Mission Intermission with friends!

Last week two of my closest friends flew 6,300 miles across the ocean to visit me, and we packed our days with laughter, site seeinng, shopping, eating good food  and plenty of memories to last a lifetime.

We have a little tradition every year around our birthdays (which are just a few weeks apart), we plan a weekend or week-long getaway together. Five years ago, these two made the same journey while I was serving my last mission during COVID! Somehow, by a small miracle, the world opened up for a few short weeks in October 2020, just when their flights were booked. We spent that trip in Croatia

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They arrived in Sarajevo on Saturday afternoon, and I did my best to keep them awake as long as possible to help fight off the jet lag. After a quick tour of the city, we ended the day the best way possible: with a plate of delicious ćevapi. 😋🇧🇦

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On Sunday, we hit the road to explore the beautiful Bosnian countryside. The drive was an adventure in itself, winding roads, rolling hills, a few heavy rainstorms, and even a couple of unexpected cow crossings! 🐄🌧️ It was the perfect start to our week together

We arrived in Split Croatia on Sunday evening. We booked an airbnb right in the middle of Diocletian's beautiful Palace

   On Monday, after breakfast (and our first of many scoops of sladoled 🍦), we set out to explore more of the area. The forecast had called for rain, but instead we were blessed with a beautiful sunny day, perfect for adventure!

We hopped on a tuk-tuk city tour and cruised through the charming streets, taking in the sights, sounds, and history of this beautiful city.

A view from Marjan above the city 

  The next morning we squeezed in a little shopping before hitting the road toward Dubrovnik.

The drive along the Croatian coast was absolutely stunning, rolling hills, turquoise waters, and postcard-perfect views at every turn. 

Matching raincoats! I bought my first and they loved it so much that they bought their own. 

On our way, we stopped for lunch and a bit more shopping in the delightful seaside town of Makarska, one of the Adriatic’s hidden gems. 🌊🛍️🌴

We finally made it to Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” ✨ 

One of my favorite cities in Croatia

One of the highlights of our stay was a private boat tour around the city’s famous walls, an unforgettable way to see this stunning coastal gem from the water. 

The forecast had called for clouds and rain, but as you can see from our sunglasses, blue skies, and lack of jackets, we were blessed with perfect weather! ☀️⚓💙

On Thursday, we began our journey back to Sarajevo, making a quick stop in the charming city of Mostar, home of the iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge). 🌉

Mostar is a place straight out of a storybook — cobblestone streets, colorful shops, and inviting little restaurants tucked around every corner. During a previous tour, I learned a fun bit of history: years ago, the buildings were painted different colors because there were no street addresses. Instead of saying “123 Main Street,” people would simply say, “the pink house on Main Street.” 💗

Mostar is a place straight out of a storybook, cobblestone streets, colorful shops, and inviting little restaurants tucked around every corner. During a previous tour, I learned a fun bit of history: years ago, the buildings were painted different colors because there were no street addresses. Instead of saying “123 Main Street,” people would simply say, “the pink house on Main Street.” 💗

I took them to the same charming restaurant where I’d brought my sisters when they visited in July, complete with a beautiful view of the little crooked Bridge.The setting was just as magical the second time around, with delicious food and the sound of the river flowing beside us.

Their last day was spent enjoying the heart of Sarajevo, shopping, sampling delicious food, and squeezing in a bit of last-minute sightseeing. 

We fed the pigeons in Pigeon Square, 

 

                          We soaked up the atmosphere with the call to prayers, and did a little people                              watching in the old town 

We visited the big mosque (they make you wear a head covering) and lots of shopping.

That evening, we wrapped up the trip with a wonderful dinner shared with friends. It was extra special because Maddie and Johnny Parkinson have just moved to Bosnia for the next eight weeks! I served with Maddie during our last mission in Croatia, and I’m so happy to have her and her sweet husband here in Sarajevo with us for a while. ❤️

We ended our wonderful week with one last Sladoled!

While I was out having fun, Charles stayed behind to focus on our humanitarian work. He met with families with our NGO, Muslim Aid to interview them about receiving pregnant cows. 

He also visited an orphanage that houses several hundred children (Bosnia doesn’t have a foster care system) to inspect the new kitchen equipment we recently donated. Love my amazing companion!