Since there are only six people in our tour group we can drive around Belgrade in a van. Sunday traffic is light so we were able to cover a lot of ground. First thing this morning we walked along the rivers. The confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers is in Belgrade, making it a strategically important area throughout the centuries.
We visited the mausoleum of Tito, which is also a museum, followed by a walk through a "green market," where the fresh produce and breads looked and smelled wonderful and the fish, as usual, smelled very much like fish - ewww! We then went to an old fort that sits high above the city at the confluence of the rivers. The first structure here was built in (about) 4,000 BC. During the first century AD a fort was built by the Romans. This original structure was later added on to by the Hapsburgs. From the fort we walked to the pedestrian street that leads to our hotel.
A highlight of the day was the visit we paid to the home of our tour guide. She demonstrated typical Serbian hospitality and introduced us to some typical Serbian dishes - which became our lunch.
Our guide is an archaeologist and historian (with a very Serbian view of the political situation over here) and provides an excellent commentary on the history and geography of the region - with of course her version of the politics added in.
We took a walk down by the Sava River.
Then we went to the park and looked at the "first" palace built by Prince Milos in 1834. He led the uprising that resulted in a partially independent Serbia (throwing out the Ottoman Turks). I mentioned this was the "first" palace because he had in fact built a palace in the city near the fort - which the Turks still occupied. Deciding it was too close to the Turks he left his wife and children there and moved here by himself!
Tito's mausoleum is relatively modest.
It is set in a garden house.
Walking through the market I was surprised to see a small Northern Pike and a catfish for sale!
We had lunch at our guide's apartment. It was nice (about 1,000 sq. ft.). Her grandmother had gotten it as a part of her job. She and her parents lived with her - and she has now inherited it from her parents. Most apartments hold multi generations and are passed on in this fashion.
The Orthodox Cathedral is still under construction. It was started before Tito took power but worked stopped after this. It is now being completed with donations. It is a copy of the Hagia Sofia in Constantinople.
This orthodox church of St. Michael. It contains the relics of King Uros (1322) who was sainted by the orthodox church.. It also has relics of the Great Martyr Czar Lazar (killed in battle with the Turks in 1389) and Prince Stefan Stiljanovic (1543).
Walking through the fort we passed through this, the "king's gate." Built in 1690 it was one of the improvements added to the original Roman structure (many of the Roman structures are still used as a part of the fortress).
A night time stroll to dinner (Sandy was impressed by the cows).
Our dinner entertainment!
We visited the mausoleum of Tito, which is also a museum, followed by a walk through a "green market," where the fresh produce and breads looked and smelled wonderful and the fish, as usual, smelled very much like fish - ewww! We then went to an old fort that sits high above the city at the confluence of the rivers. The first structure here was built in (about) 4,000 BC. During the first century AD a fort was built by the Romans. This original structure was later added on to by the Hapsburgs. From the fort we walked to the pedestrian street that leads to our hotel.
A highlight of the day was the visit we paid to the home of our tour guide. She demonstrated typical Serbian hospitality and introduced us to some typical Serbian dishes - which became our lunch.
Our guide is an archaeologist and historian (with a very Serbian view of the political situation over here) and provides an excellent commentary on the history and geography of the region - with of course her version of the politics added in.
This orthodox church of St. Michael. It contains the relics of King Uros (1322) who was sainted by the orthodox church.. It also has relics of the Great Martyr Czar Lazar (killed in battle with the Turks in 1389) and Prince Stefan Stiljanovic (1543).
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