Skip to main content

whirlwind Belgrade

Peacocks next to Burberry - Belgrade is fast changing
 Having met a Cuban cigar selling Serb in Israel over Easter it had me wondering what I would  find in Serbia's capital Belgrade. Heavens above he couldn't leave his country previously without invitation from another government until 2005 - can you imagine! He escaped to London using his job as a Tree Doctor to gain entry with an invitation to speak to the Environmental ministry!  Finding a new prison in the UK with no papers to travel. Stories like this made me anxious and very intrigued about a newly "open" country. They have a Wimbeldon champion - it can't be that bad right?

I had what I can only refer to as another of my epic journeys. This time by train from Sarajevo to Belgrade. All in aid of collecting a  friend and seeing a new city. Honestly I wouldn't have gone to Serbia if he hadn't flown in there but it was a good excuse none the less. So I arrived in Belgrade the city of another one of the Yugoslavian strong holds - 13 hours later with an address for a hostel. Never once on the website does it say it is upstairs from a Kiwi lighting shop...making this lone traveller a very comforted soul.

I took a stroll in the evening to see the city and its nightly joys. Afterall this was only to be a bed to sleep in and then a return trip to Sarajevo. We had 6 days to cram in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia before the journey was over and I headed back to London. I spent my evening with the worst meal I had all trip at an Italian restaurant in the Bohemian Quarter. It was a quaint street with string quartets in every eatery battling for dominance over the dinners and cobbles worthy of a good physio setting up on the side street. 
The National Assembly from my evening walk
Republic Square

The next morning I took to the streets to see the city and await the arrival of my friend. With no sign of him arriving as scheduled I delved deeper into the city and enjoyed the city park and got to see some locals playing Chess. I rather like the amount of chess played in Eastern Europe and think I might invest some time in brushing up my skills so maybe I can engage more in future.

Chess Players in the city park
Belgrade itself was rather straightforward. It was not a place I would suggest to tourists as a "must see destination". It features a Republic Square which needs a scrub and a few fountains which seemed to break up the divide of monarchy and communism and well its not yet touristified ie. no information about the significance without a guide book. Graffiti covered many of the Communist styled inner city buildings. All of this was overshadowed by my impression of everyone being very TALL.
René and I eventually met at 2pm with a mere 90 minutes before we had to be on our bus south. The whirl wind tourist action went into overdrive making sure we had some refreshments and dinner for the drive...as we had very little local currency between us.

I learnt something that day. No matter how much you plan and you imagine when meeting a friend on your extended travels, things just don't work out the way you hope...planes are delayed, bus stops in different spots and expectations are different. But with all this on board we set off of Southern pastures making friends along the way.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

ticking boxes has never been so enjoyable

Arriving in Vienna hadn't started well. The door to the train wouldn't open. Finding another open door, I was left with a mother and 1 year old with a Trunkie, no husband, 4 year old, luggage or money. Turns out the family were Hungarian-Australian and on their way to the airport Oz bound so doing my good travellers deed for the day packed Mum, son and Trunkie off to the airport in a shuttle. I really hope they all made it home together. I found my way to the hostel and then given the bright sunshine took to the streets having missed the opportunity to take photos of every other city in sun so far! I made my way to the central Basilica and then wandered the streets finding a Schnitzel house filled to the rafters, a ornate clock, music singing through the streets, pianos being practised on and some of the most beautiful shoes I have ever seen (fit only for Elton John let it be said!). The film festival on that evening started at 9pm and with a rain shower about to hit I opted f...

My My Myanmar

I have been touched, pinched, squeezed and had my back rubbed as I was sick. Myanmar is one phenomenal place which I have so much hope for. Hope for democracy, hope for development and hope for conservation, all in a gradual process without losing its authenticity. I have felt safe, with my large amounts of cash (remember no ATM’s so budgeting became a real past time of all travellers not just the “budget” ones) and in pilgrimaging crowds, in villages and on rickety hill top roads, travelling solo or in a crowd. Not once did I fear for my personal safety or that of my belongings. I had to stop myself on the first day from being so travel weary and closed. I had to trust. I had to open up and Myanmar may well have taught me one of my greatest lessons on my Big Adventure. captive in Myanmar There were moments of democratic desire, like an aged village monk carrying a bamboo log who stopped me to ask “Do you know Aung San?” to which I replied quietly knowing it was a very c...

Footsteps for the fallen

rDear Dad, Today has been the single best use of this day in the past 9 years. And I hope my story makes you proud of your little girl. Today at 12 noon being 1am on the 7th of March in NZ I set off on a half marathon around the Silverstone F1 track in England. I clearly had DAD printed on my left hand, my nails painted red and black and a capital A on my right hand. Who would have thought I'd be in Cantab colours! This was all the inspiration I needed to get around the track. I set off at a strong pace making the first 2 miles in 18.45. I was supposed to be running a 10 minute mile pace but like most long runs I needed the loo and that spurs me on. I stopped for the loo at 2.5 miles and this put me off entirely as the break must have been 4+ minutes. Alas I took the inclines, hairpin turns and celebrity participants in my stride. At 9 miles I felt strong as I ran down a gravel hill towards the last stretch to reach  the final lap on the track. I spotted my good friends Holly...