Belgrade (part 1)

Most people wonder why I took a vacation in Belgrade, in mid-2001. To me it's quite simple.

I met a few Yugoslav friends while studying English in Oxford, in the early nineties. By 2001 ten years had already gone by and my friend Milica was as hospitable as the last time I had visited her (1997). This time I met her parents, she then introduced me to several of her friends who showed me around, invited me to parties and to sit together for coffee on most evenings.

The hotel on Kralja Petra was basic but functional, on the TV screen a music video starring Christopher Walken was showing repeatedly. Most evenings I would walk Terazije, most mornings, Kalemegdan. Sometimes I would jog along the Sava.

It wasn't cold as it had been in 1997, when I first visited. In that occasion my brother came along and this was the first time he experienced such a harsh winter. Thence I learnt, my brother, contrary to myself, is not a winter man. Come Autumn he is already wearing thick gloves on his hands, a scarf maybe, while I may sport a T-shirt only. (Why is this may have something to do with our upbringing as children I guess).

Belgrade in 2001 was actually quite pleasant. It was not as in 1997, when demonstrations were taking place on a daily basis. I walked around the city, unperturbed, and people I met were friendly.