Still standing

I am now in Sarajevo and finally have access to the internet although it means walking or taking a taxi to the Holiday Inn where I am sitting now using a computer at the hotel! I am very impressed with the people I have met here. Today is my 3rd day here, we arrived on Saturday and today is Monday. I am saying that for myself because at this point I have completely lost track of time!
Driving to Sarajevo took 6 hours and so much of the country side broke my heart. Entire communities of houses that were destroyed and they stand there today grown over with trees and bushes, the people in them have moved away or been killed in the war that began in 1991 and ended in 1995 when the United States finally bombed the Serbian forces that had besieged the city of Sarajevo. I have spoken to so many people who were affected by the war. The driver that took me to visit a school in a rural village had served in the Special Forces and out of 18 members in his unit only 6 survived. However, these people have recovered and they are very proud of this war-torn city. The Holiday Inn where I now sit was the home of the journalists during this war. I visited the bridge at Mostar that was rebuilt and is stunning! There is so much beauty here, but in order to appreciate it you first need to look past the buildings scarred by mortar fire, small cemeteries all through the city because they could not leave to bury the dead, and bullet ridden buildings and get over the feeling of incredible loss in order to see the city as it is today. The streets are filled with beautiful, very well dressed, people and there are children playing, dogs barking, flowers everywhere - this city is very much alive but still needs help from the global community. I hope the rest of the world does not forget the people here.

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina