Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Observations on random differences, as compared to the US.

- Doors to shops, bars nearly all swing inward (push to enter) and they aren't clearly identified. "How do we get in this place?"

- Dogs are very commonly off leash, even in the city center. There are a lot of stray cats.

- When traffic lights turn yellow here, it means the light is about to turn green.

- There are fewer homeless/beggars than expected in big city, but they do their best to show an infirmity, ex. "I've got one leg skinnier than the other, just look at it!"

- You only turn on the hot water heater when you plan to use it. And it's mounted high on the wall, near the shower.  This is actually a much more efficient approach then the US "always on" heaters located in basements.

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After a light breakfast, we walked around the city a bit.  Cherry blossom trees are in bloom here and lovely.

For lunch, we had the anticipated knedle. One traditional, sugar coated plum and one caramel filled.  Absolutely delicious.  Like a dense pancake filled with sweetness.

After the treat, we walked it off. One notable item on the walk was this extremely tall traffic cop, giving a guy a citation. The cop had to be approaching 7ft.  People are generally tall here, but he was an outlier. The guy getting the ticket is really standing behind his car, not on his knees or anything.

Meeting up with Jovana and Zoran, we drove the car up to the Topčider area, south of the city. We enjoyed beverages at a place called "Aleksandar Club - Ski Staza"

The resident dog joined us at our table while not chasing off his canine competitors.

We hiked a bit through the hillside trails.  The parking attendant said there was a German cemetery somewhere in the woods, but we didn't run across it. 

We then drove down to the Hyde park area, hoping to visit the "Museum of Yugoslavia," but it turns out that it is only open Wed-Sun. It was also undergoing serious renovation, like a lot of buildings around here.

Returning to the city, Yelena and I had some delicious pizza at Giovanni's Pizzeria, right outside Jovana's apartment.  Delicious, wood fired.

We ended the evening with a drink and chat at Jovana's.

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Not Serbia related....  R.I.P. Carin Strange.  I was notified last night that my friend Carin passed away this past Easter morning, April 9, 2023.  She would have been 95 years old in May. I visited Carin for many years, after meeting her when volunteering at a  nursing home in Arden Hills.  She was a dignified Swedish lady who always had an unexpectedly sharp and funny comment.