Emily Photography

The Old Fortress [Part 2/3]: Inside the Walls

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; clear: both; line-height: 20.7969px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Our stay on the hills continue, as we march our way into the fortress. </b><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Judging from the outside the fortress is very well kept and in shape, but once you enter, different views greet you. Still, it's one of the biggest fortifications in this region, and it's very impressive to stand inside of it.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; clear: both; line-height: 20.7969px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; clear: both; line-height: 20.7969px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This Series Includes:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; clear: both; line-height: 20.7969px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://mersad-photography.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-old-fortress-part-13-wrong-turn.html" style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; outline: medium none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Part One: </b>A Wrong Turn</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; clear: both; line-height: 20.7969px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://mersad-photography.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-old-fortress-part-23-inside-walls.html" target="_blank"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Part Two: </b><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Inside the Fortress</span></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; clear: both; line-height: 20.7969px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://mersad-photography.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-old-fortress-part-33-journey-home.html" target="_blank"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Part Three</b><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">: The Journey Home</span></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; clear: both; font-family: 'Open Sans'; line-height: 20.7969px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; clear: both; font-family: 'Open Sans'; line-height: 20.7969px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px none; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">click on the images for a bigger view</span></i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7z8NiK4OR9Z8sVB9MZlx34PGAohrEpqajXs-gB91Yw89GlGU3Btakk0KM0wC6z4Y6polMHThPMxNJ7yYWxcFFfqVsXOR7ujjmFZO9RauCTMLufTY-YDHU0NnfyADSOZQhuoAs-xODuCw/s1600/IMG_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7z8NiK4OR9Z8sVB9MZlx34PGAohrEpqajXs-gB91Yw89GlGU3Btakk0KM0wC6z4Y6polMHThPMxNJ7yYWxcFFfqVsXOR7ujjmFZO9RauCTMLufTY-YDHU0NnfyADSOZQhuoAs-xODuCw/s640/IMG_23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><a name="more"></a><div style="text-align: justify;">I doubt that this was the main entrance during the days when this fortress was filled with life, but now the only path up the hill leads to this opening in the walls.