Belgrade, collage
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RAKOVICA MONASTERY
The Rakovica Monastery was built during the rule of fameous Duke (Prince) Lazar Hrebeljanović, in XIV century. The source of this information is http://www.eparhija-sumadijska.org.rs . As probably as every Serbian monastery it has very turbulent history. But for me, as the citisen of municipalitie Rakovica where monastery is situated one information is interrested: Begining of 20 senturry in Rakovica monastery was first monc scholl in Serbia.
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Belgrade by night
On the left is Kosančićev vrnac, one of most beautiful areas of Belgrade, in front is The Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel. On the right is Knez Mihajlova street and Kalemegdan
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Hyde park
I wanted to start this article about Hyde park like “this park is near Senjak, the most exclusive part of Belgrade…” but then I wonder is Senjak still most exclusive part of Belgrade? Because today most wanted flats and apartments are on New Belgrade, of course until Belgrade Waterfront is finished…. Yes, most of embassies are still on Senjak and Dedinje but as I said, today, New Belgrade and in near future Belgrade Waterfront are the most wanted parts to live. Now, about Hyde park, it is beautiful park, I think most of trees are oak. Park is near “Muzej Jugoslavije”- museum of Jugoslavia history and generally near the center of Belgrade, maybe two kilometers.
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Ada
Ada Ciganlija, artificial lake is among best places in Ada Ciganlija is a jewel of Belgrade. Although we have two magnificent rivers, Sava and Danube, Ada is something special. Belgrade sea, as we like to call it, during summer season can be reached with special buses from various city directions, then by bike all away from Dorćol and confluence or by boat from New Belgrade, block 45 & 70. Ada has everything what is needed in one metropole, which Belgrade certainly is. A lake for swimming and various water sports, biking and walking track, restaurants, bars, golf course, basketball, football, volleyball courses, and much much more. For me Ada is a place where I can runaway from city, clear my mind and enjoy in great view, of course, in all seasons. Sometimes Ada is most beautiful on winter snow day. I will mention one restaurant, “Till the end of the world”. It is place which is working all the time and where beside domestic atmosphere you can eat domestic specialties. So if you want to feel & taste relaxed Belgrade, people whose life is strongly connected with Sava river and Ada Ciganlija, you should visit “Till the end of the world”.
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Sava by night
Sava is beautiful river, New Belgrade have its own charm, especially by night....
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Concrete hall
Presently, one of the best clubbing places in Bgd. There are good food, live music, coffe breake.....
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Ružica and Saint Petka
Ružica church and St. Petka chapel are located on the Belgrade fortress – Kalemegdan, towards to confluence of Sava and Danube, in lower town. Best way to come to the church and the chapel is from the direction of Nebojša tower, near Turkish Hamam and then upstairs. Ružica is the oldest church in Belgrade, under the Turkish rule, Ružica was a gunpowder storage, arround 1867 it became a military chucrh. In the First World War it was almost destroyed and was renovated in the year 1925. Today, Ružica Church is mainly known world wide due to it’s role in the great War. In this church many soldiers, Belgrade defenders, got their last Eucharist. Its chandelier is made of swords, shells and other weaponry of Serbian soldiers. In front of the church there are two statues, one is a Serbian middle age spearman and other is a Serbian foot soldier from the Balkan war, both made from cannon shells. Near Ružica church Belgrade defenders Mausoleum is located, it is marked with an iron cross, also made from cannon shells. Saint Petka is acknowledged world wide as a womans protector, the Kalemegdan Chapel is dedicated to her. There is a fountain in the church yard, on the 27.th of October, Saint Petka day, people come to the church to get water from this holly fountain. Modern Belgrade’s night life and excellent food are great to have. But true nature of Serbian people such as honesty, hospitality and loving their own country is something which will last forever. Ruzica church and Chapel of Saint Petka with its surrounding, together with the impression from confluence of Sava and Danube offer great experiences on the Belgrade fortress. When you come to this specific place you can feel so much energy that has been held here for decades. Ruzica is a military church which means it has a lot of secrets, here you can, looking in the past, reach present and future.
