The Starcev Travel Blog

Heading home

starcevtravel — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:07:13 +0000

I have an early flight tomorrow morning, heading first to Frankfurt, then Newark, then home. Had a great trip, but I am tired and kind of ready to be home and sleep in my own bed. Took over 600 pictures, will probably post a few more and some thoughts when I am home.

Pictures from Starcevo

starcevtravel — Thu, 05 May 2011 19:38:26 +0000

Here are some of the pictures I took in Starcevo.

Stain glass with crest and picture of town, Starcevo, Serbia

Self portrait of me in front of the Starcevo highway sign

Welcome to Starcevo in Serbian

Clock on main square of Starcevo, Serbia, if you look close you will see the crestMain church (there were 3 or 4) in Starcevo, Serbia

Main church (there were 3 or 4) in Starcevo, Serbia

Having a Cockta in Starcevo, some day I will try to explain what that is.

Starcevo

starcevtravel — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:52:44 +0000

I made it too Starcevo today, took three bus transfers, bit of an adventure, but I am getting pretty good at the Belgrade bus system. It was somewhat anti-climatic. It is a pretty good size town with very little business, just residential. It is right out of Pancevo, which is a city of 60,000. I think most residents of Starcevo just go there for all they need. So I got no souvenirs, which was a bummer. But I did get some fun pictures. I am on a slow wifi at a restaurant right now, won’t try to upload, will post later. I am very tired. Going to a gallery show tonight, a photography exhibit on Serbia by an American. Should be interesting. I have an early flight tomorrow and will be home tomorrow night, which I am very ready for. Good trip, but I am tired and sore and could use a good night sleep.

Kalemegdan Fortress

starcevtravel — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:45:05 +0000

Thought I would do a post for a single attraction, but it is a big one. The Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade is amazing. I am a castle and fort person and this one was great. It is huge, on an amazing setting, old and you can explore all over it. On size, plan on taking hours to see this, walking lots and climbing lots of steps. On setting, it is on a ridge about 350 ft. high overlooking the Danube and Sava’s rivers. Old, it was settled around 300 BC, some of the current remains date to the first century AD. On exploring, they let you climb along the top of the walls, climb the turrets, climb on of the towers (which was unfortunately closed), etc. Spent a couple of hours there, could have probably spent a whole day.

I have included a site I found with additional information and lots of pictures. http://www.belgradeeye.com/kalemegdan.html

Belgrade Fortress Kalemegdan, Serbia

Zagreb to Belgrade

starcevtravel — Wed, 04 May 2011 21:27:32 +0000

Enjoyed my day in Zagreb, beautiful old world European city. Weather was interesting. Assumed since heading north would be colder. Arrived and it was sunny and warmer than entire week at Brac. However, cloud rolled over, temperature probably dropped 20-30 degrees and it got very windy. It ended up being hotter and colder than Brac. Got in around 2:30 and walked through the old town centre. I ate dinner at what my guide book ranked as one of the top five restaurants in Croatia, Bobar. It was nice. Italian, in the cellar, with bar above. I had a drink, bruschetta and very good homemade gnocchi with ham in cream sauce. Total meal cost about $18.

Had already purchased my for overnight, but got interesting at the train. When I bought ticket, asked for sleeper car. There were two options, three per car or six per car. Three was about 40% higher (actually only $20 but still). So I choose six. When I showed conductor he pointed to first car, last cabin. It only had three beds and I was alone in it. Not bad. Another conductor comes and says I am in wrong cabin, I told him other guy told me to go here. He said it was fine, but this was more money, tomorrow morning I could pay him 6 euros (I told him I only had Croatian kunas or American dollars, and it would be ok), don’t change. He also took my ticket and told me to lock door because of “Croatian thieves you ride train”. The next morning I gave him $10, surprisingly I didn’t get a receipt. Passport inspection at 4 am was also interesting. Serbia is the eleventh different European country I have entered. Most passport checks have been very quick and easy. This on not as much. I heard him come down the car, most went very quickly, which is what I expected. Came into my car, looked at my passport, inspected all pages, then left with passport without ever saying a word. Closed my door. I could then hear him on radio saying and spelling my name and listing all of the countries I had stamps for. A minute or two passed, he got a response, came back in, gave me my passport and continued, never said a word. Somewhat anxious few minutes, especially half asleep at 4 am, but all was well and I arrived in Belgrade.