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkShaRomGczmWLNc-U9MIaBg232PixNY-OweJy5KC70Qs4YSbAn2qM_w55M5VWB9AO6E4JXWTLTkz0sZltYawHSzlaR058akYCKWL7W5jy8n-YORut66sw3T9tPy4fkkB_rB_JCloAJM/s1600/IMG_25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkShaRomGczmWLNc-U9MIaBg232PixNY-OweJy5KC70Qs4YSbAn2qM_w55M5VWB9AO6E4JXWTLTkz0sZltYawHSzlaR058akYCKWL7W5jy8n-YORut66sw3T9tPy4fkkB_rB_JCloAJM/s640/IMG_25.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The entrance is very narrow and secluded, offers shelter and a somewhat in tact inner structure.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9R6iqZ8gOM5eQRPegwbkVfHI8JEAATk0eJDiN6I6rm2x30lrpjdmtv114UcN1iculEzIFZGdJDIX7T9kD_EFi2i9MfedlHgybMpYVpEfEzGXaj_Hjtr9mkJYFvQ8WLYKvhh3EHBnfpJo/s1600/IMG_26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9R6iqZ8gOM5eQRPegwbkVfHI8JEAATk0eJDiN6I6rm2x30lrpjdmtv114UcN1iculEzIFZGdJDIX7T9kD_EFi2i9MfedlHgybMpYVpEfEzGXaj_Hjtr9mkJYFvQ8WLYKvhh3EHBnfpJo/s640/IMG_26.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkSSx_E93AIS6p3EZnJoh1ET3P09TALIbJwY1qsqFqXmcRwnv5HVs_JpZ8zsgiILezh6W5R_SY7AGh6ONbbx4P3MCUkGMJ5sUKxyTTnuCBQuHAnvO5Bh1A7c0wFDlJyyPCSJQyDfTUIs/s1600/IMG_28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkSSx_E93AIS6p3EZnJoh1ET3P09TALIbJwY1qsqFqXmcRwnv5HVs_JpZ8zsgiILezh6W5R_SY7AGh6ONbbx4P3MCUkGMJ5sUKxyTTnuCBQuHAnvO5Bh1A7c0wFDlJyyPCSJQyDfTUIs/s640/IMG_28.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But once you pass through the entrance the inside of the fortress becomes visible.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZjTn0xRlrv5n3QhyXtQl1YiLBzSJ0E341hkWu7lhdtm3GCnheA1u2jcH59X5RJlhHhiWyjEjaqtx1L2Gc473DXNtJ3xyPlVbImQGgypxNPAnnltlors49E8IxwVHldpFmBktE6xd1k8/s1600/IMG_32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZjTn0xRlrv5n3QhyXtQl1YiLBzSJ0E341hkWu7lhdtm3GCnheA1u2jcH59X5RJlhHhiWyjEjaqtx1L2Gc473DXNtJ3xyPlVbImQGgypxNPAnnltlors49E8IxwVHldpFmBktE6xd1k8/s640/IMG_32.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The central part is missing all of the walls that made out the fortress, and you can really get the scope of how big this place used to be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kySjl0keIdAYT6AJXRN_SpI7hfPC57mYG0d2zUMtmZjKoyQUgua8DLu6oHchXs1VI-0lotnDtpesUye2U58YgSkjdI79HjPygZ8ujlbJ6DC1XxgXUBqC49ztCZwosn3vRF1Oy_pdsBw/s1600/IMG_42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kySjl0keIdAYT6AJXRN_SpI7hfPC57mYG0d2zUMtmZjKoyQUgua8DLu6oHchXs1VI-0lotnDtpesUye2U58YgSkjdI79HjPygZ8ujlbJ6DC1XxgXUBqC49ztCZwosn3vRF1Oy_pdsBw/s640/IMG_42.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The fortress is located on a cliff, and If you climb the outer walls (which I did, even though I don't like heights), a wonderful view of the valley presents itself. (Can you manage to spot my parked red car in the image below?)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNuTbQWWgaafRdzdrBEnio0KrphHjLqvvLkIywqr2Fh45P5W15pp9wVazA1TLckRHWskEy0CkW-A5tcAbSo-2ssK-YpRqFPG5z_TOFHwMpbv3bWT-VaxzgbP4ISWeBp25bb5dje3IBbg/s1600/IMG_30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNuTbQWWgaafRdzdrBEnio0KrphHjLqvvLkIywqr2Fh45P5W15pp9wVazA1TLckRHWskEy0CkW-A5tcAbSo-2ssK-YpRqFPG5z_TOFHwMpbv3bWT-VaxzgbP4ISWeBp25bb5dje3IBbg/s640/IMG_30.