Just after landing in Belgrade I was very disappointed to see, what can be called a modern infrastructure. I come from India and given the hype on emerging countries like India and China, it was disappointing for me to see that a country like Serbia can have such good infrastructure, especially a nation that was bombed just two decades ago. I am not sure which part was disappointing, that Belgrade had such good roads or unadopted Indian roads that are like a slap on your face as soon as you land in the city.
Driving from the airport through the new Belgrade to the old Belgrade is like cruising through a time machine at instant speed. All the history that you have read about the Balkan nation starts flashing in front of your eyes as old historic buildings, graffiti on walls, orthodox churches, bombed buildings, empty hotels, hot Serbian gals and we-do-nothing youngsters sitting in numerous cafes all over the city.
The city is like none other in the Balkan region or even the whole of Europe . At the confluence of two large rivers the city has a character like none other. The city is like the wine that is complex yet elegant, powerful yet up front, bold yet easy-drinking, age-worthy yet matured. It lingers on you for a long time.
It is one of the few cities in the world that has been bombed so many times and yet it has recovered every time and recovered gracefully. You can witness debris of a destructed building in the heart of the city like a wounded soldier who just returned for a war along side a fancy café where young Serbs passionately indulge in their national hobby of watching beautiful Serb gals.
The city, which through out the history has been at the crossroads between the west and orient, is located at the confluence of Sava and Danube rivers that adds a different charm to the city. One can witness the different era and style of Belgrade at every bank of these rivers, from the typical European style architecture in centre historic town of Zemun to the modern buildings in the new Belgrade . The most recognizable and distinct feature of Belgrade is the floating cafes, river clubs or barges that are spread along the banks of the rivers.
Naturally Belgrade is a sharp contrast from the rest of Serbia where massive urbanization has made Belgrade home for more than 1.5 million Serbs, accounting for more than 20% of the total population of Serbia . This has led to increased unemployment which currently hovers at around 23%, putting more pressure on the already fragile economy. The Serbs need to go back to the fields and plow the rich agricultural land. Very few countries in the world have such vast farm land like Serbia and the Serbs naturally ought to use that to build their nation and economy.
I am no expert on the Serbian economy but as an outsider I found the city exceptionally beautiful and worth exploring, so definitely put it on your Bucket List and you will surely witness something truly majestic.
People in Serbia naturally like to eat and it is very obvious from the variety of food they cook, which has elements of former Yugoslavian cuisine as well as the Ottoman Empire , while Austrian and Austro-Hungarian rule richly influence the Serbian desserts. Serbs love their meat and dishes such as Cevapcici (ground meat sticks) validate their love for good food. Another popular dish is pies and Burek tops the rank. Its flaky, greasy pastry filled with cheese or meat but I promise that you will not stop eating it once you try. I found the food a bit too salty but that would not keep me from enjoying the delicious Serb cuisines.
Overall Serbia is a hidden gem in Europe and will definitely become a hot tourist destination as people know more about it.
Hello Punit, The blog on your Belgarde visit is short and crisp... It evokes interest to read further about serbia....U missed about the current sensation Novak Djokovic in the blog.
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