Can you miss something you don’t know?

Journey to the North

Northern Serbia

Goran, my Serbian tour guide in Panama, warned me. He told me that a single day trip to Novi Sad would not be enough time. He was sooooo right. So my advice if you plan on visiting Novi Sad, you have to stay here for a week, minimum 5 days for sure.

But first a funny story. If you have been following me you would know that when I was in Panama I had a tour guide named Goran who just happened to be from Serbia, the country I was headed to after Panama. As if that wasn’t coincidence enough! Today, on my day trip to Novi Sad, the tour stopped at a fortress just before entering Novi Sad.  I took a video from the top of the fortress and posted it to instagram. A couple hours later, while enjoying lunch with the tour group and guide.  The tour guide, Mirko, looks at me and says…you know @_p_a_l_i_? Goran, the tour guide in Panama had messaged Mirko, the guide on my tour and said: “Dude, I hear your voice in the video”. How hilarious is that?

Road Trip Through Vojvodina

The first hour of the ride we spent enjoying the colorful landscapes listening to the stories about the turbulent history of the area. Home to more than 25 ethnic groups, with six official languages in use, Vojvodina is the epitome of diversity. The rich soils in Vojvodina make this the agricultural heart of Serbia, and the region supplies much of the country’s wheat and corn. They have a saying in Vojvodina: “if you drop a button into the ground, next spring, you will harvest a full coat.”

Fruska Gora National Park & Krusedol Monastery

Fruška Gora, or “The Serbian Holly Mountain,” is a home for 17 active Orthodox monasteries. The monasteries were founded during the period of wars and migrations caused by Turkish occupation. They became vital communities that ensured that Serbian identity and Orthodox religion would survive through difficult times. Founded in the early 16th century, Krušedol is probably the most important one. The church contains the remains of many members of the Serbian noble Branković family, as well as King Milan Obrenović (died 1901).

Sremski Karlovci

A cute, Baroque town where time has stopped is quaint with its small houses, Baroque churches, palaces, gardens, and fountains. It has an impressive history as well: in 1699, a peace treaty between Christian European forces and Ottoman Empire was signed here, putting an end to Ottoman conquest of Europe. The town was a religious and educational center of the Serbians for more than 250 years, which makes it one of the most critical places in Serbian history. We enjoyed various wine tastings in one of the oldest wine cellars in the city, including the most famous product of the area: the Bermet wine, which is much like the Canadian Ice Wine.

Petrovaradin Fortress

With a quick hike to the top of the mighty Petrovaradin Fortress, nicknamed ‘Gibraltar on the Danube.’ One of the largest strongholds in Europe, still preserved, covers the surface of 100 hectares. Built by the Austrian Empire in the 17th-18th centuries, it played a significant role in defending the Middle European countries from Ottoman attacks. Interesting story about the Clock Tower, it’s hands are reversed. Having the large hand represent the hour instead of the minutes.  It is believed that this was on purpose so that the ships on the Danube could see the hour, which was more important than the minutes. From the top of the fortress you can enjoy the view over the Danube and the city of Novi Sad.

Novi Sad

Novi Sad is the second-largest city in Serbia, with its typical Middle European appearance and proud history of being a cultural and intellectual center of the Serbs in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, for which it earned a name – Serbian Athens. Ending the tour with a traditional Serbian lunch before we head back to Belgrade.

Novi Sad will forever be known as “No be sad (jajaja get it?), at least you got to meet me” buwahaha. But I am sad, I truly needed more time here.