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwgv_6jjAUq0CtDM-qjmPS5oxI2dUeDE-MpwlrLG-eUQrjr_HtfhYh-imCio9XjKVDJIpx52R7-1i38jIjAo0pQrMHtAnEJ2mFL7G84TM7r_N9t4sqKtBUqeE-XZHYmdAicrKzwMTv7A/s1600/IMG_31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwgv_6jjAUq0CtDM-qjmPS5oxI2dUeDE-MpwlrLG-eUQrjr_HtfhYh-imCio9XjKVDJIpx52R7-1i38jIjAo0pQrMHtAnEJ2mFL7G84TM7r_N9t4sqKtBUqeE-XZHYmdAicrKzwMTv7A/s640/IMG_31.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even though destroyed by time, the walls are still a very impressive sight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByCQpxrYwAtQbxipY4NaR99dFzu_t5zViLGYtniGr6LvIhWfeqzYR055HLOp5NVeyOYqkEkfA0QEhzp5Y9B47T100o3sVVfKhw5b9u8qbNMbqgh5BEAaJNSf1WQSG-dz_XmPBYv9ZHg4/s1600/IMG_34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByCQpxrYwAtQbxipY4NaR99dFzu_t5zViLGYtniGr6LvIhWfeqzYR055HLOp5NVeyOYqkEkfA0QEhzp5Y9B47T100o3sVVfKhw5b9u8qbNMbqgh5BEAaJNSf1WQSG-dz_XmPBYv9ZHg4/s640/IMG_34.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCg8PFVrSemUR83BMYXNGMWDJjnBOeyD7cDomf-pUNTgU5tF3_fEPx3qrcqrBa1TLSn9fLHJRtO9clPTz7tsaPKT5x78DeDaQSgAVAWxmP-15RnInoVAxdoPB6j4-5ZJP9eN7i2u44dM/s1600/IMG_60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCg8PFVrSemUR83BMYXNGMWDJjnBOeyD7cDomf-pUNTgU5tF3_fEPx3qrcqrBa1TLSn9fLHJRtO9clPTz7tsaPKT5x78DeDaQSgAVAWxmP-15RnInoVAxdoPB6j4-5ZJP9eN7i2u44dM/s640/IMG_60.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82dpHVlm0ysBjX2rVnzLEvi9FIzhdCYqgOZZtVKl3OrpWYjgzsejdhsMNdzwpnh5xtMuiaWpkPpU_vtQofbNlnbPcMSzJtcKrLoKUtOwZSyuqiHDaBwNY6o_7BbYCPd8UP6tTiv0oQtk/s1600/IMG_33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82dpHVlm0ysBjX2rVnzLEvi9FIzhdCYqgOZZtVKl3OrpWYjgzsejdhsMNdzwpnh5xtMuiaWpkPpU_vtQofbNlnbPcMSzJtcKrLoKUtOwZSyuqiHDaBwNY6o_7BbYCPd8UP6tTiv0oQtk/s640/IMG_33.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A portrait on the edge.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuhxT-yxI11piP5VvqqNjPGlc00PmOBUps_xCeJfjxlOZC4eQ_-xpdVN8NsTxtocsFdVfbb_nFEtzZ4qAigXA-0d0ByOFvzw1aLItxwrkN8ytK9ETWfRaR0YjeUNNCvhTBd8tyPf8krU/s1600/IMG_38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuhxT-yxI11piP5VvqqNjPGlc00PmOBUps_xCeJfjxlOZC4eQ_-xpdVN8NsTxtocsFdVfbb_nFEtzZ4qAigXA-0d0ByOFvzw1aLItxwrkN8ytK9ETWfRaR0YjeUNNCvhTBd8tyPf8krU/s640/IMG_38.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-vz0YT1ozb6c12IGQEadIHWRhDcT9DFEwkbUdoc1IsMPpletIx6dNF6PyZ1VUuqrdgR20J_MVmaxX-ddRT5nAjuV8BU-2r6xy95HbWJXSVPyHV5LOFbLonooOCsQY0-XIaGA9_vVIzM/s1600/IMG_35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-vz0YT1ozb6c12IGQEadIHWRhDcT9DFEwkbUdoc1IsMPpletIx6dNF6PyZ1VUuqrdgR20J_MVmaxX-ddRT5nAjuV8BU-2r6xy95HbWJXSVPyHV5LOFbLonooOCsQY0-XIaGA9_vVIzM/s640/IMG_35.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHtC3EnBNH4l6-tReIjyEb0e9dZEHZtmMKudBqlPFoyxQviRXqWm4q5fGz8DCk8pSTZmPffyHenOPYgoWmRJHp9hoK2nd1_TXhz-PgzHkskbjbMSuzTqc7mZatgrfXuKzW6MIsV99iZg/s1600/IMG_36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHtC3EnBNH4l6-tReIjyEb0e9dZEHZtmMKudBqlPFoyxQviRXqWm4q5fGz8DCk8pSTZmPffyHenOPYgoWmRJHp9hoK2nd1_TXhz-PgzHkskbjbMSuzTqc7mZatgrfXuKzW6MIsV99iZg/s1600/IMG_36.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But this inner part is not the only part that remained. In the back of the next image you will see steps that lead into a higher part of the fortress.