Zagreb, Croatia main square

Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Zagreb, Croatia

St. Mark's, Zagreb, Croatia

I am use to my name being unusual, strange to see it around

Zagreb

starcevtravel — Tue, 03 May 2011 19:53:08 +0000

I have left Split and made it to Zagreb, but not without some adventure. Bus was crowded, it was a long five-hour ride. We reached Zagreb and the bus suddenly stopped at a bus stop on outskirts of town, not the main bus station as planned. Guy next to me who spoke some English said bus was broken. I asked if they would send another, he said he didn’t know. Everybody got off and they unloaded our luggage. Most people started getting on other buses (city buses) or walking. I couldn’t figure out quite where I was. As I was looking at the map I had of city center and the bus map on the stand, driver cheered and said bus was fixed, we could get back on (about 10 minutes had elapsed). 3 of 47 of us got back on, figured was my best option. Main station was only about 5 minutes away.

Zagreb is nice. Will upload some pictures when I have a chance. On a public wi-fi at the train station right now waiting for my overnight train to Belgrade.

Some pictures from last day of conference

starcevtravel — Mon, 02 May 2011 19:35:39 +0000

I am getting out of order, haven’t posted anything from yesterday yet. Here are some pictures from the conference. After we wrapped up this morning, went on a 3 hour scooter ride around the island with half a dozen of my Australians (I keep getting asked if I’m Australian, may be hanging out with them too much). Great group, we had fun. Need to get a picture from Daniel of us at a pub we stopped in of us with the bar keep toasting. Wanted food, but this was the only option. Half of us drank the traditional drink of Cockta. It was a mild version of a pop, hard to describe, but not bad.

Traveling to Serbia tomorrow, not sure when I will be able to post again. Have a five hour bus ride and a six hour train ride, hoping to write more of my thoughts on Croatia and post when I can.

The group of 10-12 years I worked with this week

The Hillcrest Team

At Skrip with my Australian Friends

Riding a scooter around Brac Island, Croatia

Pucisca, Croatia

Brac Island, Croatia

More photos from Split

starcevtravel — Mon, 02 May 2011 11:05:10 +0000

Diocleotian's Palace, Split, Croatia

Jupiter's Temple, one of the 1800 year old original structures at Diocleotian's Palace, Split, Croatia.

Rendering of Diocleotian's Palace Split, Croatia

Split from bell tower

Gelatia in Split, Croatia

Part of original wall of Diocleotian's Palace

Skrip, Sunshine and the Last Day of the Conference

starcevtravel — Mon, 02 May 2011 07:19:46 +0000

Ended up walking to Skrip yesterday in the rain, about 12 miles roundtrip. Drizzled most of the time, rained hard for a little bit. Most beautiful walk yet (calculated I have walked between 30 and 40 miles so far). Will try to post some pictures tonight. Today is our first full day of sun and warm temperatures. Planning to rent a scooter and go to the other side of the island to Bol. Going with a few of my Australian friends. Conference wraps up today. I am taking a bus tomorrow to Zagreb and then an overnight train to Belgrade. Not sure how much access I will have to post. Planning on writing more about Croatia and the bus and train ride and then uploading when I can. Will add some more pictures before I leave.

Raining today

starcevtravel — Sun, 01 May 2011 07:19:31 +0000

About to start the program for today. Weather is not good. Steady rain, cool about 50. May be stuck inside this afternoon and will try to catch up with some post.