Miniature Key Chain

Medugorje - There Is No Better Spot To Buy Miniature Statues Of The Virgin Mary Attached To A Little Box Of Earth From The Hills Where Jesus's Ma Was Spotted

Bosnia-Herzegovina has an image problem. Ravaged by civil war in the 1990s, the country is in heavy need of a PR drive as most visitors still associate it with its bloody recent history. Whisper it, but its actually full of concealed gems and it has an unexplored feel welcomed by intrepid visitors. Couple a trip with a trip to Croatia and youll find none of the holiday maker hoards that swamp the Dalmatian coast.

Our intro to the country provokes an, "Are you sure were in Bosnia?" reaction.

The Kravice Waterfall is an Eden-like wonder of multiple chutes gushing into a turquoise lagoon, where visitors can enjoy a refreshing swim in the searing heat of summer. The falls are encrusted with grass and moss, and are besieged by delicious green hemp, figs and poplar trees, more like a scene Id expect to see in Hawaii rather than war-scarred Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Medjugorje

We are making a short lived stop at the hamlet of Medjugorje, a pilgrimage site where Catholics arrive by the busload "and all because some youngsters playing in the nearby hills stated that they saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1981 ( a claim which has since been rejected by the Vatican ).

Theres a statue of Jesus Christ with a continually weeping knee, which fervent spiritual people caress and mop with tissues, allegedly to use to heal sick relatives. Medjugorje is also home to the tackiest collection of keepsakes in the world. Fact. There's no better spot to buy small statues of the Virgin Mary attached to a tiny box of earth from the hills where Jesus's mother was spotted. You'll be able to find in Medjugorje some good Medjugorje pansion.

Mostar is the country's star attraction, a photographers dream about enthralling cobbled streets and stone houses, slowly reconstructed to seem like its pre-war charm during a multi-million-pound nip n tuck.

The cities classic bridge graces the front covers of most Bosnia-Herzegovina guidebooks, its foggy mountains providing the dramatic backdrop. The original 500-year-old Old Bridge was wrecked in 1993 during the war, symbolising the downfall of the previous Yugoslavia, as it was regarded as a mark of unification between the east and west.

When the bridge was devastated, the people of Mostar cried like they'd lost their families, local guide Amela tells us on a walking tour of the city's Turkish-style old town.

Reconstructed and re-opened in 2004 using 1400 of the original stone bricks so as to hold on to its UNESCO world heritage standing, the bridge is famous for its buff Speedo-clad, oiled-up divers who jump 25m jump from it into the turquoise waters of the Neretva, a convention that started in the Sixties.

The practice is celebrated with a world diving competition on the last Sat. of each July. If you want making the plunge, be cautious "an Aussie guy died last year doing the jump. Although the water is 6m deep, there are powerful currents that will make it dangerous if you are not a trained diver.

Blend a trip to Bosnia-Herzegovina with a trip to Croatia. Dont miss these gems.

Split : The important city's UNESCO classified treasure is the Diocletians Palace, built by the Roman emperor 2k years back as his assisted living center. When the Romans abandoned the site, the palace stood derelict for centuries until refugees swarmed to the town in AD614 and started living in it. To this day, it is still home to bars, shops and flats, where hanging washing flutters above crumbling windowsills.

Dubrovnik : Dubrovniks beautiful Old City, well-preserved town walls and postcard-perfect harbor make it one of Croatias top traveller destinations. Sadly, this indicates that its flooded with travellers in the summer months. Expect to pay extortionate London costs for food and drink, as writes tagza.com.