Serbia

Trip Start May 24, 2005
1
16
25
Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of Serbia and Montenegro  ,
Monday, July 18, 2005

The tail end of another eight hour bus journey and we were flagging. Our group of backpackers descended at Belgrade bus station: sweaty, greasy apparitions of our former selves. We all peeled apart and the others went in search of water and a hostel. We went in search of water and a train.

The idea was to go to Bucharest, but as has been the way of things, we had just missed that day's train to Bucharest. Not wanting to stay the night, and loving the idea of another overnight train journey, we went for the other option - Sofia.

Decision made, we had two hours to kill. A wander up and down the main shopping street, past the park and up towards the cathedral revealed bookshops galore and a Serbian penchant for all things nautical (perhaps a sub-conscious revolt against looming Montenegran independence which will render Serbia totally land-locked). The atmosphere was not as patiently energetic as in Sarajevo, nor as indifferent as in Split. Perhaps 'aspirational' describes it best.
Eoghan did a sterling job of buying and consuming ice creams and coffees at regular intervals so that Helen could make a dash for the toilet...

When lost, several locals stopped to offer help and directions which made the whole two hours very pleasant.

Only downsides - the endless toilet dashes and the sandwiches which had, like us, wilted in the heat.
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