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Published: August 8th 2013
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First entry...of another trip! I know, life can be like a Russian doll...let's see if I can put a trip into a trip...into another trip...so far, it looks like it's going the right way....or the Russian doll way! More about Russia...way later...
Leslie and Tiffany are for the next two weeks with their grandparents in Luxembourg. And, they are having all day French classes for two weeks in a row. As they say...hey Papa, these are not holidays! Well, they know what is coming next and I told them...August may not be holidays....do you truly want to be in school non-stop from September to June...I got a smile for a reply! They know what is coming!
For me, it's time to do...something I should have done 20 years ago....or so!
I always dreamt of doing a European tour by train using an Interrail pass. Some of you did it....by 22, I was on my way to Asia....by 26, I was a Dad...let say, I never either had the money, or took the time to do it.
Travelling around Europe on night-train is not that easy today. You have fast
trains and low-cost airlines...who would go today from Brussels to Helsinki or Malaga by train. Not me! But in Eastern Eruope...it's another story all together. So here I am, for new discoveries...and catching on time...a little....and don't even try to go on...hey, this is middle-age crisis...nothing to do with it...big smile!
So to start, I cheat a little...was way cheaper and easier to fly in a single afternoon from Luxembourg to Belgrade via Munich on Luftansha...I may have some time...I have no time to waste just to start this little thing.
The idea of an inter-rail is to take night trains to discover as many cities as you can in a month. So you sleep on train, than into youth-hostels. Well, first, in Easter Europe buying an Inter-rail would be a non-sense....Belgrade-Sofia on a berth in a sleeper car is ....26 euros....go one way, and that's ticket plus bed...easier!
Second, I'm not 20 any more...so I go...original...I sleep in trains....than go down to a proper room in the best the city has to offer. First stop for me in Belgrade...the Metropol! That suite was cute...but better...that's staff...anywhere around the world, I
have rarely met such a young crew of amazing staffs in a 5 stars hotel. The stay alone was more than fun! And they had proper Serbian wine in the lounge...open too pretty late...very useful for a Monday night...
I landed at 4.30pm in Belgrade...took the bus to the city...drop my bag to the hotel...no backpack...I've grown up, single roll-away will do it! Than on to the train station to buy my ticket for the next evening to Sofia. The lady made a face...she spoke English...you want a sleeper...for tomorrow? 4 berths....forget about it...it seems I was lucky to land a 6 berths one...for 20 euros for the ticket...and 6 euros for the bed (I'm repeating myself, I know!). Guess what...next night, the train was half empty...go figure out!
I spent my first evening sampling some local wine...and having later a cigar on a terrace...long time not done this...sometimes, it's cool not to have to put the kids in bed! I nearly woke up early next morning...but why should I? So let's enjoy the day.
Old Belgrade is seriously pleasant...even with the temperature hitting well above 35 degrees! Been
told they have more young ladies in the city than men...true...and that is a party place...well, I miss the big party coming in less than 2 weeks with a huge Beer Festival (14th to 18th august)...Monday nights...have always been Monday nights...
I spent my morning exploring the Old Belgrade...few churches...few remaining of the NATO bombings back in 1999, and the Fortress...which is nothing else than a nice park....but still thousand of years old...and have been destroyed and re-built just something like 77 times! I didn't made up the figure!
My afternoon was spent biking...on a Dutch bike, with Nathan our...North Carolina guide...a trio of fun Dutch...and a nice, but slightly less funny Fin! Normal you will say! We ride 25 km...in 4 hours...including explanations stops...water stops...beach stop...and beer stops...all this....under a serious sunny afternoon!
We were supposed to be back at 6pm...it was rather 6.30pm....lucky the Metropol hotel had no issue with me checking-out...after 7pm...I love those crazy places. And yes, I missed a fun episode while biking...they had a full day of hiring by Etihad around the lobby of the hotel...ladies...do you really want to spend your time serving food-trays
and having to apply so much moisturizing to fight the dry effect of all these hours on planes! I'm not kidding!
And for me, it was time...to have a fast dinner...a last beer...this time...and to hit the train station. Nick! For the train ride, explanation is coming on the next blog!
So you may say....and beside mentioning NATO bombings in 1999, he made no other comments about Serbia past. Well, war is over for...depending how you see it, either since 1996 or 1999...the new 25 years old want to work...and Belgrade is seriously behind cities like Prague or Budapest....teach humanity only one lesson...in life, it's better to make love and work...than to go on war! Serbia is learning the lesson today...catching as fast as they can...hopefully love will win! After the work obviously!
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Mamy
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les parapluies...
Magnifique photo à récupérer pour un fond d'écran... Bravo !