STATE: BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA ( Hercegovinian Neretva district)
POLITICAL SYSTEM:- parliamentary democracy
AREA:- approx. 19 square kilometres
POPULATION:- approx. 3,500
NATIONALITY:- 100% Croatian
LANGUAGE:- Croatian
ALPHABET:-Latin
RELIGION:- Roman Catholic
MONETARY UNIT:- Croatian Kuna and the German Mark (and other hard currencies)
EXCHANGE:- in all banks, post-offices, exchange offices, and travel agencies.
METHOD OF MEASUREMENT:- metric.
ELECTRIC CURRENT:- 380/220 volts and frequency of 50Hz
TIME:- mid-european time,( i.e. GMT+ 1), Summertime from March to September, the clock moves one hour forward, (i.e. GMT+ 2.)
WATER:- tap-water is drinkable in the area.
OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS
-New Year 1st January
-Easter Monday
-Workers day 1st May
-The Assumption of B.V.M. 15th August
-All souls day 1st November
-Christmas day 25th December
School Holidays: during the months of July and August
(for further information contact the elementary school
in Bijakovici- Tel. 651-102.)
WORKING HOURS
working day
-Official services and factories 08.00-16.00
-Shops and stores 08.00-20.00(21.00) some work non-stop
-Bank (Hrvatska banka d.d. Mostar) 07.30-14.00(kiosk 15.00)
-Pharmacy - private 09.00-14.00 17.00-20.00 closed on Sundays
- caritas 10.00-12.00 13.00-15.00 closed on Sundays
-Post Office, Medjugorje 08.00-20.00 10.00-17.00 on Sundays
-Petrol /Gas station non stop non stop on Sundays
-The Tourist Association of M/B 08.30-16.30
BORDER FORMALITIES
-On crossing the border, foreigners are obliged to present their passports.
-There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency that a foreigner can bring across the border.
-An international licence is not necessary when crossing the border.
-The "green" international motor insurance card is obligatory.
-The permitted level of alcohol in the bloodstream is "0.5 per mile", for professional drivers,"0.0 per mile".
Prices of Motor fuel relating 1USD to 1.65 DEM
Diesel D-2 =3.40 kuna per litre about 0.95 (0.58 USD)
Petrol 91 =3.60 kuna per litre about 1.00 (0.60 USD)
Eurosuper 95 =3.80 kuna per litre about 1.05 (0.64 USD)
Super 98 =4.00 kuna per litre about 1.10 (0.67 USD)
International borders between the Rep. of Croatia and Bosnia Hercegovina.
-Imotski (Rep. Croatia)/ Vinjani Donji (Grude-Bosnia Hercegovina) (Customs-tel. 021 851 350)
-Vrgorac (Rep. Croatia)/Orahovlje (Ljubuski-Bosnia Hercegovina) (Customs-tel. 021 675 188)
-Vrgorac (Rep. Croatia)/Crveni Grm (Ljubuski- Bosnia Hercegovina) (Customs-tel. 021 674 913)
-Metkovic (Rep. Croatia)/Doljani (Capljina- Bosnia Hercegovina) (Customs-tel. 020 681
998)
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Code no. for Bosnia Hercegovina ++387 ....+ local area 88 i.e.++387 88
-Police 92
-Police station Medjugorje 651 652
-Fire Brigade 93
-Emergency Help 94
-First Aid (Health Board, Citluk) 642 279
-Information 988
-Help on the road - Automobile club, Mostar. 987 (317-170)
-Petrol/Gas Station Medjugorje 651 531
-Pharmacy, Medjugorje 651 841
-Post Office, Medjugorje 651 510
-Hrvatska bank & Co., Mostar- (Medjugorje branch) 651 486
-Parish Office Information Centre, Medjugorje. 651 988
-Information Centre "Mir" Medjugorje 651 999
-Automatic Speaker 9825
Information on bus/coach travel 651 393 Globtour Medjugorje
312 286 "Autoprijevoz" Mostar
021 355 864 Split based coach travel company.
Information on rail road travel 01 9830 Zagreb
021 48 588 Split
Information on sea-travel 651 699 Jadrolinija Medjugorje
021 355 399
Information on air-travel (Croatia Airlines) 021 362 202 Split
The nearest airports are:- Mostar Airport (25 km) temporarily out of use
Sarajevo Airport (140 km) temporarily out of use
Split Airport (160 km) tel. information 021 203 555
Dubrovnik Airport (150 km) tel. information 020 773 377
Some practical advice
In order to climb Mt. Podbrdo (Apparition hill), a minimum of 10 to 15 minutes is needed.
