Wednesday 12 August 2009

Holidays at home

Tuzla is miles away from any beaches. It takes us about 9 hours to drive to the nearest stretch of coast, which is admittedly the exceptionally lovely Croatian coast, but by any counts, it is a long way to go for a swim.

That doesn't mean we have to go without our saltwater fix. Tuzla gets its name from its salt mines, although many of them are now caving in and leading to some interesting subsidence in the centre of the city. A couple of years ago, the mayor took the inspired decision to fill a few of the disused ones in and turn them into a salt water lake. This proved to be a runaway success and there are now 2 salt water lakes, a couple of waterfalls and pools and, a whole beach. There is beach volleyball, a whole load of cafes, exercise machines, trampolines and a real holiday atmosphere. It is also situated in the centre of town right opposite Dave's office.

We're making the most of it. On a nice day, we swing by Dave's office just after 5, pick him up, plaster on the sunscreen, get out the armbands and get in the water. Nothing is guaranteed to get us in the holiday mood faster. It's almost like living on the beach in California. Except you can see the Orthodox church just over the road, hear the bells ringing from the Catholic cathedral just a little further away and catch the call to prayer from the myriad of smaller mosques dotted about the city whilst watching everyone tucking into their beers and parading in the most glamorous swimwear. Only in Tuzla.

11 comments:

Metropolitan Mum said...

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! I want pictures!!
You should become a travel magazine editor. I really want to discover Bosnia by now. Only problem could be the language/signage. My orientation is, frankly speaking, completely crap. And without sat nav I am lost, lost, lost, even in towns I am supposed to know...

Geotacs said...

Tuzla sounds like a great place for the family to hang out!

thanks for sharing about the place...

maybe some day if I do get to visit Bosnia, I"ll keeo Tuzla in mind!

cheers!

Iota said...

And what IS Tuzla's more glamourous swimwear?

It's called a 'stay-cation'. Did you know? A vacation at home.

Anonymous said...

I've never been to Tuzla, but I'm looking forward to visit it soon. New square is built, heard It's a magic place :)

Kat said...

I am only an hour from Yarmouth and have yet to get to the coast. Shame really.

Rebel Mother said...

At first glance I thought you were in Tulsa! I need glasses!

I agree with MM we need some piccys. It sounds delightful.

RMxx

Mwa said...

We were at the beach for the first time this year today. We got completely rained out.

Maria said...

Wow! Sounds lovely! I miss the sea a lot, I was only saying yesterday I went from living in coastal Dublin to inland Lucknow. I miss the taste of salt in the air, if you know what I mean! Emily, use my post if you like, my pleasure! You can tag me if you like.

Dorset Dispatches said...

MM - I'll see what I can do. I looked on the web but there don't seem to be any that do the lakes justice.

Geotacs - if you're in Bosnia then you should definitely come up to Tuzla!

Iota - what a terrible word! As for the swimwear. It is glamorous. skimpy, high, gold, a touch russian oligarch girlfriend. Definitely not designed for water. Figures to carry it off. I stick to the old trusty black speedo one piece.

BW - The new square is indeed finished (pretty much) and is very nice. Post on that coming soon

Kat - Go go! But England does have a way of making you think that one hour in the car is a long long way away.

RM - you and my PhD supervisor. He is coming out to visit in November and is going to be sorely disappointed to not find himself in Tulsa... (or to find noone to meet him at the airport!)

Mwa - what a shame. Go again!

Gaelikka - it is nice to get a bit of salt water fix every now and again. And I have a huge award/tag post coming up (am so behind having, like you, been tagged to within an inch of my life) so watch out!

ck said...

That sounds WONDERFUL. Please post photographs so that us pool-only folks can pretend we're there.

Teacher Mommy said...

Wow! That sounds almost better than the actual beach to this picky swimmer. I'd love to see pictures as well!