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpfTUKmdOz1rEQyZPueegTGaeTAx0n8KJ__AdD8QHKvMexCAYzVDg-GDau4T7Y34fRKurRrg9ujGkUWe-oM5Kx0fahdL80mbqywRlBDFTjK3AhrXD4JRn-PwwV7bHhq0MRKnEwZeeifI/s1600/IMG_41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpfTUKmdOz1rEQyZPueegTGaeTAx0n8KJ__AdD8QHKvMexCAYzVDg-GDau4T7Y34fRKurRrg9ujGkUWe-oM5Kx0fahdL80mbqywRlBDFTjK3AhrXD4JRn-PwwV7bHhq0MRKnEwZeeifI/s1600/IMG_41.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We climbed it, and the views from up there are equally mesmerizing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wVpX_A_FwjUFG4nmS49mnqxTtsIT3s2GB0FG2xE5jFRe_2IKjNtTbpswsiEbuGOrfsJVs2qL38QSzRFkteXZsH0YrbkXJBNBzKCPRCNWbHKkqVW3DjwHaDr7IFmXHfpNGa-H07Qov7w/s1600/IMG_40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wVpX_A_FwjUFG4nmS49mnqxTtsIT3s2GB0FG2xE5jFRe_2IKjNtTbpswsiEbuGOrfsJVs2qL38QSzRFkteXZsH0YrbkXJBNBzKCPRCNWbHKkqVW3DjwHaDr7IFmXHfpNGa-H07Qov7w/s1600/IMG_40.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyKuibEvILDU8fBWR8ci2MJIga3IDX0_03ufp1fkoubAoZ6OPdbwO7e0V7BR5MtVOhCd7IPVEjzOqENJjYluJA0_2R00fID6Tl2NEXORLgZBNFBw-ircfoAvD4iO_5WaBbB3xsoClcFQ/s1600/IMG_37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyKuibEvILDU8fBWR8ci2MJIga3IDX0_03ufp1fkoubAoZ6OPdbwO7e0V7BR5MtVOhCd7IPVEjzOqENJjYluJA0_2R00fID6Tl2NEXORLgZBNFBw-ircfoAvD4iO_5WaBbB3xsoClcFQ/s640/IMG_37.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZS7awuY1rnXO3x47yLdHrBJftQc-73FBWebK7cGyZv7bJuf4x-xZ-WR6mzxYTvryZUls8WTETf9HwL7y5LsL4_FWp3W90Vev0OJomZRANu1Z9yCKPfQF3VE3hsZ869egXgtI-pc3YDo/s1600/IMG_39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZS7awuY1rnXO3x47yLdHrBJftQc-73FBWebK7cGyZv7bJuf4x-xZ-WR6mzxYTvryZUls8WTETf9HwL7y5LsL4_FWp3W90Vev0OJomZRANu1Z9yCKPfQF3VE3hsZ869egXgtI-pc3YDo/s640/IMG_39.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCk2hLFi21wySGaNnCM-ssK9V0HXPYiLlPbcQX17CH6sdik9Ff94iIRhtoiyyy1g8GQfdzeO8fD39CBZ23d99wScQ1Gub0qnFnS1bHqEJ-LHvRqESiU8oA_bKGaVS-xBF7zG9EOOQJk4/s1600/IMG_27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCk2hLFi21wySGaNnCM-ssK9V0HXPYiLlPbcQX17CH6sdik9Ff94iIRhtoiyyy1g8GQfdzeO8fD39CBZ23d99wScQ1Gub0qnFnS1bHqEJ-LHvRqESiU8oA_bKGaVS-xBF7zG9EOOQJk4/s640/IMG_27.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHiWy5VpLEV41DlX106xna0JL1SFM2h9YVUjnl4z0sJntJBTdak-QNfC3yrJSBqlCCgn7gGL5yLDrAhrx6B1Sn9hXK4gI1oE8caSz_zTJ4sHu4yX5cFKgWH6E0Zk1sLChkHguoXFYSSE/s1600/IMG_43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHiWy5VpLEV41DlX106xna0JL1SFM2h9YVUjnl4z0sJntJBTdak-QNfC3yrJSBqlCCgn7gGL5yLDrAhrx6B1Sn9hXK4gI1oE8caSz_zTJ4sHu4yX5cFKgWH6E0Zk1sLChkHguoXFYSSE/s640/IMG_43.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWEC7rMp6OngObfPjhptFMnYC_j_4_bnlRtcPG-4TFmgEqHtFYu1DY5_XpQMcHDOQ4dxQYakJtiHjHz5ZF9vKEtmZYjA0D9FU0KiOhy9J2Mw2i4ktvTosA9RoN6ncZxpfL_60tHwUgWg/s1600/IMG_29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWEC7rMp6OngObfPjhptFMnYC_j_4_bnlRtcPG-4TFmgEqHtFYu1DY5_XpQMcHDOQ4dxQYakJtiHjHz5ZF9vKEtmZYjA0D9FU0KiOhy9J2Mw2i4ktvTosA9RoN6ncZxpfL_60tHwUgWg/s1600/IMG_29.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I shot some video footage too (will also be uploaded and posted), and as we made out way back we noticed a couple of spots inside, that we missed. But more on those parts of the fortress and of the sights on out way back, in the final third part. Thanks for watching and reading!</b></div></div></div>

