Bosnia’s Tunnel of Hope

You know when you go through a tunnel and you make a wish? The general rule to wish-making in a tunnel is to hold your breath and wish for whatever you want. Every tunnel I go through always brings me one step closer to wishing for a million dollars (note: just wishing, not actually getting). But, I feel hopeful that one day, millions of dollars will just magically rain from the sky directly over my head. One of these days…

Well, Bosnia’s Tunnel of Hope isn’t exactly a place to wish for a million dollars. In fact, walking through it didn’t feel hopeful either.

Walking on the way to the Tunnel of Hope

There’s a couple of ways to get to the Tunnel of Hope. We went the walking route, which involved taking the tram number 3 all the way to the end of the line. Then we walked down Butmirska Cesta (a street).

The Tunnel of Hope is tucked away on a neighborhood street, in a backyard space of a house that served as the host for the tunnel. It’s been changed to a museum now. The neighborhood is average, but only in the way it looks. It’s surprising to see that this locale was so important during the Bosnian War; that these houses were right in the middle of a very important of keeping a city alive. Food and supplies were run through that tunnel and that made the Tunnel of Hope a necessity during the Bosnian War.

The neighborhood. The Tunnel.

The Tunnel, while much shorter, is still impressive. But, not because of its size. Because of its sheer ability to humble people. The area hasn’t been jazzed up in an effort to sway tourists. Relics of the tunnel still remain and I’m pretty sure they aren’t polished purely for the sake of a traveler who wants to see things. Wishing for a million dollars while going through a tunnel is nothing compared to wishing for a little peace or a little food.

Now It’s Your Turn!
The Tunnel of Hope is located at Tuneli 1; Donji Kotorac 34; Ilidža. Bring cash to get in to the museum and tunnel.

Get brand new content delivered via email.  Join us on our adventures! Go Nuts!
You can also follow this blog on Bloglovin and Facebook!