Travel to Serbia and Kosovo – Episode 336

Jennifer

Great podcast! Thanks for going to all the work of editing etc… Shawn makes the world sound like an inviting fun place to explore.

Kathy

I spent several weeks traveling in the Balkans last fall, so I was especially interested in this episode. I didn’t go to Kosovo, but I visited the same places as Shawn in Serbia, plus I did a day trip by train from Novi Sad to Subotica right on the border with Hungary. I am a big fan of Art Nouveau and Subotica was the highlight of my trip to Serbia – several really interesting buildings, in a good state of repair (for photos see http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/novi-sad-vs-subotica/ ). Of course, these buildings date to the time when this area was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, and I later found more great Art Nouveau buildings a few miles north on the other side of the border (in Pecs, Szeged and Kecskemet). While Serbia was interesting it’s rather flat and I found the scenery in Macedonia and western Albania much better.

Shawn mentioned that Lonely Planet doesn’t have a guidebook for Kosovo. That’s true, but there is a section in the “Western Balkans” book. However, the individual Bradt guides for the area are, naturally, more comprehensive.

Sam

I found this episode fascinating and Shawn’s enthusiasm for these places in combination with such positive experiences has me thinking that Serbia and Kosovo should be on my travel wish list.

Loving Serbia

1. Serbia is at such an important cultural cross roads, the geography, the food, culture, people, hospitality, the various festivals = Guca Horn festival http://www.guca.rs 100,000+ visitors from across Europe! Or visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Festivals_in_Serbia or http://www.exitfest.org/sr = HUGE Festival / Concert or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Serbian-Festivals/253515978716 or the NATIONAL TOURISM SITE http://www.serbia.travel/ or View this GREAT Food/Travel Video = Award Winning Video = SOULFOOD Serbia (12 min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ArNLVTn9x0 or another Great Promotional Video made by a guy that has fallen in Love with Serbia, it’s people, culture, food, land, culture etc.. it’s called “Say Serbia” (Promo Video) One Place, One Love, Say Serbia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHk45SeN1x4
2. Food = Organic Food Serbia – Healthy Living = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5anW-xA1Wpk
3. Lonely Planet Serbia = http://www.lonelyplanet.com/serbia
4. Another Video Travel Blog Belgrade Serbia! – In love with Srbija Beograde (Dutch Twinz)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1q6-8xuG-I
5. Amazing People = The athletes (Largest Group of foreign Nationals in NBA = Are Serbian)
6. Short flight connecting most major European Cities within 1 hour flight!
7. Great Exchange Rate vs. EURO/US Dollar etc…
8. Great Deals on High quality Hand Tailored Fashion, modern furniture, & consumer products!

You will be VERY Pleasantly Surprised by what you will see, learn and certain to share the growing crowd of people signing Serbia and the other nations of former Yugoslavia as Great Travel Destinations.

And in Closing = With All Due Respect = KOSOVO IS SERBIA, and the fact that it is an active contemporary social / political / cultural debate, which addresses many serious political concerns that bare a variety of implications related to national sovereignty and is commonly mentioned by many Serbians living in the diaspora e.g. athletes, actors, and other celebrates further illustrates the fact that one cannot divorce the fact that it is a deep and meaningful topic that can’t be ignored = WHITE ELEPHANT!
i.e. “When in Rome do as the Romans” = When in Serbia or the Balkans please go to learn about the great people, the passion and energy of the whole region and appreciate the overall vigor!