Sarajevo Day 2: Return of the Cow Pancreas

Wednesday started out just like any other morning, I woke up to a Bosnian woman on the phone telling me it was my requested time to wake up. Reluctantly I thanked her for her unfortunate punctuality and forced my eyes open. After waking my roommate up and getting cleaned and dressed for a long day of tours, lectures and a night out with our Sarajevo MBA counterparts, we ventured downstairs to check out the free breakfast scene. I was disappointed to see that they had not one of the many items I had hope to find (pancakes, waffles, bacon, etc), so I settled for a couple slices of toast, some butter, a slice of pineapple, and a piece of cheese and some sort of bright orange juice….I’m pretty sure this is the same exact meal that Steve Irwin used to partake in before going out and exploring the wilderness….

With breakfast under our belts we boarded the coach bus; camera’s in hand and headed out in the city. The tour took us all throughout the city from the site of the 1984 winter Olympics, to the Sarajevo hillside, to the National and University Library, to the Old Serbian Orthodox Church (the oldest in Sarajevo – dating back to the 15^th Century). It was all very fascinating to hear the complex history of the city and country. There were parts that were absolutely breath taking, like the view of Sarajevo from the hillside, and parts that were a little far fetched, like drinking the “magical water” from the fountain that would supposedly make you fall in love with Sarajevo and make you return some day, and there were parts that were tragic, like the story of the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the would be successor to the Hungarian Throne. All in all it was a very amazing tour, one that will surely not soon be forgotten, and it was all topped off by a large lunch at a local “steak house” restaurant, where we were served soup, a platter of delicious meats, and dessert.

Following our tour we journeyed to the University to meet our Bosnian MBA counterparts and hear a lecture from one of their professors. The lecture was very interesting, as the professor spoke on the current state of the Sarajevo economy and how there are several things working against its advancement, including a corrupt government.

Post lecture, we piled into cars and taxis and head for Kibe, a very nice, respected restaurant up on the hillside. At dinner, we mingled with the fellow Sarajevo students. It was interesting to hear their thoughts on the US. They asked us question like, “Are you ashamed of your President?” or “What are the democrats thinking with Hillary Clinton?” It was also quite interesting to hear them speak about their own lives in Sarajevo. One student said “Life is good, but hard.” And went on to mention that while he understands America is the “land of opportunity” he feels that by settling and not setting out to achieve more, you get more pleasure from life. I feel this is a copout and a sad way of viewing it. They should not have to “settle” in life, your dreams and goals are not something that is negotiable; you have to keep working towards them and fight for them. It’s your life; you only get the one chance at it.

Political and social discussions aside the dinner went very well. We started out with a before dinner drink of cravat (not sure of the spelling), which was a very strong Bosnian brandy, which packed quite the punch. Then came the onslaught of food. The brought out bread, salad, Bosnian pies (pastries filled with meat, cheese or spinach), meatball like things, lamb (or what I was told was lamb, turns out that was only half right, I later learned after eating it, that it was in fact lamb liver-----EWWW), and a beef filled gnocchi, which was my favorite dish of the night (or so I thought, it again turns out I was mislead, it appears that I was once again duped into eating cow pancreas, so in the matter of just over 1 year I have been tricked into eating pancreas not once, but twice….I will forever further be suspicious of all meat products in foreign countries…). There was a steady flow of house wine throughout, not to mention the serenading by two older guitarists and the Sarajevo MBA program, it appears that they like to sing as much as they like to drink and trick tourist into eating liver and pancreas. Just when I think I am all full on pancreas and liver and expecting dessert and the conclusion of dinner…POW….main course….a huge platter of lamb….which turned out to be very tasty. This was then followed….finally…by dessert, a platter of various Bosnian pastries….all very delicious in their own ways.

After dinner, the students hopped in cabs and headed for the nearest club, a little Latin establishment called, Hacienda, where the booze flowed like the Miljacka River and the music sounded of 80’s remixes. We all partook in a few libations and we soon discovered a Hookah bar 5 feet from the entrance. This broke out into an all out hookah fest which included ordering a drink, running out the front door, taking a pull from the hookah (don’t worry mom, its just flavored tobacco ---Apple-mint to be precise), and running back to the bar before your drink order was filled. All in all it was a very fun time shared with our Sarajevo friends.

Tomorrow morning’s tour of the pharmaceutical company is sure to be met by a bus full of tired and hung over students…..but hey, like they always say, when in Bosnia, do as the Bosniaks do!