Serbia - Belgrade

 1974 - No diary entry as we are still catching up!

Pictures taken somewhere in Europe

2025

Sunday 1st June

It was sad to say goodbye to Caroline and Moma, we would like to visit again once Caroline gets better.  The Novi Sad train station was closed and has been since part of the roof collapsed killing 12 people about 6 months ago.  We caught the train from Petrovaradin.  The train as well as Belgrade station were very new and it was a real bonus to find that public transport was free for everyone, especially as our apartment was over half an hour’s walk away and it was a super hot day.  Our apartment is amazing, the best yet!  There is even a washing machine which we put to good use and put our clothes on an airer on the balcony.  We visited Kalemegden Park in the afternoon.  From the fortress there is an amazing view over the Danube.  On the way back we saw a small but peaceful demonstration, against the government triggered by the accident at Novi Sad station, they take place at the beginning of every month.

Monday 2nd June

We booked an all day tour with a tour guide, driver and tourists, two Americans, two Australians and us.  We first went to a Manasija Monastery which is still working with five monks.  As well as serving the local community, it is a rehab centre for those with addiction problems.  We them went to Resavska Cave which was well lit and we had our mobile phones for the darker sections.  (This reminded me of a cave we visited in Turkey on our way back in 1974 - see below for the diary entry).  Afterwards we went to Lisine waterfall and finally to Krupaj spring famous for its turquoise water.  Finally we stopped for a late lunch.  A real highlight of the day, apart from the spectacular Serbian sights and countryside, was talking with our fellow travellers who had such interesting tales of their travels.

1974

Tuesday, 9th July

Neil put a new coil in the car in the morning then we went to visit some Roman ruins which were quite interesting but it was very hot.  Then we went to see a deep cavern with stalactites and mites.  Very impressive.  We took our own lamp much to the annoyance of the people selling their lamp services for 10 Turkish lira.  The car still wasn’t well so Neil changed the leads but it didn’t seem much better.  Drove into Silifke where we had something to eat.  Went in search of a camping site and the clutch cable broke on a sharp bend up a hill.  Neil fitted a new one with difficulty in 2 hours.  It was getting dark so we drove to the next town and stopped at a restaurant. Drove on in the dark and found a perfect camping spot with a table and benches right next to the sea!