Bosnia and Herzegovina
Business meetings in Bosnia tend to be formal and suites are normally worn. Titles and positions (e.g., "Ing." for Engineer) are highly regarded and routinely appear on business cards. Business people occasionally have difficulty in receiving replies to letter or fax correspondence. Often mail or faxes do not reach recipients in a timely manner. Business people are encouraged to follow up with correspondence to ensure contact with the intended recipients. As telecommunications standards remain well below those in the developed countries, calls or faxes may require repeated efforts.
Although street crime is relatively low and violent crimes are rare, petty street crimes such as pickpocketing and breaking into parked automobiles are problems. Travelers should take normal precautions to protect their property from theft and exercise common sense personal security measures such as avoiding travel in deserted areas after dark, walking in pairs, and staying in well-lighted areas after dark. The most serious problem affecting travelers to Bosnia and Herzegovina is armed, at times violent, carjacking, especially of four-wheel-drive vehicles. In carjacking situations victims should comply without resistance. Confrontations with local citizens resulting from traffic incidents or public disagreements should be avoided.
There are a number of national and international hotels, particularly in Sarajevo and the major cities. Facilities in the smaller towns have improved in recent years and it is now possible to find hotels and other types of accommodation in most areas.
Country code: 387. Outgoing international code: 99. All telecommunications services, including facsimile, have been restored. This is also true of internal and international postal services.
Electricity is a 220 volts AC, 50Hz.
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin plugs are in use.
C,F
The traditional cuisine of the region includes obvious Turkish influences, with lots of meat dishes. National specialties:
• Bosanski lonac (Bosnian meat and vegetable stew).
• Lokum (Turkish delight).
• Halva (crushed sesame seeds in honey).
• Cevapcici are sausages that are popular, as are hamburger-like patties called pleskavica, served with pita bread.
• Burek (filled pastries).
• Baklava is a popular dessert – sweet nuts and honey in pastry. National drinks:
• Brandy is
very popular, especially the homemade plum brandy called rakija.
• Turkish-style coffee and yogurt drinks are prevalent.
Legal drinking age: 18. Tipping:
Tipping is customary for taxis, as well as in hotels and restaurants; the bill is often rounded up.Nightlife
Bosnia & Herzegovina’s nightlife, particularly in Sarajevo, is widely reputed to be excellent. In the capital, the cosmopolitan atmosphere is tangible. The city apparently has more cafes per capita than any other European city and a relaxed cafe culture is prominent. There are many opportunities for nightlife activities, from cinemas and clubs to opera and theater performance. There are also frequent festivals, showcasing such popular pastimes as jazz and film.
