Targa Jiu.

After a start yesterday in Romania with an extensive and very bumpy road (where my bycicle again got seriously damaged. I managed to get myself back on the main track. Naturally wise not as spectacular. But got where I wan't to be. In Targa Jui. To admire some of the very special sculptures of one of my favourite sculpters, constantin brancusi. Who originates from this area. 

Meanwhile my bike got a serious update. 

And I tried to score anything for dinner. 

Where the city looks very outgoing. It's all about drink's. The max you find is some fast-food. 

Getting drunk with serbians.

Finally it had to happen. Arrived this afternoon after the most spectacular bycicle trip, through the 'iron gate' in a village, close to Kladovo. Installed myself on the local campingsite (for free) connected to a restaurant. So where can I order my dinner? All together about 8€ beer included. 

A Guy at the bar was celibrating his birthday. Took me into town to hang out with his friends. So go a little drunk there. But finally got the real feel of being into Serbia today!!

Reunited with the Danube

Made it to the Danube river today. On purpose I avoided the metropole called Belgrade. It is a charming city, which I visited a few times whith pleasure. Even had an exhibition there, a decade ago. Titled 'putevi' or 'roads'. Still my theme, so to say! Since then I I visited a lot of places along the Danube. Turned the river and my experiences along it into an art-project, called 'potamos'. But still there are places undiscovered. Like the city of Smeredovo, where i'm today. 

And as before, I'm surprised again about the combination of a run-down city, next to such a beautiful river. And the same combination of all these old 'communist' constructions falling apart and all the friendly people, walking out on the streats around sunset. Happy. 

In a supermarket today I communicated with the shop-keeper. In my broken serbian (I just mix my knowledge of czech an russian and hope for the best) He guessed that I came from Belarus. Is this a compliment?

On the River bank Sawa

Close to Belgrade I installed myself in a hostel next to the river Sawa. After a 130 km journey.  In the Vojvodinia, a region as flat as the Netherlands. And with all the rain today I could have felt at home. Got completely soaked. But on the still on the road. Na putu, as they say. 

A room with a view.

 Arrived in Serbia. Loznica. Booked in a local hotel near a spa resort. My room is overlooking a small park, where you can buy little souvenirs and where the locals have their evening walks. The hotel itself is a clear remain of 70/80 communist architecture. As there is so much in these countries. For me it is as much distant as it has become familiar. 

From now on the language and all signs are in cyrillic. Good that I did a one

year russian course once. Not to understand. But at least I can read the roadsignes. Helps me to get to Беoград

Today I stopped at a garage in Bosnia, because my Luggage carrier broke on two spots. The Guy welded it for me and didn't charge anything. Then you really realise you're on a pelgrimage. 😆

Somewhere on the road in Bosnia.

This morning I left Sarajevo. But not after paying the old Centre a visit. 

Then I got into some issues again. First my navigation app. sent me again up into impossible hilltracks. 25% or more uphill. You don't even do that on a mountainbike, without luggage. 

I tried walking. But just to find myself lost on an impossible track. 

Went back to the old town. And started all over. 

On my way to Serbia. And I sleep somewhere in the middle of the road. Above a gass station. 

Sarajevo

Yesterday I arrived at Sarajevo. Well just before the old town. A long road from Mostar. Mostly uphill. 

For the first time my navigation let me down. Starting in Mostar it sent me up streets climbing a 25% ending on a dirt track. So I took the main road. With of course much more traffic. But at least no potholes. And, best of all, at every few kilometers stalls where you can by fresh fruit and slivovice.