Back in Belgrad and what's new?

Last weekend back in Belgrade was just great! The reason for going there right now was that I had a ticket for the Madonna concert Monday, but of course that was just a perfect excuse for going there again. I haven’t been back since October 2006, so it was a long time ago. As an extra bonus my wonderful friends had decided to arrange the now somewhat traditional boat party this Saturday, which of course was absolutely fabulous! The party and the concert are better described in pictures so that will come later, but one question I both asked myself and was asked to me several times is; what has changed since last time you were here?



On the first look it looked very much the same. Of course you see some new shops, others that have closed, some new restaurants and bars and even a few completely new shopping malls. Some housed may have been renovated, but many still look rather shabby, in their charming Belgrade way. But after a while you start to notice small differences. One new thing that I noticed in the streets and the parks, were the green boxes for dog litter and plastic bags to take it up with. With the amount of dog shit that used to be found on the streets this is really an improvement. (if they are used!). Another thing was that you now can pay with credit cards in almost every shop. They even had little terminals were you had to give the pin in even the smallest shops. Amazing!! I even thought the air was a little less polluted and that I saw less really shitty cars and more modern ones. All this taken together gives the feeling that Belgrade has become a little bit more modern and “normal”.



The most revolutionary however was the evolution that the men had gone through! I saw several men that actually were nicely dressed!! Not fancy, but maybe just a pair of nice jeans, shoes and a cool t-shirt or shirt. That is not so many sneakers-training pants and leather jackets as I remember it. That is really good. I mean the Serbian men could be really good looking and handsome, but they haven’t given a damn about trying or giving it an effort. They have just been dragging along in their probably very comfortable “uniform”, but comfortable is not reason enough. I mean how damn comfortable do you think the 10 cm stilettos are?! Not very, nor much of other kinds of women’s fashion either, but still we wear it because it looks good. So it is about time men make an effort as well. The most chocking experience I had this weekend however was that a Serbian man actually flirted with me!! That NEVER happened once in the year I lived here (nor my visits after that!). It was even a waiter in a café, maybe even more chocking!!

Ouch!

As I wrote a while ago, cycling in the city can be dangerous. Today that was confirmed. On my way to the office today I had an accident. I am ok, especially considering that it was a quite nasty fall. I am a bit bruised and blue and sore all over and have a big bump on the back of my head (I know I should have worn a helmet!). A biker in front of me very suddenly breaked to awoid hitting a pedestrian just stepping out in front of him. I breaked very hard to, but still ran into the bike in front of me, my bike got hooked on the other bike and then flew together with on the side. Luckily this was a separated lane for bikers and hence no cars coming, but I was actually quite close to falling into the water instead.
It is amazing how irrational one first reacts. First I was most upset and angry over that one of my favourite dresses got all messed up and when the people who rushed to help me asked how they could help me I was only asking for help to get my hairclip out of my hair where it had got stuck... I was also still very convinced I should continue to the office despite everyone telling me to go home and relax or maybe to the hospital. But I was so convinced I should go on. Not even when they were making me aware of that I was bleeding on my foot and hand and probably in a state of chock I changed my mind. Because I was so stubborn to ladies helped me to remove my bike and park it and one offered to walk with me to the office. Only when I started walking and felt that my back hurt I started to think that maybe I shouldn’t go to work anyway. After that I also started to get more sad than just being angry and started to shiver and cry. I also got more aware of how I looked; bruised, dirty and with a bleeding foot hand and elbow and a thorn dress. So I realised that at least I should go home first for a while and then maybe go to work. I called the office and the woman helping me called a taxi and sent me off home.

I am feeling ok now, I am a bit sore and bruised and very tired, but ok. It is amazing how the body reacts to things like this. I guess I had a real adrenaline rush first that made me not feeling pain and then the chock came with a whole range of strange reactions. I think it also the chock that made me feel so tired now. Good it is Friday and a nice coincidence that my mother was coming here today anyway. Will soon be nicely looked after! 

Sticky & Sweet; Belgrade

When we entered the arena we first did not realise that Madonna her self were actually making the sound check. When we realised it was quite cool to se her so close-up, relaxed and with no stage outfit or make-up. Felt kind of exclusive!





But then, after a long waiting, the show finally began!! And what a show!!

Back at work and its dangerous

Today was the first day after the holidays for many Swedes. That was very obvious when I was cycling to the office this morning. I have been working most of the summer, except for last week, and I have been cycling every day. The last 5-6 weeks the city has been almost empty and the way to work was very smooth. Today was completely different!! It was dangerous!!
I often get the question if I don't find it is scary or dangerous to cycle in the city, but I have never felt that before. Today it almost was a big scary, much worse than before the holidays. I suppose people are back in town alright, but not really mentally back and also haven't gotten back into the normal everyday routine. Today there were cars, bikes and pedestrians coming from all directions at the same time. Completely chaos! I hope I will survive the adjustment period.

Vive la France!

Had a absolutely fabulous week in France!!
I mean, how wrong it be with 20 really good friends that haven't met in a year in a great house in southern France, sunshine, a nice pool, delicious food, wine and drinks and nice activities?! But the best of all are of course the people, great all of them. And a really good thing about being so many as 20 is that you don't have to do everything together all the time. It works perfectly fine to have small subgroups and choose to go for some sightseeing, some canoing, horseback riding or just hanging by the pool. Perfect!!

Might post some pictures later.

France, here I come!

Now I am actually starting my one week of summer holiday for this year!

Tomorrow I am off to France for a week. Will fly to Toulouse and by car from there to a friend's family's house where I will spend the week together with some 20+ friends. It will be great!! So looking forward to that!

But the flight is pretty early so I should stop writing now and get to sleep.