The Old Fortress [Part 2/3]: Inside the Walls

Our stay on the hills continue, as we march our way into the fortress. Judging from the outside the fortress is very well kept and in shape,...

6:38 AM

Norma Talmadge

Norma Talmadge

via

1:38 PM

The Old Fortress [Part 1/3]: A Wrong Turn

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://mersad-photography.blogspot.com/2013/12/serenity-500th-post.html" target="_blank">On my 500th post</a> I posted a preview of the location in this new series. My cousins and I visited the old fortress of the medieval Bosnian King Herceg Stjepan last weekend. </b><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">The medieval building – also known as Stjepan city, is situated on  the late antique fort above Blagaj, and was actually a city palace enclosed  by hard walls with jagged peaks, that are still visible today.</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">This Series Includes:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://mersad-photography.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-old-fortress-part-13-wrong-turn.html" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank"><b>Part One: </b>A Wrong Turn</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://mersad-photography.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-old-fortress-part-23-inside-walls.html" target="_blank"><b style="text-align: left;">Part Two: </b><span style="text-align: left;">Inside the Fortress</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://mersad-photography.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-old-fortress-part-33-journey-home.html" target="_blank"><b style="text-align: left;">Part Three</b><span style="text-align: left;">: The Journey Home</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>click on the images for a bigger view</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The journey to the fortress brought us far away, since we made a wrong turn and ended up deep in the mountains. But let me start at the beginning...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7b1TynIT0XlNKVusyibcNAyi1U3oqmsjulG9HLH95_1p6U31_blYXrBL5ht0No0ZyIzz3irYw0usrUkanO2LPY5b96z87JuRgF3po8U5m-39VsE7e67poPgjulmnoGTy6YKBEZkIWDdQ/s1600/IMG_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7b1TynIT0XlNKVusyibcNAyi1U3oqmsjulG9HLH95_1p6U31_blYXrBL5ht0No0ZyIzz3irYw0usrUkanO2LPY5b96z87JuRgF3po8U5m-39VsE7e67poPgjulmnoGTy6YKBEZkIWDdQ/s1600/IMG_06.jpg" /></a></div><br /><a name="more"></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Everything started in Blagaj, a small town nearby Mostar, where we parked the car. Immediately a sign welcomed us, and informed us that a 30 minute hike was upon us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3oW7sctAbiIFqLDSoxroLrM0_GiJ7D7GllEEZlyhlA8OLB4JlRoJyQjsHzQr_1mOxUtqmqhLy0c6v6nLN_XYnZvJH698mleiu5V4dHZDfh47T0WJHdQxDOfbZg16gkRAwE_zlB0Pxy0/s1600/IMG_02.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So we took the road as shown on the picture above. It was a very steep hike, and most of the 30 promised minutes take place going up the road.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoKOO0qpBZRd2qEdi8lX2X7yljUV6obxfb-cIMr5HgkUXytLLq8LWkBPQpdOOaFEiNGlEGGL14M3UoZ5tZ20IbIAsT1hmBBjxvjukyEBoHDSySEs4Kcps-Y2yxbJIuzW0Ei4cxY0LRgw/s1600/IMG_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoKOO0qpBZRd2qEdi8lX2X7yljUV6obxfb-cIMr5HgkUXytLLq8LWkBPQpdOOaFEiNGlEGGL14M3UoZ5tZ20IbIAsT1hmBBjxvjukyEBoHDSySEs4Kcps-Y2yxbJIuzW0Ei4cxY0LRgw/s1600/IMG_03.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The sky was very moody that day, with the fortress looking down on us, waiting. There is really only one road you have to follow by foot once you park your car. But something seemed off after 30 minutes passed and we still didn't arrive there.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTOyItPEoOhM1wdJ02BkiCf4uex25j-C5VuXz8gePxR69q9C5-5S_JJOR3iGhWxukhZj4SudzwUReelGIzLrKfEv31uRXF07UAkGuzfmyOK1mcRrLt4XZXDbaCi3uaiumKFHIdnTTeYw/s1600/IMG_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTOyItPEoOhM1wdJ02BkiCf4uex25j-C5VuXz8gePxR69q9C5-5S_JJOR3iGhWxukhZj4SudzwUReelGIzLrKfEv31uRXF07UAkGuzfmyOK1mcRrLt4XZXDbaCi3uaiumKFHIdnTTeYw/s1600/IMG_04.