I first went to Serbia in 2013 but have been dealing with Serbs, some of whom I class as very close friends for many years. This book is a collection of photos from various parts of Serbia taken over a few months in 2021.
After leaving Miami in the United States in 2019 after 18 years and traveling in Europe ever since I must admit my biggest mistake was not leaving the United States a lot sooner. My time in Serbia again reinforced this like being kicked in the ass for being like a fool waiting for a high-speed train to turn up at the gates of a cemetery.
I arrived in Serbia after being in Covid lockdown in Greece for too long, I intended to stay a month but stayed a lot longer. Initially it was refreshing to escape the draconian Covid lockdown in Athens for something that was far more sensible. As the weeks turned into months the country and the people, even though I don't speak the language, became a comfortable environment for me to be in and around.
Serbia is an old country with a very rich in history and culture that has been pinnacle in the development of modern Europe. Serbia has been a crossroads for Byzantine, Frankish and Hungarian kingdoms and was ruled by the Ottoman Empire for almost five centuries alone. The influence of the different cultures can be picked up upon, but the Serbs have still managed to keep their own cultural identity.
The Orthodox Church is strong and has deep historical roots within Serbia. The interior Icons of Saint Sava Cathedral in Belgrade can only be described as breathtaking, and Cathedral is ranked among the largest churches in the world. Throughout Serbia there are abundant Churches and Monasteries some dating back centuries and many containing historical icons and the remains of Saints.
While based in Belgrade I traveled to the flat agricultural lands in the north and to the wild hills in south and west of Serbia, with each area having its own unique energy. For a country that is 1/3 the size of the United Kingdom it has great geographic diversity and due to a population of only 7 million people there are plenty of areas where wildlife is more prevalent than people.
An Area where the Serbs are very, very lucky is their food... Most of which is locally produced and comes from the field to the kitchen, to the table. All of those that visited me in Serbia commented on how good the food tasted, from the tomato's, the smoked sausages to the traditional rich lamb, beef and meat stews... Tastes that are sadly forgotten and foreign in countries where the foods are mass produced and processed.
The is a flourishing wine industry with local wines that can compete with the world's best. It amazes me that many people don't even realize the Balkans in general produces an excellent range of wines and spirits. Now, I can't really write this without mentioning Rakija... Some is smooth, some is rough, but all can get you drunk very quickly if downed on an empty stomach or with too much enthusiasm.
The future for Serbia is bright in my opinion, as it's a fresh county which is looking forward while maintaining its traditional values and culture. Strategically and conveniently located at the crossroads between East and West it's ideally located for future growth, and when combined with a polite and respectful population with amazing food, drink, and hospitality all I can say to finish it that I wish I left the United States a lot, lot sooner!
I have purposely not labeled the photos locations so as if you don't know where they were taken then hopefully you will get off your ass and go and find out!
