After visiting almost all of the countries that once made up Yugoslavia, differences are so apparent that it's a wonder that they were ever a single, united nation at all. Serbia felt like the biggest outlier of the bunch, even using a different written language called Cyrillic.
Serbia has historically been known as a place that doesn't shy from conflict, and Belgrade's violent past is apparent in its architecture - buildings have been damaged throughout the years, in both World Wars, and as recently as 1999 by NATO bombings related to the Kosovo War.
We noticed that Serbians tend to be opinionated and proud people, who take special care in their physical appearance. It's the only place we've been to since leaving North America that has had a semblance of a weight-lifting culture, with a number of gyms, ads for fitness supplements, and an abundance of muscle-heads who look like they could be on Jersey Shore.
We got a good laugh when the cocky, routinely shirtless guy in our hostel motioned to AD's biceps and asked in broken English if Dave worked out (Why yes! Thanks for noticing!).
Our favorite moments in Belgrade:
- Taking a four hour guided bike tour - a great way to get the blood pumping while checking out different parts of the city, including the famous party barges on the Danube, the ugly, communist-era buildings in New Belgrade, and the happy beach goers on Ada island.
- Having a traditional meal and drinking Jelen beers in the quaint cobble stoned Skadarlija district. Our dining companion was an American currently teaching in Tanzania that we befriended. It was refreshing to talk to someone from home while learning more about life in Africa.
- Eating bureks, delicious, fattening, savory pastries purchased from one of the cheap walk-up bakeries scattered throughout the city.
- Molly accidentally being mistaken for a prostitute while sitting in the park across from the bus station. The language barrier and Molly's naivete created a rather comical situation that was awkwardly remedied when AD returned to the scene and wasn't open to bargaining. :)
Next stop: Vrsac, Serbia
Serbia has historically been known as a place that doesn't shy from conflict, and Belgrade's violent past is apparent in its architecture - buildings have been damaged throughout the years, in both World Wars, and as recently as 1999 by NATO bombings related to the Kosovo War.
We noticed that Serbians tend to be opinionated and proud people, who take special care in their physical appearance. It's the only place we've been to since leaving North America that has had a semblance of a weight-lifting culture, with a number of gyms, ads for fitness supplements, and an abundance of muscle-heads who look like they could be on Jersey Shore.
We got a good laugh when the cocky, routinely shirtless guy in our hostel motioned to AD's biceps and asked in broken English if Dave worked out (Why yes! Thanks for noticing!).
Our favorite moments in Belgrade:
- Taking a four hour guided bike tour - a great way to get the blood pumping while checking out different parts of the city, including the famous party barges on the Danube, the ugly, communist-era buildings in New Belgrade, and the happy beach goers on Ada island.
- Having a traditional meal and drinking Jelen beers in the quaint cobble stoned Skadarlija district. Our dining companion was an American currently teaching in Tanzania that we befriended. It was refreshing to talk to someone from home while learning more about life in Africa.
- Eating bureks, delicious, fattening, savory pastries purchased from one of the cheap walk-up bakeries scattered throughout the city.
- Molly accidentally being mistaken for a prostitute while sitting in the park across from the bus station. The language barrier and Molly's naivete created a rather comical situation that was awkwardly remedied when AD returned to the scene and wasn't open to bargaining. :)
Next stop: Vrsac, Serbia
I hope your trip is going fantastically! I'm one of the Canadians you met at the hostel in Sarajevo. Have a great time!! I'm loving reading your blog!
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