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The fortress became smaller and smaller, moving off into the distance. This only path we were on was leading us further and further away into the mountains...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd8CKKD2Acx-_0I_-FEbVY8-4TN1WfZOMwfjVgFKEK7UO1wzt-euIttALvJZVO2V063AqJSBKYoTodAQxHxcQ3C69O3YZi1Ml5pJwj0C0ZlQaLk6colL60PkIJLbr3XgQpD5sR2JIylU/s1600/IMG_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd8CKKD2Acx-_0I_-FEbVY8-4TN1WfZOMwfjVgFKEK7UO1wzt-euIttALvJZVO2V063AqJSBKYoTodAQxHxcQ3C69O3YZi1Ml5pJwj0C0ZlQaLk6colL60PkIJLbr3XgQpD5sR2JIylU/s1600/IMG_05.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The road just kept on going and after an hour it really didn't seem like we were ever going to get there. So we decided to go back, and look for the fortress. It's really a big shame that there are no signs at all to lead you there. We stopped for some portraits.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBvlUWBo6kv31JIMBAN_L9zccFn4qAYYbuP0mnqQEjGT3GbILVQU8s57NOmb6aIrXa-1IssChZim2Xpf7dgPRGcFf1DrqQE-_3I_uoLpeCt9W7z6HYk5QgiBMFhwxhKvFhR4uluaah5I/s1600/IMG_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBvlUWBo6kv31JIMBAN_L9zccFn4qAYYbuP0mnqQEjGT3GbILVQU8s57NOmb6aIrXa-1IssChZim2Xpf7dgPRGcFf1DrqQE-_3I_uoLpeCt9W7z6HYk5QgiBMFhwxhKvFhR4uluaah5I/s1600/IMG_07.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNmec3jr12JQLOIf0B5NhQ5nXV0YPOuqiyYdVt4EmMM70T4DvJq1mZKws9to_00JFPaULBOjV52Cut5kjKXjDyzPjXMYnZntXli24SADgbiOCalWureAvHKIP4yDtMNrFDBLQpCm4hSQ/s1600/IMG_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNmec3jr12JQLOIf0B5NhQ5nXV0YPOuqiyYdVt4EmMM70T4DvJq1mZKws9to_00JFPaULBOjV52Cut5kjKXjDyzPjXMYnZntXli24SADgbiOCalWureAvHKIP4yDtMNrFDBLQpCm4hSQ/s1600/IMG_12.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecA-R4WYmVCcjvKx69AKAI3AWtgt_U0arL3IpVxVLd7zODEHZ305PjvQbHf8zOQNvddPkBD2DI47KZJVjNA9hJnxIf2w-wotIBzv3thZOH9FuACfewhRybX_eu3REVJ4-x_jMS38oeC4/s1600/IMG_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecA-R4WYmVCcjvKx69AKAI3AWtgt_U0arL3IpVxVLd7zODEHZ305PjvQbHf8zOQNvddPkBD2DI47KZJVjNA9hJnxIf2w-wotIBzv3thZOH9FuACfewhRybX_eu3REVJ4-x_jMS38oeC4/s1600/IMG_10.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MOznikV3Cv5daCEWkA3HD_UCDttnh_QGcIKA00hBjhIZlllxh5Iv1mLZ8LuTkRjG-WoZYGDdTXE21Fs8GI7Lm1ibaM5h8DpaSzHiKrQynKs52vuA8tkjujW7hrGFfaBTfvsuplrUiu8/s1600/IMG_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MOznikV3Cv5daCEWkA3HD_UCDttnh_QGcIKA00hBjhIZlllxh5Iv1mLZ8LuTkRjG-WoZYGDdTXE21Fs8GI7Lm1ibaM5h8DpaSzHiKrQynKs52vuA8tkjujW7hrGFfaBTfvsuplrUiu8/s1600/IMG_13.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7hIWXdj53T7qp7r6ZhCXt307jf6syO5HL6aRT9mhbA-sEhMtUXj35_02Ae0XpQ52OcJZXoZC_PTMPCtD51l6D9HCZy9mMfOqNG3z4mTgwSOFvIXGLq6v_DWMKXd1y5qEZqfl1FfAGN4/s1600/IMG_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7hIWXdj53T7qp7r6ZhCXt307jf6syO5HL6aRT9mhbA-sEhMtUXj35_02Ae0XpQ52OcJZXoZC_PTMPCtD51l6D9HCZy9mMfOqNG3z4mTgwSOFvIXGLq6v_DWMKXd1y5qEZqfl1FfAGN4/s1600/IMG_14.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And then we discovered this stone structure. Far away on the top of the hill, it was all that was left from an older fortress that was also part of this medieval city. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMy_7IcckX082nTfidWgfXOlKArehqAotpXh-k7H6TcNqONQ6AsELdzb1gX9mZ05F93VkJt94ataUn4ml7UbhwL6boZNQ2Zs0HOu46aN9xDMXVkmoYF2XFsUFk6wiyOM1F4rtlNL0U94/s1600/IMG_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMy_7IcckX082nTfidWgfXOlKArehqAotpXh-k7H6TcNqONQ6AsELdzb1gX9mZ05F93VkJt94ataUn4ml7UbhwL6boZNQ2Zs0HOu46aN9xDMXVkmoYF2XFsUFk6wiyOM1F4rtlNL0U94/s1600/IMG_15.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4xUKdh4HUhSUPjBX1nKFBHQ9rEq3LACIjLYlogK7vMOO6iVeSQ9DfBLLTbBZkujeICyUc8nK7byE2B4VN6cAIL377KSvbPVLqR27OHW63gIROMoa7njWr9Bx85gqQmVBNKFIQOrg3x8/s1600/IMG_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4xUKdh4HUhSUPjBX1nKFBHQ9rEq3LACIjLYlogK7vMOO6iVeSQ9DfBLLTbBZkujeICyUc8nK7byE2B4VN6cAIL377KSvbPVLqR27OHW63gIROMoa7njWr9Bx85gqQmVBNKFIQOrg3x8/s1600/IMG_16.