2023 Buda to Bucha Day 06 Belgrade, Serbia

By travelerdon on November 18, 2023

Monday, Oct 9, 2023

Today it’s rise and shine at 7AM. We watch some lights of the city as it is dawn here at 7AM. Breakfast and on the buses by 9AM to visit the capitol of Serbia! We first visit the Fortress at the top of the hill. We learn about the ancient history of this area. Once a part of Yugoslavia, our Guide, Pavlo, tells us he is 34 years old and this is his birthplace. He has lived in 4 different countries in the same place during his life! He says he wants to die in Serbia and we get his drift!

We get some panoramic views from the fort and head back to the bus. Next we visit the Belgrade Temple. More amazing architecture both inside and out. We watch as patrons of the church come and go, digilently kissing all the alters. There is a lot of gold leaf and gold plating and the lights twinkle and shine!

Back on the bus we then visit a museum and mausoleum to an interesting dictator whom the people didn’t like but the government built a memorial to. Tito. I get some of the history of this dictator that murdered many people and it is a very poignant history. The interesting part is that our guide gets the museum to open just for us!

Then we go back to the ship and kick back for the afternoon. We turn down the opportunity to visit the places connected to Nicola Tesla who lived here. We are able to walk about town on our own but choose not to. We feel we have seen Belgrade, the “White City”. Originally called Beograd, Beo meaning ‘White’ and Grad meaning ‘City’. I do not understand why it is the White City, not much is white. Not like Amman Jordan where all the buildings are pretty much white marble and the city looks ‘White’ from a distance.

The internet is down on the ship and I have to wonder if it has something to do with our location. The general feeling we get here is that the people wish we weren’t here. It is sad and strange at the same time. We will be in Serbia again tomorrow so we will find out. In two days we will be in Bulgaria.