Pigeons, Sarajevo
A local man purchases bird feed from a vendor in Baščaršija, enjoying the moments when pigeons are brave enough to feed from his hands. Sarajevo, Bosnia, 11 November 2022.
Sitting down for coffee in Bosnia is a time-consuming event. They are proud of the fact productivity is low. Yet, the easy-going nature of the Sarajevans permits you to forget that many would have had first hand experience of armed conflict. The city is filled with the graves of their families and friends.
On 6 April 1992, at the start of the Bosnian War, Serbian forces began their shelling of Sarajevo. This siege would last until 1996, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives. All corners of the capital would become scarred by the conflict.
What remains of Sarajevo's architecture is in part reminiscent of grand western-European capitals, but as you travel through the city it transforms sharply into low-slung terracotta tiled roofs of the East. It is a city of dichotomy.
In the heart of the eastern part of the city, both geographically and socially, is Baščaršija. From this square the remnants of the bloodshed which tore apart their country and its communities can still be found. Those who wielded machine guns in the 90s now sip coffee, and some take simple pleasure in feeding the pigeons.
