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Monday, September 18, 2017

What to see in Serbia? Belgrade's murals and Tesla

Problem
First where is it?
Second what is there to see? Four fun places.

Answers
Serbia was part of the former Yugoslavia. The capital is Belgrade. Not meaning beautiful city, although the tourist board says it is, but white city. In the local language it is spelled BEOGRAD.

What's on my list of what to see in Belgrade?
You arrive at Nikola Tesla airport. After seeing the man's name at the airport, it's easy to remember who is one of the national heroes.

The first place to see is:

1 The fortress above the city overlooking the town and river. Free!

2 Nikola Tesla Museum.
Who was Tesla. He invented household items using alternating current. How will I remember that? TElsLA ALTErnating current. TEsla alTErnating current. TesLA ALternating current.

Nikola Tesla Museum
Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10-6. (So the staff get Sunday and Monday off. Visitors can see the museum one day at the weekend, the first day of the weekend, and every day of the week except the first day.)
Is there an entrance fee? Yes. RSD 500.
(Check on opening times and prices before you go.)

After modern science, some ancient art.

3 Gallery of Frescoes at the National Museum.
Medieval murals.

(NB two of the main museums and galleries are closed in 2017, opening 2018. Check all opening times.)

4 After ancient murals, all the modern ones, troupe l'oeuil of old time buildings, in the Bohemian area of Skadarska street (in local language Skadarlija). Cobblestoned area, the Serbian Montmartre, arts and artists and old style Serbian restaurants.

Trompe l'oeuil mural in Belgrade, capital of Serbia, in Skadarlija, pedestrian street.

After modern murals, the traditional Roma culture.

4 Museum of Roma Culture.

What else? An aviation museum, a railway museum, as usual in big cities - a zoo.

Stories
Years ago when I was a teenager we went on a cruise which stopped at the port city of Dubrovnik, a popular cruise stop. My parents were very taken with the beauty of the architecture and Yugoslavia.

Later we had an au pair girl from Yugoslavia, then under Communist rule. She told me three things about her country at that time:
Yugoslavia has three groups of people and five great lakes.
If you want something done, you need to have a friend.
I cut the labels off my clothes to pretend they are old, so nobody knows I earn money or buy clothes in England.

I had very mixed feelings when Yugoslavia divided. From a tourist's point of view, I now have more countries to add to my list of places I have visited or want to visit.

Getting There
The national airline is Air Serbia which flies to : JFK, USA; Heathrow, London; Sarajevo ; and Skopje. Air Serbia is linked to the smaller carrier Aviolet. The Hungarian low cost carrier, Wizz Air, goes to Luton, UK, for London and other area.

What to eat, drink and buy to bring home? Slivovitz or plum brandy. Pear in spirits with a whole pear in the bottle. Cheaper in supermarkets than at the airport.

Where next? Maybe the art nouveau city of Subotica.

Tips - websites
Wikitravel.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer, photographer and blogger. See my previous posts on murals.

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