Friday, February 14, 2014

Chocolate Festival in Mostar

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!

89 comments:

  1. Beautiful series of photos, Mersad. That first one is my favorite. Nicely done!

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  2. lovely post, mersad!

    i really like that first shot! so creative and arty!

    happy valentine's day!

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  3. this is one mess i would not want to mess... Happy Valentine day... eat lots of chocolate

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  4. a chocolate festival - i could go for that. :)

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    1. It's coming up again this year in summer.

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  5. How amazing. The whole idea of the day is brilliant...! Love your photographs, especially the balloons.

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  6. This is a brilliant idea. Better than hug a hoody.

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    1. I just read up on that. Yeah, this is definitely better.

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  7. I could consider traveling to Bosnia for this event. :)

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    1. You should consider traveling here in any case :)

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  8. Oh, 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!!

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  9. I would love this chocolate festival. What fun! Wonderful series of shots, Mersad! Happy Valentine's day and have a great weekend!

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  10. How fun! I love your colorful shots! Have a good weekend.

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  11. What a delightful idea! Your city turned a bad event into something very positive. It looks like such fun for all...love the balloon shot.

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    1. Thanks Marie, I really like that about this event.

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    1. I can't wait for it to come around again.

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  13. What a lovely tradition to take something sad and transform it to generosity! Happy Valentine's Day:-)

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  14. Schöne bunte Fotos, so fröhlich alles. LG

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    1. Es war sehr schön, wenn auch warm, was natürlihc dazu gefürht hat das die Schokolade schnell schmiltzt.

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  15. Mersad, your photos are so AMAZING. They tell a lively story.

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  16. Love that second shot! Great series of photos!

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  17. I 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.

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment and visit. Your blog is great.

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  18. That'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....

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    1. Thanks Nancy. People can really come through sometimes.

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  19. A 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.

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    1. The balloons were a joyous sight indeed.

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  20. Chocolate! I cannot think of a better way to unify people! What a treat!!

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    1. I have said this many times: Food unites better then anything else.

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  21. the first shot is such a gorgeous building! love it.

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  22. That orange building is striking! Sharing chocolate to commemorate some vandalism? I haven't heard of that response before.

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    1. It'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.

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  23. Das 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.

    Danke dir fürs Zeigen und hab ein wundervolles Wochenende

    Herzliche Grüssle

    Nova

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  24. Wonderful ideea! I would love this chocolate festival! :) Great photos!
    Have a nice weekend!

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  25. What a wonderful 'new' tradition!!! You can't beat sharing kindness and love of mankind with chocolate!! [love the balloon image]

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  26. What's not to like about a chocolate festival? I love the brilliant color of the building in the first photo!

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  27. Your 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.

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  28. A chocolate festival? I would be all over that one! I love the balloons.

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  29. chocolate means happiness, and your photos show this joy
    Ciao
    Stefano

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  30. It looks like a happy and colorful event.

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  31. Wonderful idea for an event and . Beautiful shots of the Balloons

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    1. I like the shot too. Wasn't easy to get because they flew up into the air quickly.

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  32. very nice Mersad. I love the story of the new tradition. Being a true Chocoholic this is a festival I could become very fond of.

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    1. It's not hard to become fond of this! :D

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  33. It 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.

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    1. It really is strange. Hooligans exist everywhere, of course they are most known from the UK. But fanatics can be found everywhere.

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  34. A lovely idea Mersad, save a Toblerone for me :)

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    1. I'm afraid that's long gone :D But maybe this year :)

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  35. :) auf jeden Fall eine gute Idee und eine friedlichere Nutzung, d.h. wenn der Kampf um die Schoki auch friedlich ist/war.
    Ich 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

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    1. Die party hat wirklich viele Leute angezogen.

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  36. I love the rich, bright color here - the balloons are my favorite.
    Well done, Mersad! (and hooray for chocolate!)

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  37. That'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.

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  38. What 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.

    I enjoy seeing your photos, Mersad.

    Karen

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  39. I love the idea of a chocolate festival, what a great way to greet, meet and share.

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  40. I love to see a positive spin on things. Love the photo with the balloons

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  41. A 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.

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  42. I 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.

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  43. How excellent that a positive was made out of a negative. And to include chocolate -what could be better!

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  44. What 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.

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  45. That'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.

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    1. I have to agree. There can be a lot of good in a community when it gets together.

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