Belgrade

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To fill you in on Bucharest, it was really fun to stay in a hostel. I met all sorts of people, and there were books to read, games to play, and instruments in strum (a guitar). I made friends with an Italian guy and a Czech girl on Thursday evening and Friday morning, respectively. The three of us explored the city together on Friday, going to the Palace of the Parliament (built by the last communist leader of Romanian, the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon), a fantastic concert hall, a restaurant with a student discount (wish they had those in the states), an entertaining city tour, and dinner with live music. Simon (the Italian man) had a car and was going to drive Lenka (the Czech woman) to the train station that evening. I volunteered to join them to navigate just in case. But dinner went longer than expected, so I took the bull by the horns (partially because I was the only one with data) and we got Lenka to the train station in 30 minutes with a half hour before her train. A job well done with a team of new friends. Then, Simon and I went back to the hostel (we happened to be assigned to the same bunk bed) and I said goodbye this morning.

Also this morning, I grabbed food and spent much time packing and rearranging for my flight to Belgrade. I managed to get everything onto the plane by strategically wearing stuff, leaving a couple paper things at the hostel, repacking my backpacks, and carrying my smaller one like a purse. The plane was HOT, but we made it and I caught the bus easily to the city center. A nice and eventful twenty minute walk got me to my room. I realized partway through that I was walking close to the person I sat with on the plane. There were also a lot of people around and a large variety of buildings and streets (including a couple embassies). To top it off, I watched a protest of construction (of a dam?) that would put a monastery underwater. After resetting at the room, I went to a very nice dinner that will cost me less than any dinner I had in Stockholm (except for the Indian food). Time to sleep soon.

One of my roommates in Belgrade (the cutest is on the left)

The coolest remote-control sailboat I've ever seen. Thanks, Nikola (Tesla)!

Serbia!

The plane.

Comments

Curtis Hanner said…
I'm glad the hostel in Bucharest went well. I can see how that would be a fun and inexpensive way to travel across Europe. Glad to hear that your "data" came to the rescue.

Does the culture feel different in Belgrade? Does it feel like other European cities?

Love you
August 26, 2017 at 8:28 PM
Bryan said…
I haven't gotten to know the city very well, but so far it seems that it is similar to other European cities. The center is touristy and has a lot of historic buildings, it has a mix of old and new, and there are many fortresses, museums, restaurants, apartments, etc. I'll let you know more of what I think after I've spent the next day here!
August 27, 2017 at 6:10 AM
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