TREBINJE – A CITY WHERE YOU CAN BREATHE

While most cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina are struggling this December with dense fog, smog and air-pollution warnings, in the far south of the Republic of Srpska people can still breathe freely.

PHOTO: TO Trebinje

Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla and Zenica have been under a grey blanket for days, while Trebinje enjoys clear skies, mild temperatures and its recognizable Mediterranean climate. Instead of the smell of smog, the air carries the scent of the sea and pine trees, while warmth rises from sun-heated stone.

City parks, squares and promenades are filled with people. The streets of Trebinje are alive even in December. Café terraces are busy, conversations unfold in the sunshine, and the slow steps of passers-by blend with the rhythm of a city that knows no rush.

While other cities measure air-pollution particles, Trebinje measures hours spent outdoors.

This climate is not just a meteorological advantage, but a way of life. Trebinje is a city where you can breathe — literally and symbolically. A city not burdened by chimneys and boilers, but open to the sea and the south, to the sun and the winds that keep its skies clear.

It comes as no surprise that Trebinje is increasingly becoming a refuge for those escaping pollution, stress and closed spaces. At a time when clean air is turning into a luxury in many cities, Trebinje remains a reminder of what everyday life looks like without masks, warnings and grey skies.

In December, when much of Bosnia and Herzegovina is coughing — Trebinje is breathing.