2 Weeks on Sick List ...

For the past 2 weeks I have been on sick list due to Pneumonia. Most likely caused by the numerous viruses that pass around our college as we all live together and also it's quite likely that hiking through ice cold water didn't help either.

This led to an experience I hoped I wouldn't have to try; going to a Bosnian hospital. Unlike in Britain when you get at all ill here you go to the hospital as there are no GP surgery's. So I went to the hospital with our house mother because I had been ill for a few days with a fever. I don't think I have ever been prodded so much in my life. Unfortunately in Mostar the hospital is broken up all over the city so that means you end up getting sent from one place to the next if they suspect something is wrong.

After we had visited several hospitals, which were strangely deserted and very eerie, had blood tests and chest x-rays they diagnosed me with the start of pneumonia and gave me lovely antibiotics. So now I've been in bed for a couple of weeks and have finally recovered. Now I just have to catch up with everything, thats's a sickening thought!

Bijele Rijeke

On Sunday we went for a hike to Bijele Rijeke which translates as White River. It always amazes me how beautiful the scenery is here, the whole landscape shares the atmosphere of being rugged, wild and powerful. It only took us 30 minuted to get to the starting point of the hike and instantly we were surrounded by towering mountains, that loomed ominously over us. The hike led us through a valley, following the course of the river. A real sense of awe runs through the place. It took us about two and a half hours to get to the source of the river and ultimate goal. Unfortunately some of us managed to get lost along the way, loosing track of the markers and having to create our own path up the mountain side. We walked a lot of time along the river bed, across the white stones until we reached the end. The hike itself wasn't too challenging and we all agreed it was worth it.

At the end of the river was a cave. Inside the cave was the waterfall and a beautiful grotto style landscape. The only issue was to get through this cave you had to trek through ice cold water and over rocks. Only the most adventurous dared to enter but we discovered it was well worth the numb feet. Then began the trek back to the bus, with wet trousers on my behalf, which seemed to go on for quite a while. It was really incredible but has left me and a few others in bed trying to recover from colds and flus. After all it is only February!!