What I love about my city is the sense of unity. Our differences have always been skin deep, but the things that are equal to all, go to the core. This here is a new tradition in my city, and should rather be called "Annual Chocolate Mess" when translated literally. It originated out of an incident really, where local hooligans, after a soccer game "messed" up the city over night, destroying and breaking everything that came in their way.
The community reacted appropriately, and instead of being associated with that mess, passed it on quickly to another kind of mess: Chocolate Mess. That happened in 2012, and now it has become a tradition in Mostar.
The people of the city, from all walks, nationalities and backgrounds, gather on the Spanish Square (the popular city square) and share chocolate with each other. I love the sense of togetherness and love that is being shared, and of course, the chocolate isn't a bad side effect either.
click on the images for a bigger view
Wish you all a happy weekend ahead!
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Beautiful series of photos, Mersad. That first one is my favorite. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mona.
Deletelovely post, mersad!
ReplyDeletei really like that first shot! so creative and arty!
happy valentine's day!
Thanks for stopping by.
Deletethis is one mess i would not want to mess... Happy Valentine day... eat lots of chocolate
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra.
Deletea chocolate festival - i could go for that. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's coming up again this year in summer.
DeleteHow amazing. The whole idea of the day is brilliant...! Love your photographs, especially the balloons.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed. Thanks so much.
DeleteThis is a brilliant idea. Better than hug a hoody.
ReplyDeleteI just read up on that. Yeah, this is definitely better.
DeleteI could consider traveling to Bosnia for this event. :)
ReplyDeleteYou should consider traveling here in any case :)
DeleteOh, how fun!! I do love chocolate and I would definitely enjoy celebrating like this!! Fun captures for the day, Mersad!! Thanks for sharing! Have a wonderful, tasty weekend!!
ReplyDeleteI would love this chocolate festival. What fun! Wonderful series of shots, Mersad! Happy Valentine's day and have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteHow fun! I love your colorful shots! Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah.
DeleteWhat a delightful idea! Your city turned a bad event into something very positive. It looks like such fun for all...love the balloon shot.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marie, I really like that about this event.
DeleteWhat a fun new tradition!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for it to come around again.
DeleteWhat a lovely tradition to take something sad and transform it to generosity! Happy Valentine's Day:-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura for stopping by.
DeleteSchöne bunte Fotos, so fröhlich alles. LG
ReplyDeleteEs war sehr schön, wenn auch warm, was natürlihc dazu gefürht hat das die Schokolade schnell schmiltzt.
DeleteMersad, your photos are so AMAZING. They tell a lively story.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting Christa.
DeleteLove that second shot! Great series of photos!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful images Mersad.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bob.
DeleteI would love attending a chocolate festival. Yumm, delicious. Strong images. Love the one of the orange building. Thanks for you visit and comments on my blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your comment and visit. Your blog is great.
DeleteThat's a tradition I can truly appreciate. We need to start that one here in the states. Your images are amazing and one can tell just how much fun everyone is having at the event....
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy. People can really come through sometimes.
DeleteA new tradition like that tells a lot about the spirit of a city. To my shame I've been a bit dismissive of new traditions but not this one. I think this is a wonderful idea. Of course, the thought of all that chocolate has definitely influenced me. Love the balloon shot, such a joyful sight.
ReplyDeleteThe balloons were a joyous sight indeed.
DeleteChocolate! I cannot think of a better way to unify people! What a treat!!
ReplyDeleteI have said this many times: Food unites better then anything else.
Deletethe first shot is such a gorgeous building! love it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Doreen!
DeleteBeautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jama.
DeleteThat orange building is striking! Sharing chocolate to commemorate some vandalism? I haven't heard of that response before.
ReplyDeleteIt's not to commemorate vandalism, but to show to the media and other cities in the country, that that happening is not the kind of "mess" this city wants to be affiliated with.
DeleteDas finde ich toll und es hört sich genauso an wie hier....die Lebensfreude der Menschen ist einfach unbeschreiblich schön, und es wird geteilt was es zu teilen gibt. Habe von solch einem Schoki-Fest noch nicht gehört, von daher doppel schön....und das orange-farbene Gebäude ist ne Wucht. Schaut superklasse aus.
