Nathan's Insights

Friday 26 April 2024
Highlights: Exploring Tito’s Atomic Fallout Bunker, Experiencing stunning Mostar

Our thoughtful CEO Nadya suggested that today we do a side excursion on our way to Mostar and visit Atomska Ratna Komanda, or more commonly referred to as Tito’s bunker. This bunker was constructed between 1953 and 1979 by the Yugoslavian Government protect Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito and up to 350 members of his inner circle in the event of an atomic conflict.

Setting off from Sarajevo at 10.00 we headed to Konjic for this side excursion. We were down 2 members due to illness (who will hopefully catch up with us tomorrow). After about 1.5 hours of driving through scenic countryside we arrived, dropped of some group members, bought tickets and headed for the bunker.

This is a very unique structure. It cost approximately $4.6 billion USD to build and was a closely guarded secret. Builders were bought into the area without knowing the location and having no vision of the countryside. Once they completed one of the 12 block (sections) they never returned. This way no one builder knew the location of what the other blocks did.

During the 1.5 hour tour we saw how the complex was to operate. The communication room for decoding messages, dining room, power room, water room, air quality room, soldiers bunks, and the general and inner circle rooms. This then led to the biggest set of rooms for the President.

The bunker was only known to the public after Yugoslavia ceased to exist in the 1990s. It was an experience to be in such a complex. Thank god it was never used as that would have meant nuclear war and the end of the world as we know. Well worth the 20 marks (10 Euros) for the experience.

We reformed the group around 2 pm and headed for Mostar. After a lunchbreak on the way we arrived around 4 pm. A check in and short rest and Nadya provided a guided tour of what turned out the be one of the most beautiful cities I’ve seen in a while.

Before getting into the oldest sections of the city we walked through areas that showed the fighting back in 1993 when this city, was attacked separately by both Serbians and Croatians. The Croatians were more focused on attacking the Serbians not wanting them so close to the Croatian border but the result was the same destruction of the city.

Several of the group including Darby paid t go up the Koshi Medmed Pasha Mosque minaret for what I was told was a breathtaking view of the city.

The highlight of Mostar is the Old Bridge or Mostar Bridge, is a 16th-century Ottoman bridge. It had to be rebuilt after the war in 1993 lead to it’s collapse. The bridge was reopened in 2004. The landscape and bridge create a beautiful picture, to think it was taken away for over a decade by war is very sad.

The ancient streets in this area are also amazing. At times you think this is a postcard city or something created by an artist.

At the conclusion of our walking tour we very slowly headed back to the hotel the long way in order to take in the architecture and the sunset. The tastely ice cream treats were just another bonus.