Belgrade, Serbia

A bigger city with lots of history.....often getting bombed and invaded......the people seem to accept whatever happens....
it's a poor country with unemployment rate@24%.  There is a pedestrian zone with lots of regular stores and kiosks
on the sidewalks.
We walked around the Kalemegdan Fortress with tour guide; highest point in the city, overlooking the Sava River and the Danube.
The "white fortress" moniker refers to all the white buildings, made with local stone. The fort is now a lovely park....benches, vendors,
tennis, play areas....and right now, there were special exhibits: huge photos on display of different topics: the doors of
Belgrade ( really neat...we saw some of the buildings in photos); another was Discover America- scenic views taken in each 
of the states; the last was a display on Russian....this was a nice discovery.
We left the group after the fortress tour and explored on our own....could be tricky since signs are in cyrillic  alphabet...
Found our way to Princess Ljubica's residence- now a museum....mid 1800's furniture in household setting....unique
adornment, elaborate vases, intricate rugs, jewels and more.....glad we" deviated" and visited this site.
Also went to an unfinished Orthodox cathedral...outside ( white marble) looks finished; inside work ongoing....lit candles for
the moms. 
Lunch at a Spanish outdoor restaurant and wine bar....dee-licious paella!!
Vendors in park on way back to ship....striking jewelry - varieties of stone: turquoise, malachite, amethyst, black stone ( can't
recall it now)...boosted the local economy a bit:)
Strolled back to ship....had a medicinal beer.....David is headed for a lecture on the Yugoslavian puzzle ( I'll take the Monardh
notes- headed for a lovely shower and rest before dinner).