Tuesday's Dream Place to Visit

   How better to start a year then by recommending you to visit a place very special to us both- our hometown, Belgrade.

It's a capital and largest city of Serbia, which names translates to White City, located at the confluence of two rivers, Sava and Danube. With long, rich history, (and we mean, really long- one of the largest prehistoric cultures of Europe, the Vinča culture, evolved from the Belgrade area in the 6th millennium BC), culture influenced by both East and West, and friendly people, this part of the world really has something special to offer.

It hosts many annual international cultural events: Film and Music Festivals, Book Fair, Beer Fest, and one can freely say there's something for everyone. Unfortunately, the most notable museums are currently closed for reconstruction/renovation- the National Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art. But, don't fret- we would definitely recommend checking out the Museum of Nikola Tesla, containing his personal possessions and documents, urn with his ashes, and models of some of his inventions. Also, the Museum of Science and Technology.

One thing many tourists are so excited about is the nightlife of Belgrade. Most clubs don't charge entry fees, there's lots of places with live music for every taste, and they close pretty late (or early in the morning?). Special mention goes to Skadarlija, a vintage cobblestone street, considered the bohemian quarter of Belgrade. It has a lot of traditional restaurants, art galleries, antique shops and the ever-present atmosphere of the past.

 "My name is Skadarlija...or Skadarska street, however you like it. I am no boulevard...or avenue...or highway. I am common steep curved alley in the middle of Belgrade. And that would be everything meaningful to be told about me if it wouldn't be for my bohemian history, my crumbling roofs, my shaking chairs..."  - Zuko Džumhur

There are many things and stories we could you tell you about the city, about the Belgrade Fortress, about many colourful markets, architecture, its famous citizens, but that's something for another post. So stay tuned!
 

Tuesday's Dream Place to Visit

 

Marron

Villa In, where marron was staying during the trip. Great hosts

     Srebrno jezero (Silver lake) is an oxbow lake along the right Danube bank in eastern Serbia, another place both of us have fond memories of.  It's a quiet sort of resort, with beautiful nature, pebbled "beach", tennis courts, water sports, and restaurants with great food. In the vicinity are a few places of historical importance such as Ram Fortress, Golubac and Viminacium, all worth a visit.

Tuesday's Dream Place to Visit

   Vrnjačka Banja, a place both of us visited on several occasions (whether together or separately) is a municipality and a resort in Raška Distict of Serbia, 200 km away from Belgrade, Serbian capital. The place has a very long history- namely, the Romans build a health resort there, Aqua Orcinae, during the second century AD. The modern development of Vrnjačka Banja began in 1868, thanks to Osnivačko Društvo, the oldest tourism organisation on the Balkans.  It has 7 mineral springs, 4 from which are used for medical purposes and it is said that it contains the world's only hot spring with a temperature measuring exactly that of the human body (36.5ºC).  So not only that it is healthy, but it also has some amazing sights: nature is breathtaking, there's a lot of eye catching architecture, houses and villas, and, of course, Gočko the sparrow, who became the mascot of Vrnjačka Banja.  One of the main attractions is The Bridge of Love, where couples leave numerous love padlocks as a sign of their everlasting love. After people bind their love with a padlock to the railing, the keys should be thrown down into the river below, so they cannot be found ever again. 

Gočko the sparrow, named after Goč mountain

 The Bridge of Love