HIKING OPTIONS IN MOSTAR CITY AND A SUMMER OUTFIT

Isn't this view breath-taking? One of the things I love about Mostar city is that it offers lovely hiking options accompanied with stunning views. Mostar is literally surrounded by mountains and hills, making hiking easily accessible. While there aren't many official and marked hiking tracks available, you can always make your own way up by following country and local roads. Naturally, you can also hike in the city itself, but hiking uphill has its additional benefits. Exercise the same kind of caution you would everywhere else (when going hiking) and you should be fine. I'm sure you know the  basic hiking drill, wear comfortable shoes and sensible clothes, drink plenty of water and protect yourself from the elements. Since sun is quite strong here, if possible I would recommend hiking earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon when it is not quite hot. That also applies to visiting Mostar in general. Be cautious and take the heat warnings to heart. Mostar is a very popular destination, one of the best known ones in Bosnia and Herzegovina and deserving so, I might add, but the summers here are quite hot so keep that in mind when visiting. I recommend avoiding being in the open during the hottest time in the day, but you can also minimize sun exposure by staying in a shade. 

I like hiking in general (read about the benefits of hiking here) because it is an easy and an affordable form of exercises that doesn't cost you anything but your time (no gym membership required). Urban hiking is great too, but it is also nice to get away from the city and hiking on the outskirts of a city can be wonderfully relaxing. It is the perfect way to escape the city without actually escaping it. When possible I  like to be rewarded for my hiking- say with a beautiful view. I always greatly enjoy the bird panorama of Mostar city. I admit that I don't always accomplish this bird perspective view by hiking, we sometimes visit the hills surrounding Mostar the easier way- by car, but there is definitely something extra special about hiking your way and being rewarded with a magnificent view. That's how I feel about it anyway. Today I'll share with you photographs from one such uphill hike. This hike was quite long, we went all the way to Vihovići. Technically speaking, Vihovići (a settlement that could be described either as a small village or a suburbs, depending on your perspective) is a part of Mostar city so were still in the 'city' area. However, I very much felt like I had escaped the city. The nature surrounding Mostar is so beautiful. It is definitely worth  the time it takes to explore it. I'll also link up some of my previous posts about Mostar that can offer hiking inspiration.  

HIKING OPTIONS IN MOSTAR:

Besides the city itself (I would especially recommend hiking on the banks of Neretva river), the hiking options in Mostar are extended by the neighbouring hills and mountains, such as hill Hum, hill Planinica, Raška gora, Velež mountain and so on. You don't have to climb all the way to the top. You can hike for as much as you like. Whatever way you choose, you'll be rewarded with a stunning view. Regular readers of my blog are probably already familiar with many of these hills, as I hike them often enough. All the more reason to recommend visiting them, right?

OVERLOOKING MOSTAR CITY, A SUMMER HIKING OUTFIT

VIEW FROM HUM HILL OVERLOOKING MOSTAR CITY 

HIDDEN LAKE IN MOSTAR CITY

A LIST OF POSTS WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MOSTAR CITY:

 You can see Mostar from the bird perspective in my previous posts (here, here and here). One of my favourite streets in Mostar here and here. Musala bridge (also known under its old name Tito's bridge here and here. You can see photographs of Mostar's catholic cathedral here.  You can see images of Mostar and its famous Nertva river here, here and here.You can see the park area of one of its most iconic catholic churches here. You can see both photographs of old bridge and my drawing of it here. Another one of my favourites when it comes to streets here. You can see photographs of Croatian cultural centre/theater here , here , here , here and here. You can see photographs of the main city park here, here, here,here and here. You can see images of Spanish square here,here, here, here and here. You can see photographs of Custom's bridge here and here. You can see photographs of the new bridge here and here.

THE STORY OF AN OUTFIT

Now, a few words about my 'pretty sustainable' outfit and by that I mean that all items in it are either old or frequently worn. The white jeans are vintage and I got them from my husband and by that I mean that I stole this pair from his closet. I can't say that I like they look on me, they are a size too big but they are very comfortable so I might wear them again. The straw hat is the newest thing in this look, I bought it last summer but I've gotten so many wears out of it that it checks out as sustainable. I paired these white jeans with a pale yellow t-shirt featuring a cartoon character known as Smurfette. The Strumfs are an invention of a Belgian comic artist Peyo- Pierre Culliform. A cartoon version of The Strumfs was quite popular when I was a kid. I honestly don't remember when and when I bought this shirt, but it was at least five years ago. The sneakers are even older, and so comfy. I'm really digging this sneakers for summer trend, I have to say.

WHAT IS A CLOSET MASS INDEX?

 Recently I got a newsletter from the Slow Season Fashion initiative. If you remember, I signed a pledge not to buy any new clothes (second hand ones are allowed) for this season. I can't say it's much of a challenge because I prefer vintage and second hand clothing items to new ones anyway. I don't even buy second clothes that often, now that I think of it. I haven't bough anything new, but I also haven't done vintage or second hand shopping this season (even if it is allowed).  I guess that I'm just not in the shopping spirit. 

Anyhow, I'm glad I signed up for this initiative not only because I think sustainable fashion is important, but also because I got to learn new things. For example, in the e-mail the organizers send me they introduced this term of 'CMI', i.e., Closet Mass Index. You know like BMI (Body Mass Index) but for clothes. Isn't that a fun way to look at it? The idea is that you make an inventory of your closet, write down all the things you have in there and then calculate how often you wear them. That way you can find out how 'green' your fashion choices are because the more you wear an item, the more sustainable it becomes.  It is just such a clever concept, isn't it? I really like it a lot. I still haven't done an inventory of my closet but I might do in the future. I know that my BMI is within the healthy range, and I'm definitely working on keeping it there. It would be nice to know that my CMI is healthy as well. I have yet to calculate it, but in the meantime I'll definitely keep to my sustainable fashion habits and keep shopping my closet. Bellow I copy pasted a past of the newsletter in case anyone is interested.

"Calculate your Closet Mass Index.  The Closet Mass Index helps you to create transparency into your wardrobe. Collect all your clothing in one pile and go through the next steps:1. How many clothing items are in your possession? ⁠2. Make a segmentation: how many are new, secondhand or gifted? And how many items are unworn (ever or for example in the last 6 months)?⁠3. Take a picture of yourself with these numbers and post it on Instagram and/or Facebook using #slowfashionseason and #closetmassindex. ⁠ ⁠4. Repeat the steps at the end of the Slow Fashion Season - how's your CMI then?The Closet Mass Index is developed by Hello Goodbuy students from Amsterdam Fashion Institute. ⁠"

Tell me what do you think about the hiking options in Mostar? Do you enjoy hiking? If yes, what are your top hiking destinations? What do you think about CBI?  As always, thank you for reading, commenting and visiting.