August: Hot, sticky and sleepy. People are either on vacation or returning from vacation and Novi Sad has settled into a heat-induced malaise. After our initial high, we are coming to terms with waiting for life to unfold (i.e., furniture arrival and car purchase). On the furniture front, our ship arrived in Croatia and we expect furniture delivery by August 17th! This is very welcome news, and we look forward to weeks of unpacking, arranging, and lamenting how much furniture we shipped.
Car Status
Car buying is different in Serbia. Resources like Car Buyers Edge, Edmunds and KBB don’t exist, so you rely on other countries’ information as a proxy. We looked at some used cars, but felt they were not right for us as we plan to resell the car in 5 years. New cars maximize resell value and we didn’t feel want to deal with past issues. Unlike in the US, Diesel engines are king in Serbia, and have the best overall mileage, dependability and resell value, so we are getting a Diesel.
After looking at the Skoda, we decided it was too boring and boxy, and have shifted to the VW Tiguan R-Line. Serbians really like German cars and strongly believe they are more dependable. Tiguan is equivalent to a Honda CR-V Touring, more sporty and can comfortably hold four passengers and their luggages. This means that when guests visit next year, we can easily drive to Hungary, Croatia and other points unknown – Hint Hint. We will have the car by end of August, and plan to go to Slovenia as our first sojourn.
Speaking of cars, you never know what you might find while wandering Novi Sad. Last week we ran across a relic of the cold war: a Yugo car. Yogos, built in Yugoslavia during the 1980s, are based on the Fiat 128 frame and were readily available in the Balkans during the 80s and 90s. Yugos were imported into the United States from 1985 to 1992, and instantly became a joke. Americans viewed them as flimsy, small and uber boxy, and they quickly faded away. The only time I remember riding in one was when I worked in Kiev, Ukraine back in 1991, and vividly recall the passenger floorboard having rusted out. Given how good this Yugo looked and the fact that it is still on the road is a testament to Serbian ingenuity.
Serbian Doors and Plugs are Strange
I admit this is a bit of a weird topic and normally unworthy of comment, yet find it oddly fascinating. Most exterior doors in the US are kind of flimsy, with the primary selling point being thermal protection. In Serbia, exterior doors are rated by how long it will take a thief to compromise the door / enter the home. All doors, even interior bathroom and bedroom doors, are very beefy and have serious locks. Our apartment door, to the common hallway, is solid hardwood and has five deadbolts and two pegs. SWAT would be challenged to force entry on this door due to the deadbolts, pegs, and the steel frame that is anchored to reinforced concrete wall. Did I mention that all walls are reinforced concrete? To hang a picture you need a 1300 watt power drill, with a carbide masonry bit, and a lot of upper-body strength. Makes me pine for sheet rock walls.
Continuing on my unhinged rant, I dislike the conversion from the US to the European plug standard. I am with Jerry Seinfeld when he said “Who are these people?”. The plugs are a strange as they come in two styles, some are round and others oblong. The round ones are huge and take up too much space. One positive aspect is that you can easily plug in computer chargers and power ports because of the large size and spacing. Most plugs only have one plug, so you have to purchase power strips for multiple devices. I know, “First World, Privileged American Problems.”
Restaurant of the Week – The Camelot
Eating in Serbia is not for the “Faint of Heart”, and portion sizes tend to be huge. Also, cheese, butter, meat and bread are your friends, and the only vegetable might be a potato (fried) or thin strips of pepper. OK, sometimes there is a salad but not often. We went to one of our favorite pubs called “The Camelot” and as always, came back with more food than we could eat. Each dish costs about $8 ~ $12 USD and is made fresh in house. The dish on the left is a kilo of pork smothered in cream sauce with potatoes and Kaymak cheese; just in case you didn’t have enough sauce. The middle dish is a vegetarian pasta, and the dish on the right is a pancake filled with pork and cheese and than flash-fried.
Are you seeing the trend here? Nothing is what we would consider healthy, certainly delicious, and yet the Serbian people are among the most fit people we have ever encountered. I wish we could explain it but it simply boggles the mind. Anyway, The Camelot is a great local comfort food restaurant with very fair prices, helpful staff, and way more food then you need.
Pomegranate Martini
We have added new martini glasses to our barware setup and they really dress-up a cocktail. Felt like experimenting with pomegranates and thus the “Pomegranate Martini” was born. A refreshing drink balancing sweet and tart with a pleasing color.
Pomegranate Martini
3 oz Vodka
2 oz fresh Pomegranate juice
1 oz fresh squeezed Lime juice — Must be fresh!
1 oz Grand Marnier or Cointreau
Pour ingredients into a shaker, add plenty of ice, and violently shake until cold. Strain into a chilled Martini glass and garnish with a dehydrated lime round and a few pomegranate seeds.
Final Thoughts
Experiencing a bit of melancholy, missing friends and the sights / sounds of America. We know this is temporary and once our furniture arrives and we begin traveling again all will be well.