Balkan* is a new typeface system that consists of Latin and Cyrillic scripts. It is based on the study of a phenomenon known as Balkan sprachbund**, a term used to describe neighboring languages whose sound and grammatical features have merged because of their proximity. The typeface system also represents an attempt to identify the features shared by some South Slavic languages and alphabets like Bosnian, Montenegrin, Croatian and Serbian. (Typonine type foundry)
(via pdc)
The Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge crosses the Drina River. Višegrad, Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Built in 1577 by Ottoman architectural superstar Mimar Sinan, the bridge is probably best-known from the novel The Bridge On the Drina, by Nobel prize laureate Ivo Andrić. The bridge was (partially) blown up in both world wars, and was the scene of brutal massacres during the Bosnian War. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008.
Several regional NGOs, under the umbrella of the British organisation Safeworld, presented a report on Tuesday which examines what effect the new borders have on the lives of people living along the demarcation lines of Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Croatia.
“There is a slow progress in resolving this outstanding issue. There are diverse challenges, but one common feature across the western Balkan is that the new international borders have created obstacles to the movement of people,” said Ferdinand Nikola from Safeworld.
The report says that one common complaint across the region is the inadequate number of border crossings. People living in border areas also find the new borders inconvenient because of the additional costs of moving their goods.
Sava Stankovic, in charge of border issues in the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says that the insufficient number of checkpoints is due to the difficult economic situation.
“All the states are facing economic problems and a lot of money is needed if you want to build a border crossing. And people try to find the easier way, so that is why there are a lot of illegal crossings,” said Stankovic.
I know I promised that I’d write more often but things just got a bit busy on the work front. I have been in between work and writing and business that I almost lost my mind! Well, I’m back and yes, I am REALLY back. This time, I have something quite fresh for you guys—something unique and exciting for your taste buds, a taste of Yugoslavia!
Who would have known that we would actually have a restaurant that serves Yugoslavian food? I was pleasantly surprised when I first saw Balkan (which was a few months ago), I just had to try it.
The restaurant’s wooden furniture gives it a classic “old” feel like you’re out in the country at a local bar. The color scheme is also very simple, walls are painted white with photos of Yugoslavia and some personalities decorating them. It’s a spacious restaurant which can seat about 40 people quite comfortably. Adding to the ambiance is their display of wines, which I forgot to try!
