I arrived in Belgrade on the 14th and am settling in while enjoying the city. During the flights from Valletta to Belgrade via Rome, I lost a piece of luggage. This happened to me before with a flight from LAX to Hanoi – and it’s a total bummer.
Lost Luggage Drama
After accepting that your luggage is lost, you squirm a bit and then try to determine the best way to deal with it – clothing, toiletries, etc. Part of the process is considering the possibility that your bag may never be found. It isn’t a fun scenario, especially when you’re far away in a foreign country and the only “things” you have are what you’re carrying with you in one checked bag and a carry-on. After online research, others said it took them months to recover their lost luggage 😒.
During extended travel, two scenarios have the most potential to cause trauma – misrepresented, disappointing accommodation and flights gone wrong. I had a bad feeling when checking in at Valletta airport. The staff didn’t seem serious or to care about what they were doing… I asked if my baggage would be checked through to Belgrade. The response wasn’t reassuring.
Different airline luggage weight allowances imposed on passengers are confusing and annoying. If you’re on a long trip, you may have heavier luggage – different climates and changing seasons mean more clothing. KM Malta Airlines revised their “checked luggage allowance” from the usual 23 kg (50 lbs.) to 20 kg (44 lbs.) – creating an immediate 6-lb. deficit.
Some airline policies seem designed to fleece passengers. I refuse to fly Ryanair and will also avoid KM Malta Airlines. Maybe the two airlines are competing for the title of most heavily criticized airline in the world. Other annoying issues include short intervals between connecting flights that require a terminal change, delayed and overbooked flights, and damaged luggage. Unless you’re flying on a private airplane, there’s not much you can do to prevent airline havoc.
Found It!
After I spent a few days in luggage hell – Air Serbia found my lost bag in Rome and sent it to me. At the last minute before the Valletta flight, I decided to check my carry-on bag – a BIG mistake. Certain I’d be “running between terminals” to catch a connecting flight, checking the carry-on seemed like a good idea – ha… I will never again check luggage that has anything of great importance or value. The lost piece had favorite clothing and other items – not easily replaceable. Glad those few miserable days of anticipating the worst are over! sigh
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“Skadarlija, a winding cobblestone street, is a remarkable Belgrade tourist attraction. It’s home to famous restaurants, art galleries, antique and souvenir shops, and the historic Sebilj Fountain. You encounter musicians playing traditional Serbian music and dancers performing Serbian folk dances.” B92
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Skadarlija District
Belgrade is one of Europe’s oldest cities, it’s been “inhabited for around 7,000 years, tracing back to Neolithic settlements and Paleolithic sites”. My apartment in the Skadarlija District is warm and cozy, and the location couldn’t be better. Known as Belgrade’s “Bohemian quarter,” the area is celebrated for its 19th-century atmosphere, restaurants, galleries, and shops. Like other Eastern European cities, Belgrade’s history is visible on streets, buildings, and the faces of its people.
National Theatre
Skadarlija is just a few minutes’ walk from the National Theatre. Things are buzzing! There are interesting venues in February and March, so I’ll be in performing arts heaven and have booked several ballet, philharmonic, and opera performances.
“Skadarlija taverns were frequented by famous Serbian writers, actors, painters, and lovers of unconventional socializing. Today, the district is known for its excellent restaurants.”
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“Serbian Statehood is celebrated on February 15th. It’s the great holiday of Sretenje. A number of Serbian folk beliefs are associated with the day.” Serbia.com
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The Skadarlija district features iconic sculptures and artistic landmarks, like the seated monument of Serbian poet and painter Đura Jakšić by Serbian sculptor Jovan Soldatović.
Sretenje Celebration – Serbia Statehood Day
February 15 through 17 was a three-day public holiday in Serbia. In accordance with the Law on National and Other Holidays, Statehood Day is celebrated for two days. Since the 15th fell on Sunday this year, it was celebrated for three days. Statehood Day (Sretenje) commemorates “two significant events in Serbian history – the beginning of the First Serbian Uprising in 1804 and adoption of the first Constitution of the Principality of Serbia in 1835”.
Sretenje is also associated with important Serbian folk traditions. It’s “considered the day when winter meets summer“. Mid-February is believed to be a “turning point,” when winter weather turns towards spring, with days becoming longer and nights shorter.
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“Serbia achieved its current borders at the end of World War II. In 1945, it became a federal unit within the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia. In 2006, Serbia became an independent state, after the dissolution of Yugoslavia during the 1990s wars and breakup of a short-lived union with Montenegro.”
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Further north, Belgrade weather is colder than Malta and Rome. The other evening there was magical snowfall. The soft, fluffy white flakes melted after landing on the ground. So far, temperatures are mostly in the high 40s to 50s during the day and 30s at night. Weather has been a combination of clear, rain, and snow.
More later…