Back in Belgrade - what's the difference?

Looking back, it's easy to conclude that spring is a better time to walk around the Serbian capitol. Greens, flowers, open terraces and presence of people in Kalemegdan make this a bit of a livelier place to be. Being back in the Balkan feels good. Friendly people and good, sometimes 'interesting', food is one of the aspects that kicks in on the scale of melancholy. People's stories about being totally banned abroad also do the trick.

Talked to a salesman of old Yugoslav Commy icons (coins, military 'jewelry', notes). He used to work as a communication officer in the Yugo fleet. Been around the world a bit and remembers Vlissingen and Rotterdam quite well. Then the war came and everything changed. Serbs were (are?) persona non grate and simply not welcome anymore. Even working for other nation's fleets seemed to be impossible. At the end of the day, the impact of downsizing measures was total when technological developments clearly made the salesman-to-be downright redundant. His current business consist of a 40x60 cm cardboard display crammed with Yugo goodies of which each one of them are accompanied with a story. These stories can be heard at the gate to the Military Museum on Kalemegdan.

The photos

	Hippy girls at Kalemegdan, looking for ...
	There is a lot of glueing, sticking and pasting involved in Belgrade. The collums designed to carry the burdens of all city announcements are changing almost every day. As a result of prefered glueing on man's height, all the collums transfered into wide egg-shaped oval round announcement boards.
	Kalemegdan is the meeting place for lovers of all ages. The park is quite impressive in size, but you can see the hugging, kissing, smooching, etc. at virtually every corner of it. This spot is in front of the typical Serbian House, overlooking the Sava, Novi Grad and the best sun set in town.
	A lower level at Kalemegdan where the sun shines on your face most of the day.
	The Commy Goodies salesman mentioned in the entry above. A nice man with his little business outlet under the Clock Tower near the Military Museum on Kalemegdan.
	Terrace with great sunset, again on Kalemegdan. This place is simply wonderful, apart from the elevator music screaming for attention from the far away entrance. This muzak is really too bad a choice for one of the best spots in town. If Porcupine Tree is right with their song 'The Sound of Muzak', this spot only neutralises your brain (see lyrics). I hope not.
	Novi Grad seen from Kalemegdan.
	Sveti Marko glowing on Good Friday.