VISIT NATURE PARK BLIDINJE IN BIH WITH #MODAODARADOSTI

Hello dear readers! How are you? Today I'll blog about nature park Blidnje (#notsponsored), one of the most beautiful protected nature parks in Bosnia and Herzegovina. If you're a nature lover planning on visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina, this protected area is a must see. We visited it during one Sunday in August. Don't ask me which Sunday, I didn't keep track. This August is just flying by, I can't believe how fast this summer is passing us by. It always happens when I devote time to my art as I have been doing lately. Scroll down to read more about nature park Blidinje. 

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN BLIDINJE NATIONAL PARK? 

READ ABOUT MY PREVIOUS VISITS TO NATURE PARK BLIDINJE:

Nature park Blidinje as a whole is definitely worth a visit. I don't like to repeat myself on this little place of mine, so you're more than welcomed to have a look at my previous posts if this subject is of interest to you:

1. PROTECTED AREAS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: NATURE PARKS BLIDINJE AND HUTOVO BLATO

2. HOW TO GET TO BLIDINJE?

3. A FEW REASONS TO VISIT BLIDINJE

4. WHERE TO STAY IN BLIDINJE?

5. NATURE PARK BLIDINJE, BOSNIA AND HERCEGOVINA

DIVA GRABOVCEVA HERITAGE SITE

This time we visited in the company of our friends and they wanted to see the local cemetery and the statue devoted to Diva Grabovceva, a catholic girl  from the 17th century who is considered a martyr. Diva was stabbed to death by Muslims after she rejected the marriage proposal of Tahir-beg Kovcic. She is revered by the locals because she preferred death to abandoning her faith. I actually attended the first performance of the first opera devoted to Diva back in 2016.  I'm an opera lover so there was no way I was going to miss that. Anyhow, if you are into Christian religious tourism, this little spot might be of interest to you. If not, follow me as I show you other areas worth visiting in this park.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW TO GET TO NATURE PARK BLIDINJE? The easiest way to get there is by car. Depending on where you are coming from, you will need to take a different route. If you're visiting the Adriatic sea and/or Croatia, you should note that Blidinje is only an hour and a half drive away from the sea (but it might be more if there is heavy traffic in summer, I should add). Driving through Neretva canon is a pretty good idea, just because it is so beautiful and as such worth a visit. I do recommend driving through Neretva Canon if you get the chance but other routes are fine as well. We tried them all, but more about that some other time.

WHERE TO STAY AT BLIDINJE?  In my old posts, I suggested staying at hotel and restaurant Hajdučke Vrleti. This time I won't share the photos from there because this post is busy as it is, but we did stop there for lunch with our friends and we had a great time. 

VISIT THE MOUNTAIN LAKE BLIDINJE TO EXPERIENCE MAGICAL MOMENTS

I already took you to mountain lake Blidinje in my SIGHTS TO SEE, PLACES TO VISIT: BLIDINJE LAKE   feature as well as in this post. Today I will take you there again. Visiting a mountain lake often feels like finding a rare gem. There is nothing quite like it. If you are a lover of mountains and lake, seeing a mountain lake will surely be something you will not forget. 

Blidinje lake (Blidinjsko jezero) is the largest mountain lake in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located at an elevation of about one thousand meters. This lake isn't very deep, its maximal dept is about 3 meters and its average dept is only 0.5 m. Its width and length are a bit over 2 km, but these two can vary depending on weather conditions. Blidinje lake is an immensely impressive sight. 

THE MOUNTAIN CHURCH OF SAINT ELIAS - AN OASIS IN GREEN

We also stopped and visited the mountain church in vicinity of the lake (Masna Luka). We took a lot of photographs, but since I already shared photographs of this place and wrote about them in detail in my older posts, this time I'll leave you with just two photographs. If you want to see and read more, you can read about this mountain church of saint Elias in this old post of mine. 

TORNJAK DOG- CROATIAN SHEPARD DOG FROM BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 

I also took a moment to say hello to Tornjak dog belonging to the local friar who is to be thanked not only for preserving the Tornjak breed but also for protection of this nature park. Bellow you can find the breed standards published by the official FCI ( Fédération cynologique internationale) if you're into dogs. 

DESCRIPTION OF TORNJAK DOG ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL FCI (WORD CANINE ASSOCIATION) BREED STANDARDS: 

UTILIZATION: Herding and protection of livestock; farmyard guard dog. FCI-CLASSIFICATION: Group 2 Pinschers and Schnauzers Molossoid breeds – Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs. Section 2.2 Mountain type. Without working trial. 

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: The almost extinct descendants of genetically homogeneous, native archaic types of shepherd dogs have been the foundation stock for the re-creation of the breed “Tornjak”. The dogs belonging to the original stock had been dispersed in mountain areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and their surrounding valleys. The major historical dates are the years 1067 and 1374. Written documents from these periods mention the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Croatian breed for the first time. The research about their historical and more recent existence and then a systematic salvation from extinction started simultaneously in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina around 1972 and continuous pure blood breeding began in 1978. Nowadays, the breed population consists of numerous, purebred dogs selected during a series of generations dispersed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. 

