As you know, travel is one of my passions. I think about it constantly. Where can I go next? How will I get there? Who will I go with? What is there to see? Where will we stay?
I love browsing the internet, checking train schedules, looking for cheap flights and reading up on possible travel destinations.
I love the thrill of trying to communicate in unknown languages, navigating a new city based on a tiny map in the guidebook (or no map at all, as was the case in Novi Sad), discovering chocolate shops and cafes and of course trying new food.
I love the satisfaction I get packing my bags (which I have down to a thirty minute science, btw), and experience pure joy as the exhaustion hits me when I get home.
I love the exhilaration of being hastily awakened at 3am on the train so the border guards can put yet another stamp in my passport, which is now complete with added pages AA-ZZ.
So with this in mind, I provide an updated list of my travel plans for the next three months, as well as longer-term:
Next 3 Months- Realistically
My parents are coming in April and I will for sure join them in Prague, Amsterdam
Berlin
Romania
Hungary day-trips: Szeged, Pecs, Balaton, Miskolc
Next 3 Months- Possibilities
Milan, Italy
Greece (to visit a friend)
Kiev, Ukraine
Istanbul, Turkey
Traveling with my parents in April: Belgium and Salzburg, Austria
Next 3 Months- Dream World
South of France, South of Spain and Morocco
Post-Hungary 2007
Toronto (to visit Angela!)
S. America tour w/Jonathan: Peru, Bolivia, Buenos Aires, Brazil
2008 and Beyond
South Africa (2010 World Cup)
Vietnam (to visit a friend who will be posted there with the State Dept later this year)
Hong Kong
China
India
Istanbul, Turkey
Okay well now that we've cleared that up it's back to the real world: thesis, ethics readings and micro-economics test on Tuesday. Have a nice weekend :)
10 February 2007
Belgrade and Novi Sad, Serbia
Kate and I went to Serbia last weekend. Have I mentioned that I love Europe for this very reason: you can get on a train on Friday night, be in another country on Saturday morning, spend the weekend and then be home Monday morning to start your week? Fabulous.
Who goes to Serbia? Not many people. We went for the adventure and the experience, and found that Serbia is an interesting country for many reasons:
1. Serbia used to be part of Yugoslavia and you see still "Yugoslavia" mentioned everywhere. The word "Yugoslavia" means "Land of the South Slavs," which although the country has broken up I suppose the description is still accurate.
2. Serbia was bombed by NATO in 1999 and evidence of the bombings is still visible.
3. Time has stood still in Serbia: in many ways it feels like Communism is still present, as the economy is stagnating, tourism is basically non-existent (we could not stay the night in Novi Sad because there were no hostels!), buildings are crumbling and the majority of ca
rs are older than I am.
4. There is a lot of Croatian and Italian influence- in fact Serbia is known for its amazing pizzerias. In the northern part of the country (including Novi Sad, one of the cities we visited) there is a lot of Hungarian influence, with a large and active Hungarian-speaking community. In fact, while the majority of the population are Serbs, an additional 37 nationalities reside in Serbia.
5. We saw a variety of languages in use (which was a bit confusing). According to the internet, the office language is Serbian and the alphabet in official use is Cyrillic, as well as Latin. In the areas inhabited by national minorities, the languages and alphabets of the minorities are in official use as well (as provided by law). Like I found in Poland, many people spoke fluent English as well, although Serbia isn't exactly tourist central.
6. The dominant religion is Christian Orthodox, and there are some beautiful Christian Orthodox churches. In fact, in visiting one we walked in on a wedding, and were highly amused by the band playing outside that would literally attack those entering the church, playing music in their faces (as you can see from the picture) and asking for money.
7. I still can't figure out whether Serbia and Montenegro and in fact one country or two; my guide book describes their relationship as a "fragile union;" Serbia uses the dinar, Montenegro the Euro. Very confusing.
8. On the outskirts of Belgrade we saw poverty as we I have not yet seen in Europe: a real-life shanty town, with houses made of cardboard boxes, children running around in winter with no shoes on and trash everywhere... and I mean everywhere. Obviously I came across this kind of poverty in Latin America but it was a bit shocking to see it here in Europe.
Who goes to Serbia? Not many people. We went for the adventure and the experience, and found that Serbia is an interesting country for many reasons:
1. Serbia used to be part of Yugoslavia and you see still "Yugoslavia" mentioned everywhere. The word "Yugoslavia" means "Land of the South Slavs," which although the country has broken up I suppose the description is still accurate.
2. Serbia was bombed by NATO in 1999 and evidence of the bombings is still visible.
3. Time has stood still in Serbia: in many ways it feels like Communism is still present, as the economy is stagnating, tourism is basically non-existent (we could not stay the night in Novi Sad because there were no hostels!), buildings are crumbling and the majority of ca
rs are older than I am.4. There is a lot of Croatian and Italian influence- in fact Serbia is known for its amazing pizzerias. In the northern part of the country (including Novi Sad, one of the cities we visited) there is a lot of Hungarian influence, with a large and active Hungarian-speaking community. In fact, while the majority of the population are Serbs, an additional 37 nationalities reside in Serbia.
5. We saw a variety of languages in use (which was a bit confusing). According to the internet, the office language is Serbian and the alphabet in official use is Cyrillic, as well as Latin. In the areas inhabited by national minorities, the languages and alphabets of the minorities are in official use as well (as provided by law). Like I found in Poland, many people spoke fluent English as well, although Serbia isn't exactly tourist central.
6. The dominant religion is Christian Orthodox, and there are some beautiful Christian Orthodox churches. In fact, in visiting one we walked in on a wedding, and were highly amused by the band playing outside that would literally attack those entering the church, playing music in their faces (as you can see from the picture) and asking for money.
7. I still can't figure out whether Serbia and Montenegro and in fact one country or two; my guide book describes their relationship as a "fragile union;" Serbia uses the dinar, Montenegro the Euro. Very confusing.
8. On the outskirts of Belgrade we saw poverty as we I have not yet seen in Europe: a real-life shanty town, with houses made of cardboard boxes, children running around in winter with no shoes on and trash everywhere... and I mean everywhere. Obviously I came across this kind of poverty in Latin America but it was a bit shocking to see it here in Europe.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)