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Gardoš
During the last few years Gardosh became one of the major touristic attraction in Zemun, Belgrade quart across Sava. Gardoš is a name of a tower but also a name of an area around the tower. People from Zemun like to call it the tower of Sibinjanin Janko, a Hungarian hero from 1456 who defended Belgrade from Turkish attacks. Interesting, but not true. The tower was built in 1896. and its name is a Millennium tower. It was built by the Hungarian people and it’s a part of a group of seven monuments which celebrates 1000 years of Hungarian rule. There are more mysterious stories about Gardoš. One myth was that there is a tunnel which goes under Danube and connects Gardoš with Kalemegdan, Belgrade fortress. Well, interesting, but I think that Zemun itself is more than a mystery, the atmosphere which can be felt on Danube bank is magic. Streets with cobblestone, one of which leads to Gardoš, typical houses, lots of restaurants and small taverns are landmarks of Zemun, especially on Danube shore. In the evening everything changes, streets become alive, you can hear live acoustic music from restaurants, regardless to your taste in fun and music, where ever you enter, you will have a great time. Gardoš tower was a ruin before Mr. Đorđe Čubrilo, art photographer, restored it. After restauration it was opened for tourists. One of Gardoš attractions is a magnificent view from the tower terrace, on Zemun, on the confluence of Sava and Danube and on New Belgrade. Ok, now you know a little bit about Gardoš, I hope enough to make you come here, becouse words and pictures without live people and smell of a Danube can be just a good invitation, nothing more.
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Avala
Avala is a mountain near Belgrade, its altitude is 511 m above sea level. You can reach Avala from city center for about 30 min with a car, it is about 17 km away from Belgrade, south-east direction. We are very proud and happy to have Avala. Of course, people from Belgrade can’t visit Avala as much as they would like due to obligations. But, most of holidays which we spend in Belgrade, first weekends in early spring, with our cousins which visit us, when our children are old enough for walking and climbing, we visit Avala. Few words about history, Avala is known very long, 300 years b.c., first Celts arrived, then Romans used their ruins to built fortification. Both of them, Celts and Romans, mined here. And then comes the biggest mystery about Avala Medieval fortress Žrnov which was on the top of Avala was mined in 1934 in order to make place for monument to the unknown hero, which is dedicated to unknown soldier from World War I and Balkan wars. Ruler of Kingdom of Yugoslavia, King Aleksandar Karađorđević ordered mining of Žrnov. There are a lot of legends and assumptions why he did it, still, till now it is unknown mystery. His friend, sculptor, Ivan Meštrović made this new monument after complete destruction of Žrnov. Unfortunately, King Aleksandar was killed in Marselle, France, in 1934., he did not see the monument which was finished in 1938. Monument is really magnificent; it is made of black granite. Caryatids which carries the roof on their heads represent all the peoples of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Another monument on Avala is dedicated to Russian military delegation, their airplane crashed in Avala. They were arriving on celebration of liberation of Belgrade in World war II. Bigest attraction of Avala is TV tower. It is double interesting, first, its altitude is over 205 m and second, it was bombed and destroyed in 1999. during NATO bombardment of Serbia and Montenegro. Present tower was built from 2006. till 2010. when it was officially opened, and it is the same as old one! Avala tower is unique architectural work, it stands on three legs which forms a tripod, the symbol of Serbian tripod chair, tronožac. There is a great view on Belgrade from terrace on tower, presently ticket costs 300 dinars. There is a lot, lot more about Avala, I will mention only domestic economies from villages around Avala, where can find excellent natural products, cheese, honey, dry smoked meat, juices, our famous brandy “rakija” etc.
