.....It was expensive--probably too expensive--but, on the theory I'll probably never get back here, I decided to get out of Belgrade for a day. Overall, it was a good change of pace. We drove through some small villages and stopped at this 15th Century monastery which was particularly interesting because they were having a service when we were there (it was Sunday morning). They were taking Communion when we were there and since I was with a Serbian guide, I didn't feel too out-of-place being there but didn't take any photos.
The next monastery was newer--17th Century--and was named Krusedol. This area is hilly--not really mountainous--but very good for growing grapes and there are about twenty old, historical monasteries in the area.
From there we drove to a larger town called Sremski Karlovci where I wanted to buy a bottle of red wine that is only found in this region. The town was beautiful, the weather perfect, I did a wine-tasting and bought a bottle. Now I have to check my luggage to get it back into the US--and the added stress of hoping I don't have a broken bottle when I get there. My guide, Bosko, is in the photo below. Seemed a pretty good guy.
Unlike the Belgrade Fortress, this one has been developed more as a tourist spot with restaurants and street vendors. The weather was absolutely perfect for a visit.
The Old City is located at the base of the fortress but isn't really promoted as a tourist attraction. The "newer" city--if three hundred years old can be called newer--is across the river (Novi means "new" in Serbian.)
One unusual feature of the fortress was the old clock tower. It is unusual because the hands are reversed--the large hand shows the hour and the small the minutes., The time in the photo is actually twenty minutes until one. They did this so the riverboat captains on the Danube below could see the hands better. I really don't get it but it seemed to work for them
There are three bridges going from the fortress to the city. All three were bombed out during the 1999 war with NATO. All three have been rebuilt but the one in the photo below was relocated--the only remaining reminders of the war here.
The people of Novi Sad never understood why they were singled out for bombing during the war. Administratively, the region was antagonistic toward the President, Slobodan Milosevik, whom most of the world saw as a war criminal plus they were located clear across Serbia from Kosovo geographically. The bridges were bombed out, fuel storage tanks destroyed and the power plant for the city was knocked out. And they still today aren't sure why. But at least the old, Baroque buildings and churches across the river were left intact.
It was a good day and very relaxing--particularly after the excitement of the soccer match the night before.
Serbia was a good choice for this trip. Several people questioned why I would want to come here, but I really enjoyed it.
I'll be home Monday night around midnight.
The next monastery was newer--17th Century--and was named Krusedol. This area is hilly--not really mountainous--but very good for growing grapes and there are about twenty old, historical monasteries in the area.
From there we drove to a larger town called Sremski Karlovci where I wanted to buy a bottle of red wine that is only found in this region. The town was beautiful, the weather perfect, I did a wine-tasting and bought a bottle. Now I have to check my luggage to get it back into the US--and the added stress of hoping I don't have a broken bottle when I get there. My guide, Bosko, is in the photo below. Seemed a pretty good guy.
From there we went to Novi Sad, which was the main point of the day's tour. It is the second largest city in Serbia and is very, very old. Located on the banks of the Danube, it faces another ancient fortress across the river--the Petrovaradin Fortress
Unlike the Belgrade Fortress, this one has been developed more as a tourist spot with restaurants and street vendors. The weather was absolutely perfect for a visit.
The Old City is located at the base of the fortress but isn't really promoted as a tourist attraction. The "newer" city--if three hundred years old can be called newer--is across the river (Novi means "new" in Serbian.)
One unusual feature of the fortress was the old clock tower. It is unusual because the hands are reversed--the large hand shows the hour and the small the minutes., The time in the photo is actually twenty minutes until one. They did this so the riverboat captains on the Danube below could see the hands better. I really don't get it but it seemed to work for them
There are three bridges going from the fortress to the city. All three were bombed out during the 1999 war with NATO. All three have been rebuilt but the one in the photo below was relocated--the only remaining reminders of the war here.
The people of Novi Sad never understood why they were singled out for bombing during the war. Administratively, the region was antagonistic toward the President, Slobodan Milosevik, whom most of the world saw as a war criminal plus they were located clear across Serbia from Kosovo geographically. The bridges were bombed out, fuel storage tanks destroyed and the power plant for the city was knocked out. And they still today aren't sure why. But at least the old, Baroque buildings and churches across the river were left intact.
It was a good day and very relaxing--particularly after the excitement of the soccer match the night before.
Serbia was a good choice for this trip. Several people questioned why I would want to come here, but I really enjoyed it.
I'll be home Monday night around midnight.
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