European Cities – suemtravels

Jevremovac Botanical Garden Belgrade Serbia

By: suemtravels March 30, 2019April 5, 2019

Belgrade, European Cities, SerbiaBelgrade Botanical Garden, Institute for the Study of Medicinal Herbs, Jevrem, Jevrem Obrenović, Jevremovac, Jevremovac Arboretum, Josif Pančić Botanist, King Milan Obrenović, Monkey Puzzle Tree, Serbian Spruce Tree, Turkish Hazel Tree, University of BelgradeLeave a Comment

Belgrade’s botanical garden – Jevremovac – is a few minutes’ walk from my flat. I spent some peaceful time there yesterday afternoon. The small urban paradise is bursting with spring buds. Jevremovac was founded in the 1800s by Josif Pančić, a Serbian botanist. Pančić also created the Institute for the Study of Medicinal Herbs. The…

Verdi’s Rigoletto at Belgrade National Theatre

By: suemtravels March 28, 2019September 6, 2019

Belgrade, European Cities, SerbiaBelgrade National Theatre, Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, Giuseppe Verdi, La Scala Milan, Rigoletto, Soprano Gabrijela Ubavic, Teatro Alla Scala Milan2 Comments

Last night I attended Rigoletto at Belgrade National Theatre. The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra accompanied the opera. Rigoletto has appeared at the National Theater many times. It premiered in 2001 with soloists from Teatro Alla Scala Milan. It’s my third performance at the National Theatre. As with other performances, it was sold out. I arrived 20…

Belgrade Serbia Rivers, Bridges, Islands, and Lakes

By: suemtravels March 25, 2019September 13, 2019

Belgrade, European Cities, SerbiaAda Bridge, Ada Ciganlija, Ada Međica, Bajina Bašta Hydroelectric Power Plant, Balkans, Banat, Bela Crkva Lakes, Bela Crkva Venice of Vojvodina, Bela Stena Resort, Belgrade, Belgrade Fortress, Beton Hala, Beška, Big War Island, Black Sea, Borča District, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brankov Bridge, Bristol Hotel Belgrade, Cable Stayed Girder System, CarGo, Danube River, Drina River, Europe, Floating Cabins, Floating Nightclubs, Floating Restaurants, Gandijeva Street, Gazela Bridge, Geozavod Building, Golubac Fortress, Gradac Monastery, Ibar River, Ivan Mestrovic, Ivo Andrić’s Nobel Prize-winning The Bridge on the Drina, Kafanas, Kalemegdan Park, Karađorđeva Street, King Aleksandar Bridge, Lake Ada Ciganlija, Lake Palić, Lido Beach, Ljubljana, Makiš Riviera, Moovit, New Belgrade Center, New Railway Bridge, Niš, North Sea, Novi Sad, Old Railway Bridge, Old Tram (Sava) Bridge, Pančevo Bridge, Perućac Lake, Port Splav Belgrade, Route E75, Sava Lake, Sava River, Savamala District, Savamala Neighborhood, Sea of Belgrade, Serbia, Serbian Carpathian Mountains, Serbian Folk Music, Silver Lake, Small War Island, Smederevo, Splavs, Statue of the Victor, Statue of the Victor Belgrade, Studenica Monastery, Subotica, Uvac River, Ušće, Venice of Vojvodina, Vlasina Lake, WWII, Yugoslavia, Zagreb, Zemun District, Zemun Quay, Žiča Monastery, Đerdap Gorge, Đerdap National ParkLeave a Comment

Serbia is a country of rivers, lakes, valleys, and mountains. Each one “tells its own story”. I’ve been exploring Belgrade’s riverside and Savamala District on foot. Early spring weather is warm and beautiful – perfect for walking. Transportation isn’t Belgrade’s forte. There’s a trolley-bus system but no metro, and traffic is heavy. Drivers are impatient…

Jeunesses Musicales Competition Belgrade Serbia

This week I’ve enjoyed exceptional performances in Belgrade. Last night the concert was part of the 49th International Jeunesses Musicales Competition. It enables young musicians to “test and confirm their artistic values”. Belgrade Philharmonic Studentski Square I tried to get tickets for the Belgrade Philharmonic in Studentski Trg (Students Square) – a different venue than…

Central Belgrade Serbia

By: suemtravels March 20, 2019March 24, 2019

Belgrade, European Cities, SerbiaAlbania Palace, Albania Tavern, Aleksandar Bugarski Serbian Architect, Alexander Karageorgevich, Andra Stevanović Architect, Andrićev Venac Street, Architect Branko Tanazević, Architect Nikolay Petrovich Krasnov, Baroque Architecture, Belgrade Central Post Office, Belgrade City Assembly, Belgrade Monument of Cultural Importance, Belgrade National Assembly, Belgrade National Assembly – Parliament Building, Belgrade National Mortgage Bank, Belgrade National Museum, Belgrade National Theater, Belgrade National Theatre, Belgrade Novi Dvor, Belgrade Old Telephone Exchange, Belgrade Presidential Palaces, Belgrade Republic Square, Belgrade Stari Dvor, Belgrade’s Old and New Palaces, Black Horses at Play, Branko Radičević, Central Belgrade, Church of St. Mark, Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, Croatian Artist and Sculptor Ivan Meštrović, Croatian Sculptor Toma Rosandića, Interwar Period. Mlan Obrenovic, Italian sculptor Enrico Pazzi, King Alexander Obrenovic, King Stefan Dušan the Great, Kosovska Street, Milan Obrenovic, Monument to Prince Mihailo, Moscow Hotel, Nazi Work Organization Todt., Nikola Nestorović Architect, Nikola Pašić, Nikola Pašić Monument, Nikola Pašić Serbian Envoy to Russia, Nikola Pašić Square, Nikolay Petrovich Krasnov, Parliament Building, People’s Radical Party Serbia, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister Nikola Pašić, Prince Mihailo Obrenovic, Prince Miloš and Princess Ljubica Obrenovic, Queen Draga Obrenovic, Republic Square, Sculpture Black Horses at Play, Serbia Royal Dynasty Karađorđević, Serbia Royal Dynasty Obrenović, Serbian Architect Aleksandar Đorđević, Serbian Monument of Culture and Great Importance, Serbian Sculptor Zoran Ivanović, Serbian-Byzantine Architectural Style, Serbo-Byzantine Architecture, St. Vitus Day Constitution of 1921, Stambol Gate, Tasmajdan Park Belgrade, Terazije Square and Fountain, Vienna Secession Architecture, Vuk Karadžić, Đura DaničićLeave a Comment

