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Kindle Notes & Highlights
Merak is one of those words that you cannot directly translate into English. It means, basically, enjoyment. This relaxed atmosphere among friends.
Americans dismiss this behavior as “fussy” or “O.C.D.” or simply “annoying.” We’re expected to check our ćejf at the door. But in Bosnia, they just shake their head and say, “What are you gonna do? That’s his ćejf.” You don’t have to like someone’s ćejf. But—as long as it’s not hurting anyone—you really ought to accept it. Because everyone has one.
the best memories are created when a trip goes sideways, and the most beautiful moments arrive in the space between the stops on a busy itinerary.
Iconic places create outsized first impressions. These are so vivid, they become tinged with nostalgia even as they occur:
“I’m not wise!” Pepo shoots back. “I’ve just talked to a million people.” (But isn’t that the same thing?)
The people you meet make a bigger impression—they’re richly sketched characters who loom large in later memories.
