Serbia's Ambassador to the World

Bringing the truth about Serbia to the world

Monthly Archives: November 2010

Serbia: One Of The Top Six places To Rediscover

Just yesterday we posted about the city of Belgrade which was listed as one of the top five places in the World for a weekend break. Today, we are happy to announce that Serbia has been selected as one of the top 6 places to rediscover by the American news website the Huffington Post. They wrote “We’ve selected some of our favorite countries in the world where you can experience the vitality, positivity and prosperity of a new era.” and posted a short text about the capital city of Serbia, Belgrade:

 The barges clinging to the banks of the voluptuous Danube and Sava rivers provide one of the more famous indications of this city’s renewed vigor. Today, Serbia’s front-running city is an energetic mix; where ancient Ottoman architecture meets the artistic undercurrent of a new generation. Experience the world’s finest enterprising (and discreet) nightlife in unnamed bars hidden beneath apartment blocks.

Belgrade: One Of The Top Five Places In The World For A Weekend Break

Wander Sugar, a travel inspiration website for globetrotting girls, lists the world’s top 5 places for a weekend break with the girls. Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, took fifth place:

Eastern Europe is uber cool at the moment; however Belgrade has yet to experience the influx of stag and hen nights that have ruined many a night out in Prague. The atmosphere in Belgrade is a mixture of the cutting edge and the bohemian set against an enchanting backdrop of elegant buildings. Clubs range from super opulent to delightfully oddball: fancy partying the night a way in a fortress? Head to Bassment in Belgrade! Stay in either a hostel or a quirky boutique hotel and experience Eastern European culture before the West invades!

A Sad Day For My Serbian Friends: Earthquake Hits Kraljevo, Serbia

This morning the alarm clock went off and I did not want to wake up as usual, but I woke up while my mobile phone told me the brand new day started (it is a second alarm, some kind of safety alarm). I saw I have received a sms, I opened it with my sleepy eyes and read: “it is big disaster my friend. very big earthquake hits us at 2am. My house is a big mess, walls are broken, bathroom, the house of my parents even more damaged. Bricks of the roof hit our cars. We hardly survived , two neighbors are dead. The biggest movement was in Grdica, where we live and it is continuing with small earthquakes. We cannot go into our house. I have just grabbed my son and waited….”

I was immediately awake, checked the news and saw indeed that even on Dutch news sites they reported two deaths in Grdica-Kraljevo Serbia after an 5.4 magnitude earthquake. I had such a strange feeling, switching between the sms of my friend and the news websites. World news was coming close by, yes it even became personal: I have been there 1 1/2 month ago and my dear friends are involved. I sent immediately a sms back and my friend immediately replied and I was grateful for that: he was alive and was able to send a sms!

I had to go to work and while biking to my work million questions arose in my mind like:

-are they wounded?
-how are my other friends?
-what are they doing now?
-how it is looking now there?
-how big the damage is?

During the day we had sms contact and I looked of course on different news websites to get pictures. Those news websites of course show you the worst: the most collapsed houses, the damages, etc. etc. Mostly I used the Serbian State Television RTS (The article translated by google) and B92, because other news sites like BBC or CNN gave me not the answers to my questions. Below a picture from my friend (which I got just from him) and the place where I was 1 1/2 month ago and enjoyed the friendship of him and my other Serbian friends.

