[wzslider autoplay=”true”]When I visited Mostar in 2003, it was still a city reeling from the effects of the 1990s war that had left such unmistaken traces of its destruction, and wounds that are still healing to this day. The most iconic landmark of the city, and perhaps of all of Herzegovina, the Stari Most (Old Bridge) was still in the process of reconstruction. It didn’t feel like the Mostar we knew and loved, but the people of the city convinced me otherwise. A tall order for a city dominated by the significance of its most centrally important icon. However, their warmth and hospitality was the same as it ever was, with or without the bridge.
Today, the 16th century Ottoman bridge is back to its former glory. After 427 years of proud existence, the bridge was destroyed by Croat forces in 1993, but successfully rebuilt in 2004, with the help of UNESCO and other international organizations. The bridge attracts a host of tourists from all of the world on a yearly basis. Tourism and the hospitality sector are Mostar’s main economic components, with much of the manufacturing industry being destroyed in the war.
But the sheer beauty of the ancient bridge and the warm, sun-drenched city that surrounds it isn’t the only thing that attracts tourists and eager onlookers. There is a tradition unlike any other, and you’ve guessed it, it also has to do with the bridge. Around the world, jumping off of a bridge usually carries a negative connotation, a death wish. In Mostar, jumping from the 24m tall arc is a way of life, or as one diver puts it, “a way to impress girls.”
Nowadays, tourists flock to see the local divers take the plunge into the icy turquoise Neretva River below. Many people would suffer from sweaty palms just thinking about such a task, but for the people of Mostar, it’s not only a way of life, but a source of pride. In fact, the first recorded jump from the bridge was in 1664. Today, the city hosts an annual International Diving Competition that is typically hosted at the tail end of July. The summer of 2015 will mark the 479th such commemoration.
Jumping from the bridge is no small feat. At the height of 24m, many injuries can occur if a diver is unskilled and untrained. According to the locals, numerous people have even died attempting the fall, breaking their back or hitting the water with too much force. However, tourists who are brave enough to take the plunge can do so, under the guidance of the Mostar Diving Club who train willing newcomers for a small fee. The money goes into the upkeep of the bridge, which should give people an added motivation. Only around 750 people have made the jump and are lucky to be in the Mostar bridge jump hall of fame.
For those of us that are still to unsure about the prospect, we can simply enjoy the sheer spectacle of the moment, because like the bridge itself, it truly is a treasure for Mostar, the country, and all of us that visit this beautiful city.
(Written by Albinko Hasic)
