Stari Most, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Back in the late summer of 2006 when I was on placement year I went to visit my good friend across in his home country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. One particularly hot and dusty day we took a day trip with his family from the capital, Sarajevo, to a town in south west, Mostar. Mostar is known throughout the world for its bridge, the Stari Most, an impressive stone built structure. When the original was completed in the 16th Century, while the country was under Ottoman rule, it was seen as an important step in engineering that was the widest man-made arch in the world. In November 1993 it made the headlines internationally as it was destroyed during the Bosnian War as part of a systematic decimation of the important crossings of the river Neretva. Plans were drawn up after the end of the war to rebuild the bridge and after 3 years of painful and careful reconstruction the bridge was completed in 2004.

It is interesting that this bridge represents so many of man's qualities and frailties. When first complete it was revered around the world for the engineering prowess and became a proud symbol for the town and people who constructed it. As a consequence it was the ultimate motif in the collapse of Bosnian society when it was destroyed. Literally bridging two communities it is now seen as part of a new country, one that is progressive and welcoming.

Bill.