This evening I finally could make a phone call to my friends and I was glad that I could call them: they are OK, not wounded, but one cannot go in his house because it is too dangerous. It were not the images, it was the fear I heard in their voices during the telephone conversations I had with them. During the conversation one friend experienced two after- shocks and I almost could hear it. It was frightening even for me, +/-1450km away. He explained to me which areas were affected and which areas were not. He explained to me that the damage does not look catastrophic, but that the structures of the houses are really damaged and that it needs months to be repaired. When the earthquake happened (around 2am), he heard an awful sound and everything moved, he thought he would die at that moment. It lasted only for 20 seconds or something, but it looked like eternity. My other friend explained to me that the two deaths were her neighbors and if I see the pictures I know exactly which house it is. I have passed it many times. The non-material damage is even bigger, time will heal the wounds of my friends and the others…

All my other friends are staying somewhere else, but they are afraid for sleeping, due the after-shocks they are still experiencing. The only thing I can do at this moment is to wish them all strength and give them support in all the means I have. And yes, of course I lighted a candle for all of them. I hope that the situation for them will become soon normal again, but again time will give the answers…. I know my friends, I know the Serbians and I am 100 % convinced that with their spirit they will overcome.

Serbia Is The Scariest place… Oh, No, I fell In Love With Serbia

Back in February, we wrote about Staci, a Fort Wayne woman (a city in the U.S. state of Indiana) who was planning to go to Serbia, “the scariest places I can think of in the world” she said. In the comments Stacy went on to say: “I am anxiously anticipating my trip to Serbia because I want to learn.” Well, Staci went to Serbia. Yeah, it looks like she learned:

First of all, I have fallen in love with Serbia and it’s people. I could go on and on about the warmth and hospitality shown to us by our national team, our host families, the students and all of the Serbians with whom we were in contact, and it still would not give you a vision of how much we came to love them.

Gulivers.com Explains Why You Should Visit Serbia

Gulivers.com, a website providing vacation rentals directly from owners and managers, has a fascinating article about Serbia titled ‘Serbia – a sway of charm and hospitality.’ It notes that Serbian people are very warm towards foreigners. It also points out that Serbia has a lot to offer to foreign visitors, from numerous nature areas including rivers, lakes and national parks to the vibrant capital of Serbia, Belgrade. Here’s a short excerpt, but it’s worth reading the whole thing:

The purity and naturalness of Serbia is what makes this corner of Europe so outstanding and unique. This is where you can meet hospitable and kind people, taste wonderful cuisine, marvel at the majesty of the mountains and explore vast forests… It is a charming country and an attractive place to visit since it has preserved its originality and genuineness.

It’s Hard To Think Of Just One Favorite Place In Belgrade

British photographer Ian Furniss wrote: “I have so many favourite places in Belgrade it’s hard sometimes to know whether to use the word ‘favourite’ or not. In the case of Ada though, I think I can safely put that concern to one side and say, it is definitely one of my favourite places! I have so many wonderful memories of days and nights spent there and there is so much beauty at every turn, it just wouldn’t be possible to think of it in any other way.” I agree with Ian Furniss. There is no one place that I would single out as being my one and only favorite in Belgrade. That said, Ada Ciganlija is one of my favorite places. Oh, and one more thing. You can download the November wallpaper of Ada Ciganlija by Ian Furniss here.

An American Missionary In Serbia Discovers Serbian Hospitality

American missionary Taylor Morey Armstrong was recently in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second largest city, after Belgrade. He put up a blog post pointing out that Serbian people are friendly and warm. Here’s a short excerpt, but it’s worth reading Taylor’s post in full:

I can honestly say that I love Serbian now. Sure they can be stubborn, but they can also be some of the nicest people I have meet. I don’t think that there are many people that will let you in (not knowing who you are) and just give you cake and juice to drink.

Paul Wilson (USA): Serbia Is Awesome, I Might Not Come Home

Paul Wilson, a young American traveling in Europe, is currently in Serbia. It looks like he now knows what an awesome country Serbia is. He discovers the beauty of Serbian women, Serbian food, and more. And, oh yes, he might not come home: 

In Serbia, there is a reverence for Family and the Elderly. On Public Transport, the Young never hesitate to give up there seat for the Old. Sundays the streets are barren due to everyone spending time with family. The Enthusiasm reminds me of what a Post-WWII America must have been like.

In Summary, the Women are Stunning, the Food is Hearty and the Beer is Plentiful. I might not come home.