Serbian summer news – hot or not?

Serbian summer news – hot or not?

It is often said that the summer is bad season for some major happenings, breaking news and other similar stuff that would interest a keen news reader in any way. That seemed like a nice period to take some time off from blogging and relax, prefferably away from home, so that’s exactly what i did – went interrailing for a while. But, svuda podji, kuci dodji as we say here.
Now that i’m back, being your average Serbian news junkie of course i’m interested to find out what did i miss, being cut off from any means of informational technology and using the internet access only to check the train timetables and similar boring stuff like that.

Let’s see just how hot the summer is in Belgrade and Serbia, not neccessarily in ‘chronological’ and ‘importance’ order, i’m going to throw them to you more in a random way.

Severina gets a Yugo from the manufacturer, than the manufacturer denies this as a rumour because of the legal lawsuit from Mercedes Benz, singer’s official sponsor – well, even this looks like a real news when you got a lack of something more interesting happening.

Mladic is nowhere to be found – this is nothing new actualy.

Federal parlament building officially became Serbian parlament building – yawn.

Mobi 63 is sold to the Norwegian Telenor – probably the best news this summer.

Serbs and Albanians negotiate away without any visible progress – zzz.

A new tourist boat is being planned from New Belgrade to Ada Ciganlija, as a part of new investments in Belgrade infrastructure, with total value of 0.5 billion EUR – not bad.

Kinoteka is saved, another great news.

More than 90 percent of young people from abroad stated that Serbia has a very negative image in their countries, showed a poll done at Exit festival among the foreign guests. Not very surprising i would say. I still think that this negativeness can be used as a tool in a witty campaign to turn the situation upside down (and inside out) into a positive image. I’ll be writing more about my view on this and throw in my suggestions for the campaing in the future on the blog, since it seems this story about branding will be here to stay for a while. Serbwife also throws in a very good suggestion for the campaign slogan.

Nikola Tesla monument, recently put in the vicinity of the Belgrade airport is under strong negative criticism of many experts from art field. Btw, it really looks funny, i have to take a picture of it one of these days before they decide to replace it for real.

‘Mozart evenings in Belgrade’ were very interesting event, i was told. Not only because of the music performed at the main square by some of our best classical artists, but also due to the fact that one of the sponsors was well know pljeskavicarnica, who happily grilled away their meat all the time while music was being performed, thus sending clouds of smoke and roasted meat smell on the crowds listening to ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik’. Now there’s a sight i’m sorry i missed.

Radical party leader says that a military action should not be excluded as an option if Kosovo becomes independent – now how predictable is that statement? Good news is that the radicals began losing their popularity, maybe exactly after their supporters heard this from their leader. Kostunica also stated that he loves Kosovo more than he loves EU or something like that – also predictable and old news.

What else did i miss, people?
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I recieved some questions about Belgrade while i was away so i didnt have time to reply to them properly. I will put them here so you readers can help too – maybe we can make this a regular thing here since we now apparently have somewhat strong crowd of readers, who have also shown good knowledge of Belgrade and Serbia – Bg anon, Cvijus, Ben, what do you say?

Here come the questions:

Minna wants to know about good hotels in center of Belgrade for under 50 EUR a night, so you can throw in your suggestions beside the obvious at Belgrade inside out hotels page.

Couple of people wanted to know about best places to learn Serbian language.

I also got a question from Josh who wants to know more about places where he could ride a horse in Belgrade. One of the places is surely the Belgrade horse track, “Beogradski Hipodrom”.
Complimentary with this, Kevin sent this excellent reportage from Belgrade horse track. Thanks, Kevin, hope you had a great time in Belgrade!

Mongi asks if we know anything about the hotel, Belgrade Inn. I must say i was also surprised by this huge and new hotel on the entrance in New Belgrade side.
Bg anon adds: The Belgrade Inn is a 4 star establishment primarily directed at business customers. Its owned by a media savvy Greek busimessman. Perfectly situated in the part of New Belgrade that has become the financial district he must be onto a winner.

I got a question also about the best camping place in vicinity of Belgrade, and also which busses go to the camp at Batajnicki put.

Nada asks for a map of Belgrade. I think the best thing online for now is www.planplus.co.yu until i make a map for Belgrade inside out (work in progress).
Bg anon suggests: As far as maps are concerned by far the best one is an electronic map called magic maps (Belgrade, Novi Sad and Nis). I’m not sure if they are available on the internet since I bought mine from a kiosk for 150 dinars.
If you are looking for an ordinary map they can be picked up from a tourist agency in Belgrade. Alternatively the usual places in the centre such as Beoizlog on trg republike or the bookshop at Plato square may be able to help.
Sadly the road name changing tendancies of local government continues so there will always be some confusion about streets that have changed names.

Gemma wants to know about best places to go swimming near or in Belgrade.
Bg anon’s answer: the Tas swimming pool on the edge of Tasmajden park (in the centre of Belgrade) is one of the best pools in the country. There is a choice between an indoor Olympic pool and an outdoor one. There is also a third outdoor pool for children.
Its a pretty simple system of buying a ticket at the front desk for 200 dinars, changing and bringing your bags, towels etc with you (no extra charge).
Tas is also an interesting place to observe, there is a ‘rites of passage’ thing going on as you watch families / groups come and go in the blazing sunshine. How many Belgrade families have been and gone through Tas?
In the Summer time its a great way to cool off.
Unfortunately it is closed at the moment since the European water polo championships are about to start.
Alternatively there is the Kosutnjak pool which is quite highly rated. I havent been for years but remember a large outdoor pool with a diving board. I’m told there is more than one pool there now. Kosutnjak is a great area generally – parts of it look something like a national park.
—If you can answer the unanswered quesionst and help these people in need, be a sport would you?

Tagged as: branding, festival, music, serbia