In order to climb Mt. Krizevac (Cross Mountain, 425 metres high) a minimum of 30 to 35 minutes is needed.
-Due to the rocky terrain, and, in rainy weather the slippery conditions, it is recommended to pack a
pair of sturdy sports shoes which provide support for the foot and the ankle, although ordinary tennis shoes can often suffice during the drier periods.
-During the winter and springtime (from November to March) its good to have a waterproof jacket or cape in the event of showers while climbing the hills.
-Light summer-wear is necessary during the summer period, as well as some form of head and eye protection for the harsh sunshine (i.e. peaked or brimmed hats and sun-glasses), the hottest months being July and August when temperatures can reach as high as 40 C/ 104 F.
-Because street lighting is not yet installed in some parts of Medjugorje and Bijakovici, and because
night climbing of the hills is often a feature of the pilgrimmage in Medjugorje, it is useful to pack a torch or
flashlight.
-All services in Medjugorje can be paid for in hard currency (cash) .While travellers cheques can be cashed in banks, exchange offices,and post-offices, they are paid out in the national currency (the kuna). Payment by credit card is a little bit harder to effectuate( Hotel "Pax" does, however accept VISA, AMERICAN EXPRESS,and DINERScard"). Cash is also procurable for VISA card users at Hrvatska banka at a provision of 1.5%.
-The Taxi charge for one trip within Medjugorje/Bijakovici is 4 USD. Numerous taxis are available
either at the Taxi-ranks outside the Church, at the Post Office, Podbrdo, Krizevac or along the roads
at any time of the day.
Bus/Coach connections from Medjugorje/Bijakovici-Departure from the Post Office.
Medjugorje - Mostar 07.00 12.15 15.15 17.15 19.00 -daily
Medjugorje - Split 11.45 17.30 -daily
Medjugorje - Zagreb 20.00 -daily
Medjugorje - Rijeka - Trieste 18.00 -daily
Medjugorje - Dubrovnik 07.30 -daily
Medjugorje - Frankfurt (departure from Citluk) Thursdays and Sundays 06.30
Saturdays 07.30
Medjugorje - Stuttgart (departure from Citluk) Thursdays and Sundays 06.30
Saturdays 07.30
Telephone connections from Medjugorje:-
International telaphone calls can be made from the Post Office, or from the booths recently installed beside the Parish house in the church grounds. There are also kiosks at the rounabout at the centre of Medjugorje, as well as at the "Bungalow Village".
The automatic telephones are worked by telephone cards which can be purchased in the main post-office or at the "information centre", on the Church grounds. The cards range in value from 20 kuna, 30 kuna,
110 kuna and 212 kuna depending on the number of impulses.
The National Currency
The value of the kuna with regard to the German Mark is approx. 3.6 kuna per Deutche Mark or 5.5
kuna per USD. The Croatian Kuna comes in coin form as 1, 2 or 5 kuna, while notes are available in the form
of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and the largest note is 1,000 kuna.
FOUNDATIONS, SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS IN MEDJUGORJE / BIJAKOVICI.
1. COMMUNITA CENACOLO
2. OASI DELLA PACE
3. CASA DI SAN GIUSEPPE
4. BEATITUDES
5. THE SCHOOL OF FRANCISCAN NUNS
6. INSTITUTION FOR EDUCATION AND GUARDIANSHIP "Majcino Selo"-The Mothers Village.
Telephone 651 896.
7. THE FRANCISCAN FATHERS OFM - THE FRANCISCAN HERCEGOVINIAN PROVINCE
8. THE "MEDJUGORJE" FUND Mala livada b.b. Telephone 651 198
9. THE "Talented Freinds" (Prijatelji Talenata) FUND- Medjugorje Telephone 651 549
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1. THE CENTRE FOR PUBLIC RIGHTS-MEDJUGORJE - Mala livada b.b.
2. ACTION EUROPEE NE DE SOUTIEN AUX REFUGIES (FRA) Bijakovici
3. PILGRIM'S PEACE CENTRE (USA) Medjugorje - Krstine
4. DIAKONIE EMERGENCY AID (Swiss) Medjugorje
5. ST. DAVID'S RELIEF CENTRE (USA) Medjugorje
6. CARE (Austria)
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1. THE MUSIC GROUP "ZVONA MEDJUGORJE"- "The bells of Medjugorje" tel. 651 333
2. GANGA MUSIC (musical and cultural activities) tel. 651 737
