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Five Night Side Trip to Bosnia: A Schengen Course Correction
Nearly a year ago we started planning this trip. Not practiced at using air miles, we engaged a travel agent to help us book our flights. With her guidance, we opted to fly into Athens on October 2 and home on January 3.
While researching carry-on-only techniques, I stumbled across the 90 day restriction on stays in the Schengen area, which is comprised of 27 European countries. When I asked the travel agent about it, she had not heard of it. Since the travel agent wasn’t concerned about it, I didn’t really give it much thought. I should have.
Fortunately we met two men on our flight to Dubrovnik (coincidentally also from Oregon) who expressed concern about our “overstay”. They informed us we could face stiff fines, travel bans, and possibly criminal charges! These consequences can vary based on which country you fly out of, how long you overstay. Penalties are arbitrary.
Not risk takers, we opted to play it safe and take a side trip out of the Schengen region and visit Mostar Bosnia for 5 nights. This would pause our 90 days and allow us to fly home on January 3rd without breaking any rules. I’m a bit of an over planner, so this had nerves a bit jangled.
Bosnia is not in the EU nor is it in the Schengen area and we decide on Mostar because it isn’t too far from the border with Croatia and they have beautiful old town and historic bridge. So off we go on an unscheduled side trip.
It’s pouring. Sideways rain. We make it.
Bosnia seems sad. Maybe it’s the rain. In comparison to Croatia, we don’t get a warm vibe. The people seem to dress very nicely and drive newer cars. In contrast, buildings need facelifts and many still bombed out structures remain from the war
Taking advantage of a break in the rain, we visit the rebuilt Mostar bridge and have a traditional Bosnian coffee – pretty much a Turkish coffee. We visit the bridge museum and walk around Old Town, seeing handicrafts on display. We can’t bring ourselves to visit the Museum of War and Genocide though. It all seems more current than the Homeland War in Croatia, even though they happened at the same time.
The weather isn’t great so we have sauna days and mostly just relax. The moment we crossed the border back into Croatia I felt a weight lifted. We had a very rainy drive to Zadar but a break in the weather allowed for a few hours of exploring Old Town and getting a bite to eat. We found a perfect little restaurant, Trattoria Mediterraneo, run by the very kind Neven Lemic. Go there NOW and order the Spaghetti all’ Amattriciana! It was my favorite meal since we’ve been in Europe. Thank you, Neven. We’ll be back!
Settling in to Zadar feels like coming home. Our apartment is spacious with room to spread out and we’re snuggling in and watching a lightning storm.
More about Zadar and Plitvice Lakes National Park coming up….
I am more of a “come what may” guy but this was a pretty big deviation in our trip. I was very happy to have my navigator directing the trip here and “rolling” with some new routines. Am glad to report that they do make pizza in Bosnia.
Good thing you figured that out. I would hate to see you two on Locked Up Abroad!
Me either! 😎
Whew! Everyone needs a little rain – makes you grow. Nice pivot! And you can come back on time and share more of these wonderful meanderings.
XO…M
As always, you add a nice spin. A little rain and a rainbow!
Wow! close call averted in the nick of time. Now, with all the money you saved in ‘stupid American’ fines…wait for it…just think about the artwork you can bring home.
Really enjoy your blog, Julianne…perfect integration of photos and content/context. Thanks for sharing❣️😘💚💜💙
You have done such a great job of dotting your i’s and crossing your t’s . I am now amazed how you researched and corrected this error!
Glad you were flexible and made this work❤️
No worries and safe travels
I don’t know why I wasn’t more concerned before we left. Probably because the travel agent shrugged it off. Lesson learned, but very glad we were able to easily correct. 😎