Even before landing to Belgrade, I already have a feeling of anticipation, excitement and adventure waiting for me. I spoke to a lady on the Wizzair from Luton to Belgrade, giving me a good understanding of how Serbia is, information about Belgrade as the sun sets behind us, I feel a roar of excitement...
9.45pm- Sunday 12th September 2010.
As I get my first stamp printed on my passport, I feel extremely excited being in a complete foreign place that is unfamiliar to me, in a optimistic way. This is what adventures are about, in my personal opinion.
I head for what is to be a wrong exit of the airport as I gear with an attack of voices around me shouting "taxi?" "You need taxi?". Ok, this is the wrong place. I head up the escalator where I get chatting to a bloke from London, recommending me a hostel. I thought to myself, it sounds good. I see this guy as a genuine type, although I could be wrong, anybody could in my situation.
I believed in his words... We set off in a taxi, in darkness, heading directly to the city center. And he takes me to the hostel, and what a beautiful introduction it was. I was welcomed with a small glass of raki with the free use of internet and after set my self to sleep, for the adventure to continue...
I am amazed by the hospitality and the stories people have to say here. I am overwhelmed with an uncertainty in peoples opinions of loss and warship especially when openly discussing about the countries next to Serbia. However endeavored with a small sense of uncertainty and perhaps fear, people here are generously open to tourists and foreigners. Especially when they hear that I am from Scotland, the conversation grows...
I have a roam around the city center in Belgrade and see for myself what people think of it here. I like the freedom of seeing through my own eyes what is taught to me. Quite an array of different architecture origin from influences of different countries and cultures. One part of Belgrade, I feel I am in Vienna, the other I feel I am in others. The evening is tamely safe, although vigilance is required.
I meet up with a woman, on the site www.couchsurfing.com and find that she is one of the keenest participants on this site. Her name is Jelena "
Yelena" and is very keen, and very open to tell me eagerly her experience being a Couch surfer. Later that evening, on a calm and chilly Monday evening, she has already started networking people to see if they have a spare couch for me!
I was lucky! And considered very lucky that she had found a host for me. Before so, "
Yelena" takes me to a local couchsurfing meeting with local "surfers" over a Serbian beer.
I find myself going into a very modern flat, on the outskirts of Belgrade, with lovely furniture with pine wooded furniture and two "
Barcelona" black chair living room. A modern interior apartment got me sleeping safely and soundly under a ceiling. A man named Rodlojub "
Rodloub" gave me a safe place to stay...
Bravo Belgrade,
"
Hvala"- Thank you.