Well with all the delays in getting here we ended up with a whistlestop tour of Belgrade. Belgrade is the capital of Serbia and is, as such, the country's largest city with a population of about 1.8 million people. It lies on the confluence of the two major European rivers, Sava and Danube. The city has a long history, dating back to the 4th century BC, when the area was settled by Celtic tribes. We were taken on a walking tour and at least got to see a little bit of this city and learn about some of the history associated with some magnificient buildings.

Kalemegdan - Belgrade Fortress. Once an important military fortification, it now serves as the central park of Belgrade. Accessible from the end of the Knez Mihailova street, it offers beautiful views. The largest part is a park, along with the fortress walls, with several cafes, museums and an observatory. Don't forget to take a look at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers.

Republic Square (Main Square). Main meeting point in the city (also called kod konja - "by the horse"), right next to the statue of Mihailo Obrenovic (riding a horse), National Theater, National Museum and Knez Mihailova Street.

Saint Sava Temple (Serbian Cyrillic: Храм Светог Саве). The largest Orthodox church in Serbia, and one of the biggest Orthodox churches in the whole world. In 1594, Turkish vizier Sinan-paşa burned the holy relics of Saint Sava (1174-1236), founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church, on the spot where the temple is located today, in retaliation for the rebellion of the Serbian people. Since then, the Serbs wished to erect a church in honour of Saint Sava at this location, and have first built a smaller church next to the place of the burning of the relics (this church also still stands, and is located to the left of the main entrance to the big temple). The temple was built from 1935 in several phases - interrupted first in 1941 by WWII, and later by Communist authorities, the work was only resumed in 1985. The underground crypt, future burial site of Serbian patriarchs, dedicated to Saint Lazarus of Serbia, is nearly completed. Due to its impressive size, it is often called a cathedral, although it is not yet the seat of a bishop or the patriarch.

St. Mark's Church (Serbian Cyrillic: Црква Св. Марка) built from 1931 to 1940 is located in Tašmajdan park in Belgrade, near the Parliament of Serbia. It was designed as a copy of the famous Gracanica monastery near Pristina.

Ružica Church (Црква Ружица) and Church of Saint Petka (Црква Свете Петке) are located on Kalemegdan fortress, near the observatory. Ružica Church, dedicated to the Birth of the Holy Virgin Mary, was first mentioned in the 15th century; it was destroyed in the early 18th century, and later rebuilt in its present location. It was the military church of the garrison that was located in the fortress. It was once again destroyed in WWI by Central Powers, and then rebuilt again in 1925. At this time the church received its unique bronze soldier statues and the unusual chandeliers made out of bullet shells, swords and bayonets, a unique example of trench art with religious motifs. Church of Saint Petka (Paraskevi) is located next to it; it was built around a miraculous spring, and in honour of Saint Petka whose relics were kept in Belgrade fortress during the Middle Ages.