ReplyDeleteDanke dir fürs Zeigen und hab ein wundervolles Wochenende
Herzliche Grüssle
Nova
Danke dir für den Besuch.
DeleteWonderful ideea! I would love this chocolate festival! :) Great photos!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend!
Thanks Ileana.
DeleteWhat a wonderful 'new' tradition!!! You can't beat sharing kindness and love of mankind with chocolate!! [love the balloon image]
ReplyDeleteThanks Anni!
DeleteWhat's not to like about a chocolate festival? I love the brilliant color of the building in the first photo!
ReplyDeleteThanks Brian.
DeleteYour town is very innovative and certainly doesn't take itself too seriously! What an inspired idea to turn havoc into a chocolate festival. Lovely documentation of the festival, Mersad.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the images.
DeleteA chocolate festival? I would be all over that one! I love the balloons.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rebecca.
Deletechocolate means happiness, and your photos show this joy
ReplyDeleteCiao
Stefano
Thanks Stefano.
DeleteIt looks like a happy and colorful event.
ReplyDeleteIt sure was.
DeleteWonderful idea for an event and . Beautiful shots of the Balloons
ReplyDeleteI like the shot too. Wasn't easy to get because they flew up into the air quickly.
Deletevery nice Mersad. I love the story of the new tradition. Being a true Chocoholic this is a festival I could become very fond of.
ReplyDeleteIt's not hard to become fond of this! :D
DeleteIt is strange how new traditions start. Who would have thought that hooliganism could lead to something like this. You know, I tend to think football hooligans only exist in my country... seems I was wrong.
ReplyDeleteIt really is strange. Hooligans exist everywhere, of course they are most known from the UK. But fanatics can be found everywhere.
DeleteA lovely idea Mersad, save a Toblerone for me :)
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid that's long gone :D But maybe this year :)
Delete:) auf jeden Fall eine gute Idee und eine friedlichere Nutzung, d.h. wenn der Kampf um die Schoki auch friedlich ist/war.
ReplyDeleteIch glaube so eine "Schokoladenparty" lockt ich auch an.
Die Bilder berichten sehr schön davon - auch ich finde das Ballonbild sehr faszinierend und plastisch toll abgelichtet!
LG und einen schönen Sonntag von Senna
Die party hat wirklich viele Leute angezogen.
DeleteI love the rich, bright color here - the balloons are my favorite.
ReplyDeleteWell done, Mersad! (and hooray for chocolate!)
Thanks!
DeleteThat's really good when one can turn things around like that in a town, and create new positive traditions. Your pictures really radiate a good atmosphere too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting.
DeleteWhat an amazing idea, turning an act of hooliganism into an idea for a time of kindness and chocolate! It looks like a bright, colourful and fun time, not to mention delicious.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy seeing your photos, Mersad.
Karen
Thanks so much for visiting.
DeleteI love the idea of a chocolate festival, what a great way to greet, meet and share.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting Judith.
DeleteI love to see a positive spin on things. Love the photo with the balloons
ReplyDeleteThanks Cindy.
DeleteA really lovely tradition. Wouldn't it be great if all the world leaders who don't get along went to a park, waded barefoot in the water and shared chocolate with each other? I think a lot of problems could be resolved.
ReplyDeleteI love how your city turned this around to make something wonderful from something unpleasant! The world would be much better off if we could all do this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by.
DeleteHow excellent that a positive was made out of a negative. And to include chocolate -what could be better!
ReplyDeleteNothing! :) Thank you.
DeleteWhat a super fun event. I would enjoy that one for sure. I also love the bright orange building in the photos, very colorful. A new follower.
ReplyDeleteThat's a wonderful story. A similar thing happened in our area a few years ago. A hockey riot left downtown Vancouver in shambles, but the next morning the city came out to sweep, patch, paint. A good reminder of the good in humanity.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree. There can be a lot of good in a community when it gets together.
Delete