SERBIA
Serbia wasn’t on my radar this year until… I was working out my route into Bosnia /Herzegovina. I never take the quickest routes (boring) I like to take the more scenic routes.
So, while checking out the roads I come across a photo of a scenic viewpoint in the Tara National Park, Serbia (I looked a little farther than necessary…) it was stunning – I had to go!!! It was only 5.5hrs drive – well by the end of the day that had turned into 11!
The drive there was truly stunning, steep mountain passes through Bosnia (had to cross it first) with at least 40 tunnels cutting through the mountains.
Crossing over the border the official wished me luck – mmmm ok…. I did ask “is luck needed?” – he just laughed. Then the song “So glad you made it” came on as I crossed the border – Universe has a sense of humour today…
The West part of Serbia feels like it got left behind, traditional houses, farming by hand, old people looking like they got dressed in the last century.
The road turned to dirt once in the NP. Winding through huge pine forests. It was good till the last 500m then it turned into a muddy mess, lots of thick mud, large puddles and pot holes – so much fun! Rollo my month old Polo is getting put through his paces…
A short hike up and WOW the view is laugh out loud beautiful, the colors of the water below would have looked at home on a peacocks tail – it is breathtaking!!!!
I was initially up there with other people but they soon disappeared I stayed a bit longer to marvel at the view and hike around the edge of the mountain but recent brown bear sightings made me conscious of noises in the forest!!
I didn’t have anywhere to stay, the tiny town in the Park didn’t appeal, a weird looking guy was offering rooms, my gut said – Nah! So I headed to the nearest town Bajina Bašta down A LOT of hairpin bends.
I found an apartment, did the usual, dropped my bags and headed out the door. The road in front of where I was staying becomes pedestrian at night. The town comes out to socialise, kids, families, young and old chatting, walking, roller blading, biking up and down. The little restaurants and street bars filled up – very cute!
Luckily the town was tiny and my walk was short – I was exhausted – I hit the wall after 11 hours on mountain roads and no food all day. I almost laid down on the floor in the middle of the street and went to sleep – well thought about it but went and had a pizza and beer instead…
Next morning up early! I had noticed a photograph being displayed around town that I had seen on various photo platforms – a house on a rock in the middle of a river!! I had no idea it was here before I arrived bonus!!
I was sorry to head back to Bosnia the next morning, I was really enjoying the simplicity of West Serbia I really felt I had stepped back in time!
