Interesting bank building
on the way in
The confluence of the rivers
There were quite a few stalls selling souvenir and domestic products in the main part of the fortress, but when we went out the front gates and into Kalmegdan Park, we were in for a surprise. 735 years ago, Princess Helen of Anjou came to Belgrade to wed King Uros I. To make her feel at home, he had the whole Valley of the Ibar planted with lilacs, and we came out into the festivities of the Days of Lilac event, with dancers, and singers, and a young couple standing in for Helen and Uros. We were able to sample local foods, and lilacs were being handed around so that nobody was without! We came across a couple of old dears — presumably sisters — who had dressed themselves entirely in lilac for the occasion.
After enjoying the festivities, we wandered down into the town, along Knez Mihailova. The centre of town has been entirely pedestrianised. There are ice-cream concessions every block — and on a warm day like today, they were dong a roaring trade. In the middle of the precinct is a large drinking fountain, and it was being used extensively today! Al fresco eating is all the rage, and the streets are filled with little stalls, under-canvas restaurants and caffee-bars (no, that's not misspelt — it's the Serbian spelling!
We walked all the way down to the Hotel Moskva, a somewhat up-market hotel on front gates Terazije, a street beyond the pedestrian zone. We dropped into Macca's opposite the Moskva, for a coffee break, before returning the way we had come, back up to the Citadel. On the way we passed a couple of dogs, totally shagged out after a hard day's activities. We were also intrigued by the public transport here — quaint little trams and the first electric-powered trolley buses we've seen so far on our travels.
We went back through the citadel, this time noting the display of armoured vehicles outside the front gate (associated with a Military Museium there). We walked back through the citadel and out to the river to the old tower — Kula Nebojska — before we returned to the van and departed the city.
Kula Nebojska
Optimistic?
A typical large apartment building
Kula Nebojska
Optimistic?
A typical large apartment building
We drove away, and drove out along the E-75, towards Niš (Ниш). We stopped off in Odmorište Ćuprija (Одмориште Цыприја), well on our way.
Distance driven — today, 122 miles ( 196 km ); to date, 18,904 miles ( 30,423 km )
Seemed to go from the sublime to the ridiculous here. I think the old dogs had the right idea for a sunny dy. The bank building was obviously modelled on the twin towers without S of the dollar sign joining the two and decorating both and addfing extra office space and cafes. Apartment buidlings like that and hospitals always make me think of fires and how to get people out. I thought the tractor tyre and the sofa were rather optimistic too. I love the car/tractor use of the roads too. They are all driving on the wrong side of the road too. An old fortress, a bird in a precarious nest, the lilac festival, the twin lilac ladies? ( I Love lilacs but crepe myrtles and bougainvilleas seem the flavour of the day here, plus pyramid trees, oleanders and native frangipanis. Thank God for Adelaide's roses. They are glorious. Also our South American purple flowered trees-can't think of their names but they line our streets-jacarandas, Oh and we've got cedar trees that sadly give me streaming asthma, lovely about September, October and November. Jay's bub is due within 6 weeks, but perhaps it won't be here until later, like Princess Kate's. I love the way the couple is caring for the campers around the hospital where bub is to be born.and the traffic is being diverted. Here in Adelaide our malicious council is driving the poor aboriginess our of our parks (empty most of the time, with their booze, they are protesting the Lib government's closing of services to lotsa remote settlements. Grow up Australia. National mourning for a couple of reformed crims and penalties for the natural owners of our country, just because they make the place look like a camp. They'll share their booze with you if you go and sit down with them and chat.-have done that a coupla times-I pretend to swig and just pass the bottle on. figure the alcohol will kill anything on me lips! Meredith is OK with it, but the men are horrified! Stuff em.Well, enoiugh rambling. Love ya Cath
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