 GENERAL APPEARANCE: The Tornjak is a large and powerful dog, well - proportioned and agile. The shape of the body is almost square. The bone is not light, but nevertheless not heavy nor coarse. FCI-St. N° 355/ 23.11.2017 3 He is strong, harmonious and well balanced when standing and moving. His coat is long and thick. IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: The body is almost square. The length of the body should not exceed its height by more than 8%. The ratio between the length of the skull and the muzzle is 1:1. 

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT: Of steady disposition, friendly, courageous, obedient, intelligent, full of dignity and self-confidence. Fierce in guarding property entrusted to him, cannot be bribed and is suspicious of strangers. Devoted to his master and very calm in his presence. Very affectionate towards persons living in his immediate vicinity. Learns quickly and keeps this in his memory for a long time, gladly performs tasks assigned to him. He is easy to train. 

HEAD Elongated. The ratio between the skull and the muzzle is 1:1. Shorter muzzle can be accepted. CRANIAL REGION: The upper lines of the skull and muzzle are divergent. Supra-orbital arches are slightly visible. The hind part of the skull is elongated but moderately wide. The area from supra-orbital arches to the occiput is flat. The occipital protuberance is very slight. Stop: Slightly pronounced. FACIAL REGION: Nose: Large with sufficiently wide nostrils. Should have dark pigmentation. Pigmentation in harmony with the colour of the coat. Depigmentation is not allowed. Muzzle: Rectangular. The bridge of the nose is perfectly straight. Lips: Tight fitting with dark pigmentation. Jaws/teeth: Jaws are very long and strong. Perfect scissor bite with full dentition. Eyes: Almond shaped, close fitting lids, dark colour. Dark pigmentation on edges of eyelids. FCI-St. N° 355/ 23.11.2017 4 Ears: Of medium size, triangular, folded and pendant, set rather high. Carried close to the cheeks. With shorter hair. 

NECK: Of medium length, powerful, carried slightly low. Skin tight fitting. Long, abundant coat forming a mane. BODY: Withers: Moderately developed. Back: Short, taut, moderately broad and straight.. Loin: Connection between chest and croup is short and moderately broad; in females it is a bit longer. Croup: Of medium length, broad and slightly sloping. Chest: Very spacious, deep, broad and oval shaped. The lowest point of brisket reaches at least to the elbows. Never barrel shaped. Chest is strong, with moderately pronounced point of sternum. Underline: Belly well muscled. The underline is not tucked up but gradually slopes up from the end of the sternum to the rear. 

TAIL: Long, set at medium height, very mobile. When relaxed it is hanging and in movement it is always raised over the level of the back, which is characteristic of the breed. Abundantly coated with distinct plume. LIMBS: Strong and well angulated. 

FOREQUARTERS: Well developed, strong bones, tight muscles. Parallel and upright when standing. Shoulders: Of medium length, well laid back. The Scapulo-humeral angle is about 120°. Upper arm: Muscular and strong. Almost the same length as shoulder. Elbow: Moderately close to the body. Forearm: Strong bones, developed muscles, upright. Metacarpus (pastern): Slightly sloping. FCI-St. N° 355/ 23.11.2017 5 Forefeet: Toes arched and tightly knit. Nails pigmented, dark pigmentation desirable. Resilient pads, hard and tight, dark pigmentation desirable. Front feet more developed than hind feet. HINDQUARTERS: Strong and parallel. Upright when standing with adequate angulation. Knee well bent. Upper thigh: Broad, strong, well muscled. Lower thigh: Well muscled, strong, broad, of the same length as the upper thigh. Hock joint: Firm, set a bit high. Metatarsus (Rear pastern): Strong. Possible existence of dewclaws. Hind feet: Toes arched and tightly knit. Nails pigmented, dark pigmentation desirable. Resilient pads, hard and tight, dark pigmentation desirable.

 GAIT / MOVEMENT: The Tornjak is a trotter. Movement is well balanced, supple, long reaching, harmonious, with strong drive from hindquarters. In movement the backline is firm. 

SKIN: The skin is thick, well fitting all over the body. 

COAT Hair: In general, the Tornjak is a long coated dog with short hair over the face and legs. The topcoat is long, thick, coarse and straight. It is specially long on the upper part of the croup; over the shoulders and the back it can also be slightly wavy. On the muzzle and the forehead, up to the imaginary line connecting the ears, over the ears and on the front parts of legs and feet it is short. It is especially abundant around the neck (mane), dense and long over the upper thighs (breeches). It forms feathers along the forearms. With well coated dogs it is also especially abundant on the rear of hind pasterns. The tail is richly coated with very long hair. Winter undercoat is long, very thick and of nice woolly texture. Hair is thick and dense and should not part along the back.  (QUOTATION FROM ORIGINAL PAPER TO BE FOUND HERE)

WEARING: A VINTAGE JESSICA PUFFED SLEEVE STRIPED SHIRT, AN OLD DENIM SHIRT

,AN AMADEUS (link not sponsored) DENIM SKIRT AND NO NAME SNEAKERS

 Thank you for reading and visiting. Have a lovely Sunday!