Croatia and a couple of balkans, Day 4 a Dervish monastery

After lunch we moved from the Republic Srpska into the Hercegovine area where the road became higher with views sweeping across to a distant castle. Rubbish removal did not seem to be high on the list of priorities here and we found a small herd of goats dining from a tip on the side of the road. I played around with 'perfect goat placement' for a picture and thought that they looked quite biblical.






Coming downhill a sign appeared to Blagaj and its monastery so we followed it. We passed a Muslim graveyard on the way with its curiously shaped headstones.




And also some historical stone buildings.



The Dervish monastery or tekke, which is still used for prayer, was built under a cliff by the source of the River Buna in around 1520 and is a national monument. There was a cafè on the bank where we had a cup of rather disgusting raspberry tea before we commenced our tour.
A Dervish is a member of a Sufi Muslim sect known for it's poverty and austerity. It was outlawed here in 1952. We had to cover our arms and heads to enter the premises which were rather quiet and beautiful. We could imagine the contemplative life lived in this place.
I think Anne is looking too coy for the inside of a monastery!
























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