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Danube & Dorćol
This year, 2017. I started to drive bicycle often, since I had time, no 9-5 work, actually no work at all…. I live in Rakovica, it is suburb, south part of Belgrade. From Rakovica to Sava river and Ada Ciganlija where you can drive bike safe because there are bike traces, you must drive about 10 km on high traffic road. It is frequent road, with trucks and buses, not pleasant drive. But then starts magic, when you reach Sava. You can go left, to Ada, or right to center, and after to Dorcol and Danube, with bike traces all the way. If you go right you will first pass Stenka, fish restaurant on the Sava’s bank which is not working now but could tell us lots amazing stories. After Stenka there is part of Sava’s bank which is quiet, with few local restaurants and clubs, Sest topola, for example, On the right side is Belgrade’s fair. Then you reach todays biggest and most controversial building site, Belgrade Waterfront. I will say just that walking and driving a bike on new riverside is very pleasant. Then you pass beside now most wanted night clubs, Concrete haul. And you reach Kalemegdan base and after confluence of Sava and Danube comes Dorcol and Danube only. Really pleasant place, peaceful, place to walk, run, ride bike, play various sports, enjoy in river, drink coffee…. In early summer, on the part of walkway after sports center Milan Gale Muskatirovic there are long rose garden all away to end of the walk. Roses are colorful, and SMELL fantastic. I took a picture. It feels good to look at mighty Danube and smell those beautiful roses. What a person can ask more?
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Šabački slatinac
SABACKI SLATINAC. I admit, I ADORE THIS RESTAURANT. It is not too nice, it is not famous, it is not in the center, and so on, BUT it is a restaurant (KAFANA) which represent true Belgrade, with food, with people, with prices, with drinks, with waiter, with interior. YOU CAN EAT EVERITHING WHAT IS CALLED “Serbian specialties” veal ragout soup, lamb ragout soup, roasted meat, pig intestines-chitterlings, tripes, cold meat aspic…I was surprised when I saw that official website have English too, but it tells me that someone else beside me see that Belgrade is not only Kalemegdan, Knez Mihajlova, Skadarlija… I do not know what to say about Slatinac more, maybe that I spend few wonderful evenings in it, in the garden or inside. Ok, one story, I hope which will describe everyday life in Belgrade. One business man used to come to Slatinac often, with his business partners and privately. One evening he came with his wife. Waiter approach to table, regards them warmly and say: O dear madam you changed your hair style, it is nice.” Business man’s wife looked him and say, “what do you mean, I have this haircut for years?” But I sew you two days ago, it was different haircut!” The business man looked him furiously, giving him sign to shut up, but, the damage was made…. I hope you will visit this warm small restaurant, and feel atmosphere in which Belgrade’s citizens live every day. Maybe you will meet some cheerful group and hear more interesting stories….
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My five restaurants in Belgrade
My five restaurants in Belgrade Most of us who lives whole life in Belgrade have their favorite restaurants - kafane. Here are my five, not of course best five, just my five. I am sure that I am not the only one who change taste during years. I wrote already about Šabački Slatinac, so I will pass it this time. Đerdan - https://www.restorandjerdan.rs This a classic business – family restaurant. I mean you can go with family, friends or business partners (this sound too serious, in Belgrade it is more like business friends, more casual). Portions are big, food is mostly classic, good atmosphere. Čačanin - https://www.facebook.com/Restoran-CACANIN-282031174059/ Also classic one, only more rusticall and not so close to city center. Suburb restaurant and I think ideal one to feel real Belgrade’s suburb atmosphere, kafana where common people eat and often celebrate birthdays, baptism or small wedding. Čedić - https://www.cedic.co.rs/kafana/en/ One more suburb kafana, not much different from previous two. All three restaurants will give you a chance to feel Belgrade out of city center, these are places where the tourists do not go. And to eat goooood! Čubura - https://www.facebook.com/cubura.restoran/ Čubura is something special. Regarding food I believe not much different from all three previous. But…. Generally, Vračar with Kalenić open market is old part of the city and represent Belgrade as it used to be (without rough new buildings which arise between 200 and more years old houses in just few months). There are a lot of very interesting stories from Vračar from last century, Čubura is a cult part of it. And kafana Čubura is one of the main “organs” of Vračar. Many famous small restaurants are demolished in order to make place for new concrete – glass buildings without soul. So, hurry up, go to Čubura and feel Belgrade as it was in its glorious days. There are some people from Vračar which clames that Čubura has the best ćevapi in the city, its up to you to judge. Stara Daščara - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stara-Dascara/192809811350490 Last but not the least. Serbian people like very much to eat roast pork or lamb, it is like grill, on coil. Here, in Stara Daščara they have every day fresh lamb meat. So, if you like meat and want to experience local food this is a right place for you. Not to mention fantastic Topčiderski park, Milošev konak……