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooQHvsBXXv7Sdv80RXx_73S1oB4cIHCYNn3K_oesSTMeWjbj4WrOq7D-m_jkdxdlLEGS80f7h6O3kt6lohWePxdE-knfVEIObgOi6Hhmp1a6_bhNU44XWGtnk47ORzhR-luxYveSEgZs/s1600/IMG_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooQHvsBXXv7Sdv80RXx_73S1oB4cIHCYNn3K_oesSTMeWjbj4WrOq7D-m_jkdxdlLEGS80f7h6O3kt6lohWePxdE-knfVEIObgOi6Hhmp1a6_bhNU44XWGtnk47ORzhR-luxYveSEgZs/s1600/IMG_17.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">As we returned on the same road, we actually saw a small path hidden on the mountain slopes. The path goes along rocky, rather arid terrain, with  constant zigzag rise up the mountain. After a 30 minute walk, you reach the  medieval fortress of Herceg Stjepan.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMnoHyzD95zHQScfJjq8P4WYbZy1n8C9P7qIPcBbUAp0TPCrIRAczZp0GFacld87hx76PWi_KO50-FWqk9Lv8AVBHI4-sAR77ZRfz48TgDy4rWOynn1tnihm0VZkBaTQiE3i4ayZ-dp0/s1600/IMG_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMnoHyzD95zHQScfJjq8P4WYbZy1n8C9P7qIPcBbUAp0TPCrIRAczZp0GFacld87hx76PWi_KO50-FWqk9Lv8AVBHI4-sAR77ZRfz48TgDy4rWOynn1tnihm0VZkBaTQiE3i4ayZ-dp0/s1600/IMG_19.jpg" /></a></div><br />This is looking down at the narrow path. And even here you can barely see that this is a path you should be following up. No signs here.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ooMD_uRcdXCRtzKJN7Adp-0-TwqGB4JmsEUCn6rNnOX4u7mn5ogyri3RX86me-CnKH3OopkBP6g6xbnYeZkHdPhd0H4gHUrKHVAnNfzGcN02RMQk1C2qnnplxezbSmez-yrVEkNtOzI/s1600/IMG_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ooMD_uRcdXCRtzKJN7Adp-0-TwqGB4JmsEUCn6rNnOX4u7mn5ogyri3RX86me-CnKH3OopkBP6g6xbnYeZkHdPhd0H4gHUrKHVAnNfzGcN02RMQk1C2qnnplxezbSmez-yrVEkNtOzI/s1600/IMG_20.jpg" /></a></div><br />This shot was taken in the small mountain path that leads directly to the main entrance of the fortress today.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5l4luU9KgghFxTv96eLE3zXf9BiUJ3jOeqVVqaVyh5hkIpBzkfPby05L6eHiQBXHHsKIv9tD_Yi6a2uT1Ye7VwItadk6anB1W8C9RcX9HCHU00hXdMCvuxbQf1Lf4cWcKwWP1IJJX53k/s1600/IMG_21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5l4luU9KgghFxTv96eLE3zXf9BiUJ3jOeqVVqaVyh5hkIpBzkfPby05L6eHiQBXHHsKIv9tD_Yi6a2uT1Ye7VwItadk6anB1W8C9RcX9HCHU00hXdMCvuxbQf1Lf4cWcKwWP1IJJX53k/s1600/IMG_21.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">As you can see the path is very narrow and steep, not much secured, since the cliff is right beside the path, but it is secure enough to walk up to the fortress.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJ3PaXom3URJsn-uxq0h-mXK8Lss6DxsLeZYqNKAMPERPehdW7HmZSzy_BPrJjl5lt302yr2c0q-7NDuYl15nnAb53q7bn7S4JYhmK6KKizmjSuKDVt0_dQpGIpfxQ6Emlo4984etle4/s1600/IMG_22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJ3PaXom3URJsn-uxq0h-mXK8Lss6DxsLeZYqNKAMPERPehdW7HmZSzy_BPrJjl5lt302yr2c0q-7NDuYl15nnAb53q7bn7S4JYhmK6KKizmjSuKDVt0_dQpGIpfxQ6Emlo4984etle4/s1600/IMG_22.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally the winding path ends at the entrance, and only a couple of footsteps parted us with the main destination. Dark clouds began to from on the sky promising a coming storm... </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPHM-uzMK_n7bFIZWANTdGfNRuMD05-tj89y8P8hcgBEa72BgdQ7ULJSDRo0DUnPSwSGGlS-lMzWpBWNV33iHzLr0Ov2GESJ-bz8HG2mrFUH2av2xh1_rzv42XaRLTjE73SsDpSAivFE/s1600/IMG_24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPHM-uzMK_n7bFIZWANTdGfNRuMD05-tj89y8P8hcgBEa72BgdQ7ULJSDRo0DUnPSwSGGlS-lMzWpBWNV33iHzLr0Ov2GESJ-bz8HG2mrFUH2av2xh1_rzv42XaRLTjE73SsDpSAivFE/s1600/IMG_24.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>That's it for the first part. It's funny, even though we ended up taking a wrong turn, it gave us some great images from the mountains, and even better angles of the fortress itself. The second part takes us inside the old walls, where we examine what is left over from the centuries. </b></div></div>

