Saturday, December 07, 2013

Source of the Banu

This is Blagaj, which is the source of the Banu river.  It is the largest (in terms of output) spring in Europe.  It is funny because it is in hills that look like the Malibu Hills and just as dry.  But this big river pops out of a cave 24/7.

The first building was a mosque / madras, but is now a restaurant and museum / gift shop.  You can walk through this to the second house - the one that looks very Bosnian / a little Tudor.  It is a Whirling Dervish Mosque.  I went in, but no one was whirling, which is was.  Eddie and I saw them whirl in Itanbul, and it meant I got a great picture through the mosque window of the spring.

After walking back to the car, I passed this sign.  Kind of odd, out here in what might as well be the Valley before homes.  It is very Mediterranian climate wise.  But the huge spring allows for a fish farm.

By the way, isn't it weird that it is Norwegian and Bosnian joint venture, but the sign is in English - not Norwegian or Bosnian?  I guess that is the common language for them.

FYI Bosnias all learn English in School now, so the younger ones translate for the older.