for your effort. Your rational mind takes over very quickly. 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. Bosnia and Herzegovina Tourism . We live in Croatia, and are always exploring the region. More is required if the diving club instructor isnt convinced. He possessesthe physique and importantly, the courageousness, of the average man. The Stari Most really is one of the sites you must absolutely visit when traveling through the Balkans. If you have travelled through the Balkans at all, there is a good chance you visited Mostar. When driving through Bosnia Herzegovina, one of the best things you can do is the Mostar Bridge jump! Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. With the help of UNESCO, Mostar Bridge was rebuilt in 2004, stone by stone and according to the original architecture. The town is surrounded by mountains. Almost as legendary as the bridge itself is a photo of jumpers jumping from a 27-meter high bridge into the crystal water of the icy Neretva River. Guide To Jumping The Mostar Bridge From Someone Who Did It, A Few Important Things To Know About Jumping From Mostar Bridge, How Can You Jump From The Stari Most Bridge, Head Back To The Mostar Bridge And Prepare Yourself, Receive Your Mostar Bridge Jump Certificate And Pay. 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. His technique was pretty good. When we went, there were 3 of us. The Old Bridge of Mostar has been an essential part of Mostars history right from the beginning. Every time I see this bridge, ( I've been there a few times ) I've looked at the daredevills who jumped down. Around the mid 1400s, the Ottomans ruled the area (the first recorded name of the city was around 1474 as "mostari" or "bridge keepers"). Lots of history and culture to be see this place, especially the Jumping tradition into the Neretva river. They will ask you to keep doing it until you get it just right. 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. That was about 5 years ago. It is a common spot for hosting the Red Bull Cliff Diving Championships, which then get broadcast worldwide. Here is the best travel insurance for the Balkans. The alarm turned on in Mostar, because there are no younger generations. Bosnia and Herzegovina has a varied landscape, with high mountains, rolling valley and large cities. As is normal with Stari Most bridge jumps, as soon someone is about to jump tourists begin to crowd around, mostly out of morbid curiosity. A man jumps from the Old Bridge during the 454th traditional diving competition in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Mostar Bridge was a very famous and historical bridge before its destruction in 1993 during the war in Bosnia and Hercegovina (part of the former Yugoslavia). Stari Most (lit. They run-up prior to jumping from the bridge, they fall down into the river and fly in the air like birds making special kind of stunts. It is beautiful and the area around it is also beautiful. who plays elias in queen of the south; tickets for the concession golf tournament; family doctors accepting new patients near me; greater moncton home builders Bruises, dislocated joints, broken bones and compressed spines are common injuries for jumpers with poor technique. Nice weather for the occasion. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Bizarre Globe Hopper. Check out our article on this gorgeous trip by train from Sarajevo to Mostar! Before hitting the water, bring arms tightly towards your body (and protect your precious body parts). mostar bridge jump injuries. Also, as discussed above, the jump itself isnt that dangerous. The natural beauty of Bijambare leaves everyone breathless, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a paradise of eternal adventurers, Haris Fazlagi:This is the year of important and serious tourism projects. Your email address will not be published. Just go and speak to one of those guys; tell them you want to do the Mostar Bridge jump, dont be shy; they are very friendly and helpful. So if youre interested in seeing how the professionals dive from the bridge, then be sure to tune in! Back then the iconic stone bridge was collapsed, but it didnt hold them back. I'm 70 years of age, in good shape and there's still one scary moment to do. I stayed non-committal. There are plans to include famous jumps from the Old Bridge in Mostar to the UNESCO World Heritage List soon, which everyone is eagerly waiting for. The top platform for Olympic level diving is the 10m platform. Then it's time to jump off the . In turn, as long as you do what they say, then you should have no problems with your jump! And thats when I launched myself off the side of the bridge into the river below. Mostar Bridge Jump: Read This Before Jumping Off Mostar Bridge! The conflicts continued for a few more years, but in peripheral regions and in lesser degrees, that is why the end of the war was generally fixed in 1995. 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 . In a previous career I was an engineer, now I am trying to make my way in the world as a travel writer andblogger. Your email address will not be published. When you hit the water, remain calm and try to regulate your heart rate and blood pressure. 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 hope you can fit it in though - it's such an amazing experience! I am ready physically and mentally. Primarily because neither Hamish nor Andyare athletes. I could hear Igor, my diving instructor, giving me some last-minute tips on how to make the perfect Mostar bridge jump, but his words were drowned out by the blood thumping in my ears. Im that sore that I am having trouble sleeping. Reply Then, just do exactly what youve been taught so far and step off. In Australia, we achieve this by attempting to rapidly drink a 1.4L yard glass of beer while surrounded by friends and family. Even though it was undoubtedly beautiful, it was also one of the most imposing I have ever seen. Thanks. Hayden Built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, the high-arched, stone bridge is a masterpiece. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. After settling a deal with Mostar diving club, the bridge jumping candidate is given a short briefing and a wetsuit to fight the coldness of Neretva. According to Australian website News.com.au, the traditional jump is seen as a right of passage for Bosnian men in particular: Locals say a man will be a complete life failure if he doesnt take the plunge he can forget about a job and a girlfriend.. If not, its just not for you. I'm healthy, fit and in my early 50s, and want to do it before I'm much older? Next, I had to step off the edge. Sinan was the chief Ottoman architect of Suleyman the Magnificent. The water is always cold which can trigger heart issues. Here is a list of things to do in Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina one of the most diverse places in Europe. We blog about the best travel destinations in the Balkans. Sadly, the original Stari Grad Mostar bridge was destroyed in the Bosnian War in 1993. Be prepared to the cold river and wear a wetsuit if its provided or just bathe in cold water. 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. You become a lifetime member of the Mostar Dive Club on completion of your dive. I wouldnt have the courage for sure. Travel insurance doesn't normally cover this kind of stuff, obviously. Thankfully I very quickly got my shit together and remembered the advicefrom the 'instructor'. They say that only the most skilled and best trained should jump, and that certainly wasnt me. Even the initial flaws were honored. Also, be aware that its very deep below the bridge, so theres very little chance of you going so low that you hit bottom. To be honest, I was pretty stoked to see the crowds build and gather. We travel the Balkans seeking out food, accommodation and the best things to do in the Balkans so youll save time travel planning & travel like a local. If you are going to jump off the Stari Most, you damn well want to have it witnessed by some other people. Please make sure that the water level is high enough before planning your bridge jump. You will then pay 30 Euros here and go about your merry day. 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. This technique allows you to remain perfectly straight the whole way down and to counteract any rotation on the way down. i've been to Mostar before and walked the bridge. However, most of the jumpers will be from Mostar. Even the best ice cream in town is served right beside Stari Most and best enjoyed on the bridge. After jumping off a 3ft bench a handful of times to prove I could do it, I asked Igor if I had a good technique and if I was ready to jump off the bridge; he said I jumped like a horse, that I would never be ready to jump off the bridge, but if I still wanted to do it then now was the time. Dozens gather every year to take the plunge. Let me know in the comments below!