The Old Fortress [Part 1/3]: A Wrong Turn

On my 500th post I posted a preview of the location in this new series. My cousins and I visited the old fortress of the medieval Bosnian K...

5:33 AM

Norma Talmadge 1920s

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh88PxtG_0JYF0A5xkFTSAYMfMDnsP3M4-YofD5ZXPPEqYeOhM4UgVeArC34fIHRAIFwM9cqc1jA_x0p3n2vrIeqQDbRu9OM7rbgKg5rp5hmPjUFwQUKkhwSOyBo21YyV5lbz7Lj1rxdeh/s1600/Norma+Talmadge,+1920s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh88PxtG_0JYF0A5xkFTSAYMfMDnsP3M4-YofD5ZXPPEqYeOhM4UgVeArC34fIHRAIFwM9cqc1jA_x0p3n2vrIeqQDbRu9OM7rbgKg5rp5hmPjUFwQUKkhwSOyBo21YyV5lbz7Lj1rxdeh/s1600/Norma+Talmadge,+1920s.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://classicvintagefashion.tumblr.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">via</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norma_Talmadge" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Norma Talmadge</a></b> (May 26, 1894 – December 24, 1957) was an American actress and film producer of the silent era. A major box office draw for more than a decade, her career reached a peak in the early 1920s, when she ranked among the most popular idols of the American screen.</div>

Norma Talmadge 1920s

via Norma Talmadge (May 26, 1894 – December 24, 1957) was an American actress and film producer of the silent era. A major box office draw ...

1:36 PM

Serenity [500th Post]

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It is the first of December, and the days have been getting colder and colder, as winter is knocking on our doors. </b>It's the time of the year when the lights go out fast, and long nights permeate the surroundings. In our neck of the woods, strong winds from the north are added to that, and they create the sounds of winter and tranquility.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>click on the image for a bigger view </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibq9eDSAlYQwme1moepDaqMPNBk-Wa-0aVtgHJc1f3yNK25yeg3VGxBHl5vBBnkvhggcA3rg4Vr_UrjnVprt13Ky6ZHzWNQIU8p7Rx1rPro3wXzV9j8HuMCnaRyKyKdCRS_oGjBME0iIE/s1600/IMG_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibq9eDSAlYQwme1moepDaqMPNBk-Wa-0aVtgHJc1f3yNK25yeg3VGxBHl5vBBnkvhggcA3rg4Vr_UrjnVprt13Ky6ZHzWNQIU8p7Rx1rPro3wXzV9j8HuMCnaRyKyKdCRS_oGjBME0iIE/s1600/IMG_01.jpg" width="640" /></a><i>The Herceg Stjepan Fortress in the distance of the valley</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is something serene in these moments, like yesterday, when my cousins and I took a hike to the nearby located Fortress of the mid-century king Herceg Stjepan. I will post a three-part series about our adventure soon, but right now I wanted to take it all in. Winter can be snow filled, or bare and cold, but still, even in this season there is beauty to be discovered. Just because something is transforming it doesn't mean that it will ultimately turn out to be bad. And there is of course the promise of spring that winter brings with it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is my 500th post, and also 5 years of blogging. I like to look back at the older posts from time to time, and see not only how far I have come, but also what milestones happened along the way. If you like you can click on the sidebar and view the old posts from 2008, <a href="http://www.mersad-photography.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2008-01-01T00:00:00%2B01:00&updated-max=2009-01-01T00:00:00%2B01:00&max-results=14" target="_blank"><b>or simply click here</b></a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Thank you all for visiting and commenting. I like the blogger friends I have discovered and I love visiting all your blogs and see how your lives are, go on and change. To another five years...</b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Other blog milestone posts are:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mersad-photography.blogspot.com/2010/02/never-ending-descending.html" target="_blank">100th Post</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mersad-photography.blogspot.com/2010/12/200th-post.html" target="_blank">200th Post </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mersad-photography.blogspot.com/2011/08/at-rest-300th-post.html" target="_blank">300th Post</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mersad-photography.blogspot.com/2011/08/350th-post-gift-ill-restore-your-old.html" target="_blank">350th Post</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mersad-photography.blogspot.com/2013/09/visiting-pocitelj-journey-to-tower.html" target="_blank">450th Post </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mersad-photography.blogspot.com/2013/12/serenity-500th-post.html" target="_blank">500th Post</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b> </b></div></div></div></div>

Serenity [500th Post]

It is the first of December, and the days have been getting colder and colder, as winter is knocking on our doors. It's the time of the ...

3:47 AM