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Location Date South America 1487289600 Asia 1475362800 North America 1466636400 Europe 
1443826800 Africa 1253833200 -
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Location Date Sun, 06 October 2013 1381073760 Sun, 06 October 2013
1381055820 Sat, 05 October 2013 1380965400 Sat, 05 October 2013 1380948300
Today I'm heading out of Serbia into Kosovo. I was able to visit Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis, and Novi Pazar. Its been a mixed experience.
The four days in Belgrade was cold with rain probably affecting my mood of how I enjoyed it. The northern city of Novi Sad was interesting in its more Austrian character and Hapsburg feel
Nis was really nice being rooted much more in deeper history back to the Romans and Byzantines before the Turks. By far Novi Pazar was my favourite with its living Turkish character reminding me of Bosnia
Serbia has been a victim of its own geography. While Croatia, Slovenia, and towards the end Bosnia were under Hapsburg Austrian rule, the influence in architecture is evident there. Croatia had the added advantage of having the Adriatic coastline so many Roman towns and ports.
In the south Macedonia and Kosovo came under Greek and Bulgarian influence and were in the Byzantine sphere for much longer. Serbia has been left out and didn't have the rich heritage its neighbours had
The only historical jewel I was able to see was Nis although there are many interesting rural monasteries if you have your own transport.
People have all been friendly and the country seems to have bounced back from the bitterness of sanctions and Nato bombings. The country is much more relaxed outside of Belgrade
Yugoslavia had always interested me as my uncle is married to a Yugoslav woman so she would tell us she was from Belgrade and I was envious when my cousins would go on road trips across Europe from London to visit their own cousins in Yugoslavia
When I learned more about the region I was fascinated by its Turkish heritage which I had no idea about as its not taught in schools and never shown on tv. All we were ever told in schools was its part of the Soviet block.
Finally I fell in love with the turbo folk music of Serbia and religious Sevdah music of Bosnia. I would have liked the weather to have been nicer and it did warm up the more further south I went. I'm glad I came and accomplished an ambition I have had for many years.
The four days in Belgrade was cold with rain probably affecting my mood of how I enjoyed it. The northern city of Novi Sad was interesting in its more Austrian character and Hapsburg feel
Nis was really nice being rooted much more in deeper history back to the Romans and Byzantines before the Turks. By far Novi Pazar was my favourite with its living Turkish character reminding me of Bosnia
Serbia has been a victim of its own geography. While Croatia, Slovenia, and towards the end Bosnia were under Hapsburg Austrian rule, the influence in architecture is evident there. Croatia had the added advantage of having the Adriatic coastline so many Roman towns and ports.
In the south Macedonia and Kosovo came under Greek and Bulgarian influence and were in the Byzantine sphere for much longer. Serbia has been left out and didn't have the rich heritage its neighbours had
The only historical jewel I was able to see was Nis although there are many interesting rural monasteries if you have your own transport.
People have all been friendly and the country seems to have bounced back from the bitterness of sanctions and Nato bombings. The country is much more relaxed outside of Belgrade
Yugoslavia had always interested me as my uncle is married to a Yugoslav woman so she would tell us she was from Belgrade and I was envious when my cousins would go on road trips across Europe from London to visit their own cousins in Yugoslavia
When I learned more about the region I was fascinated by its Turkish heritage which I had no idea about as its not taught in schools and never shown on tv. All we were ever told in schools was its part of the Soviet block.
Finally I fell in love with the turbo folk music of Serbia and religious Sevdah music of Bosnia. I would have liked the weather to have been nicer and it did warm up the more further south I went. I'm glad I came and accomplished an ambition I have had for many years.
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