How fast time passes ... I realize that when I see that more than a week has passed since my last post. My plan was to write a post at least every other day and be more active, but sometimes things don't go according to plan. Commitments become priorities. In the last few days, I have been in constant motion, train, bus, bus, train ... A lot of things happened, both beautiful and sad, and my thoughts are so confused. Maybe that’s also good because I currently have inspiration for a lot of upcoming posts. I think I will write them down somewhere so that I don't forget them, because lately it often happens to me that I very easily forget what I wanted to do or say.
But before all these posts, it's time to finish my story about the journey through Vojvodina from 2019. I present to you the fourth and also the penultimate day of this journey.
1st Destination
I can say that this day was perhaps the least tiring because we visited the least destinations that day.
Departure from the hotel was that day immediately after breakfast, at 8am. The first destination we headed to was Bela Crkva (White Church) to visit the Belocrkva Lakes.
[//]:# (!pinmapple 44.894693 lat 21.405694 long d3scr)
We traveled through Straža and it took us about 35-40 minutes to reach Bela Crkva lakes. It is a group of six larger and several smaller artificial lakes near the town of Bela Crkva. During summer, there are up to 5,000 visitors on the lakes' shores. Many cultural, entertainment and sports festivities are being held throughout the season. They include "Carneval of the flowers" and "Bela Crkva's apple picking"
2nd Destination
Our next destination was Stara Palanka and a tour of the river mouth of the Nera and the Danube and the end of the Danube-Tisa-Danube canal. From Bela Crkva to Stara Palanka it takes only 15 minutes. All the time we were moving along the edge of the Deliplat sandstone and near the border with Romania.
[//]:# (!pinmapple 44.828825 lat 21.344491 long d3scr)
I took this picture from the internet. On it you can see what a Special Nature Reserve "Deliblato Sands" looks like.
This is the largest continental sandstone in Europe, covering nearly 35,000 hectares. It was formed during the ice age and the Košava wind shaped its relief. Altitudes range between 70 and 200 meters. SNR "Deliblato Sands" is one of the most important centers of biodiversity in Serbia and Europe and the most important steppe area in our country. Therefore, the Reserve is a unique scientific training ground.
You may be wondering why we visited the river mouth of the Nera and the Danube? Well, that is the lowest point of Vojvodina, but also the place where the famous Đerdapska klisura (Iron Gates) begins - the largest and longest gorges in Europe. It forms part of the boundary between Serbia (to the south) and Romania (north).
I visited the Đerdapska klisura (Iron Gates) and the Đerdap National Park 9 years ago, when I was finishing primary school (it was our graduation excursion). Of all the destinations in Serbia that I have visited in my life so far, I can say that this one fascinated me the most and I liked it the most. If you ever come to Serbia, you MUST visit the Iron Gates !!! The landscapes here are unreal and breathtaking. I can't describe it to you. 9 years is a long period. In the meantime, a lot has been done and the offer for tourists has been expanded. I would come back here again and again.
3rd Destination
Now we had a trip to Belgrade that lasted almost 2 hours. We traveled through Pančevo.
[//]:# (!pinmapple 44.809342 lat 20.454941 long d3scr)
Belgrade was not a destination from our travel plan and program. We go to Belgrade to visit hotel Hyatt Regency Belgrade. Hyatt Regency Belgrade is the preferred upscale hotel for leisure and business travelers, conveniently located in the heart of New Belgrade, the capital’s main business and entertainment district.
We entered the official entrance where we were greeted by employees of the hotel and escorted us first through the business premises (kitchen, laundry, rest room, etc.) and later through the main part of the hotel. Within the hotel there are numerous locals such as hairdressers, clothing stores and various services.
One of the women employed at the hotel introduced us into the presidential suite. With a price of around 2,200 EUR for one night, this is the most expensive but also the most luxurious accommodation in Serbia. Pure luxury on just over 200 square meters.
I mentioned in one of the previous posts that each of us got a certain area or city that he wrote about in his written work and later presented it to colleagues and professors at the destination he wrote about.
Well ... My task was the natural-geographical characteristics of Belgrade (city position, hydrography, biogeography, relief ...). I felt the onset of positive trepidation that gripped my body. I wanted to dominate as a tour guide!
It was time for me to sit in the famous seat next to the bus driver where there was a microphone for all of us who were exhibiting on the bus and for the professor who was talk to us through that microphone. I sat down, picked up the microphone, and started talking. The whole time the bus was moving through Belgrade and it was time to head to Zemun. Since I am very nervous when I have to expose something in front of a lot of people, I was surprised that all my nervousness disappeared in just 1 second. This is perhaps the only time I have been absolutely relaxed and full of confidence. I am still proud of that today 😌😄.
4th Destination
So, also unplanned, after Belgrade we stopped by Zemun. It took us about 10 minutes.
[//]:# (!pinmapple 44.851788 lat 20.366046 long d3scr)
Territorially, historically, politically, culturally, economically and traffic-wise, Zemun is connected to Belgrade, of which it has been a part since 1934. According to the 2011 census, Zemun had about 157 000 inhabitants.
Today, after restoration, as a cultural and historical monument of special importance, Kula Gardoš is increasingly becoming one of the most visited tourist destinations in Zemun and Belgrade.
After returning from Gardoš to the quay, we had free time in Zemun for a short tour of the center and possibly lunch. Valentina and I went downtown to a cafe for pancakes and juice. We both agreed that we don't like the vibe in the center. Simply, although there was no specific reason for it, we didn’t like it. So we returned to the quay where we spent the rest of our free time in the company of beautiful swans.
5th Destination
After a short free time in Zemun and before arriving at the hotel, we headed to Stari Slankamen, which was the last destination that day.
[//]:# (!pinmapple 45.140754 lat 20.258188 long d3scr)
Stari Slankamen is located on the Danube, at the foot of the branches of Fruška gora, at an altitude of 80 m, 55 km northwest of Belgrade. Across the road from Stari Slankamen, the Tisza flows into the Danube and from the hills above the settlement you can see the plains of Bačka and Banat.
Archaeological excavations show that there was a settlement on the bank of the Danube near Slankamen in antiquity. In the Iron Age, the Scordisci lived here, a Celtic tribe that was not ethnically pure but mixed with the Illyrians and Thracians.
6th Destination
After today's tour, we headed to Ruma, where we spent the last night.
[//]:# (!pinmapple 45.006625 lat 19.819948 long d3scr)
We were accommodated in the 4-star hotel "Park". Here is what the hotel looks like (the first two photos are from the internet, and I took a photo of our room). The hotel is really lovely, tidy, clean. The food is delicious and the staff is friendly.