After catching my breath, I’ve continued exploring Belgrade. It’s an impressive European city influenced by Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Serbian, Russian, and Austro-Hungarian empires. One of the oldest cities in Europe, it’s the only capital built at the confluence of two rivers – the Danube and Sava. Complex history, language, and names make writing about Belgrade…

Sergei Polunin Sacré Belgrade National Theatre

By: suemtravels March 10, 2019August 24, 2019

Belgrade, European Cities, SerbiaAlexey Lynbimov, Ballet Dancer Vaslav Nijinsky, Ballet Le Sacre du printemps, Ballets Russes, Bayerisches Staatsballet Germany, Belgrade National Theatre, Belgrade Serbia, Bolshoi Theatre, British Royal Ballet, Dance Video Take Me to Church, Dancer Documentary, Dancer Steven Cantor, Danielle Arbid Passion Simple, David LaChapelle, Dejan Kolarov, Germany's Theatre Augsburg, Hozier, Igor Stravinsky, La Scala Theatre, Murder on the Orient Express, Passion Simple, Red Sparrow, Rite of Spring Ballet, Royal Ballet, Russian Ballet Magazine Soul of the Dance Award, Sacré, Sadler's Wells Theatre London, Sergei Polunin, Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic, Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre, Steven Cantor, Teatro San Carlo Naples, Yuka OishiLeave a Comment

While exploring Belgrade I discovered the magnificent National Theatre. Founded in 1868 the theater has a museum and two stages for live ballet, opera, drama, and comedy performances. The March repertoire is amazing with something different appearing every day of the week! I joined the ticket line and booked an opera and two ballets. The…

Belgrade Serbia

I arrived in Belgrade Tuesday evening open to a new experience but feeling a bit apprehensive and uncertain about what to expect. One writer compares the Serbian culture of “historical, religious, culinary, and psychological narratives” to “knots that must be carefully untangled”. It takes a few days to acclimate, and I’m exploring areas near my…

Sarajevo Farewell and Isa-begov Hamam

I spent my last day in Sarajevo walking around enjoying the beautiful city. In the late afternoon I had a hamam at Isa Beg Hamam Hotel in Bistrik. The process was different from Turkish hamams previously experienced. Isa Beg Hamam Process The hamam had a large Jacuzzi and steam room divided by a warm stone sitting…

Sarajevo Cable Car and War Bunker

This week I explored new areas of Sarajevo mostly on foot. Sarajevo’s famous cable car (Sarajevska Žičara) was on my list, but I didn’t do much research before the ride. It’s the fast way up Mt. Trebević to popular recreational areas and favorite picnic spots of locals escaping the city. Riding the cable car made…

Barber of Seville and Lady of the Camellias Sarajevo

The Barber of Seville – Cancelled Sarajevo’s Opera and Philharmonic were set to perform The Barber of Seville on Tuesday night. Written by Italian composer Gioachino Rossini the popular comic opera first appeared in Sarajevo in 1948 with repeat performances over the years. Co-produced with the Italian Embassy the opera is based on a play…

Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra

By: suemtravels February 24, 2019September 8, 2019

Bosnia and Herzegovina, European CitiesAleksandar Lukinic Conductor, Association of Composers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balkan Chamber Orchestra, Belus Jungic Cello, Beograd Sinfonietta, Boris Papandopulo, Bostjan Lipovsek Horn, Dr. Joseph Goldberg Violin, Dragisa Savic, Ecole Normal de Musique Paris, Founding Assembly of the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra Bogdan Milankovic President, Ivan Stajcer, Jakov Sternberg Viola, Josip Hladek, Josip Rozdjalovski Conductor, Julio Maric, Klemens Mensík Piano, Kosovo Philharmonic Orchestra, L. van Beethoven Egmont Overture, L. van Beethoven Symphony No. 5, Ljubljana Music Academy, Mirko Janjcic, Miroslav Homen, Mladen Pozajic, National Theatre Sarajevo, Ninoslav Verber, Oskar Danon, Oskar Danon Conductor, Quartet of Philharmonic Association, Radivoj Spasic, Salzburg Mozarteum, Samra Gulamović, Sarajevo Imperial Cinema, Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra, Serbia Nis Symphony Orchestra, Teodor Romanic, Tihomir Miric, Toshio Yanagisawa Conductor, Vladimir Maunagic, W. A. Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 3, W. A. Mozart: Rondo for Horn and Orchestra, Zubin Mehta ConductorLeave a Comment

Last Thursday I attended a Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra performance at the National Theatre – literally around the corner from my apartment. Philharmonic season is summer, so it was lucky finding this special winter performance. Samra Gulamović, a native of Sarajevo, is the orchestra’s principal conductor. Toshio Yanagisawa was guest conductor with Boštjan Lipovšek as horn…