Belgrade = awesome

Dobrodošli!

Here we are on our second day in Belgrade and it is an amazing city! The people are lovely, the weather's warm (if a little thundery) and the food is incredible! So far we have tried Booom Flips, Alka Flips (which are made by Slap Group), Pardon biscuits, Chipsy Chips, Flipy Flips, Choco Flips, Slag Kreme, Lav beer, Cockta, Plazma biscuits, and my favourite, Rum Bums! We have yet to try Noblice, though, something I know Mr Jixie is very much looking forward to!

Apart from the food, the city is fantastic in so many other ways... everyone we have met here seems to be the nicest person we've ever met until we meet someone else! The first person we met is perhaps still my favourite - after leaving the bus from the airport and not being able to read the Cyrillic road names, we found the nearest map we could which was located on the side of a seemingly closed tourist information booth. The map was in Cyrillic too and we had almost given up hope when a young fellow in a dark blue uniform started coming towards us. He asked if we spoke English and asked if he could help. We said that we were OK and that we were just having a look at the map, when he declared: "You are tourists! I am Tourist Information!" He asked if we were from England and upon our reply told us that his favourite type of car is the Land Rover Defender. We were somewhat amused that he had volunteered this information, but he looked disappointed, as though he thought we didn't believe him. He proceeded to pull out a mobile phone with a screensaver of said car and proudly presented us with it. Oh, the delight! We instantly loved the man!

Shortly after this encounter we made it to the hostel where we were to meet yet more lovely people! Almost immediately I found someone to talk about Eurovision with - hurrah! The hostel guys say they don't like it but seem to know all the entries from years back, rivalling even my knowledge! They maintain they only know about it because their mother is a big fan. I, for one, do not believe them. They told us they are rooting for Armenia to win, whereas I liked Bosnia & Herzegovina and Greece so far, but obviously we haven't had the second semi-final yet (it's on later tonight and the hostel guys "suppose they might as well watch it" with me ;)

While wandering around in town yesterday we found a number of Eurovision Information booths, which excited me immensely! We chatted with a guy in one of them who told us that on Saturday night there would be big screens up outside the Parliament building as well as outside the Beograd Arena where the event is actually taking place. We walked there today and - *EXCITEMENT* - there were still tickets being advertised for tonight's semi-final and for the dress rehearsals for the actual event on Friday and Saturday! We couldn't resist: we bought tickets for the second dress rehearsal on Friday night! I reckon it'll be kind of like the final but without the voting... I guess. The tickets for the final were SO expensive that we had barely contemplated going, but the tickets for this are far more reasonable! I know it's not the same as being there for the final, but it's still going to be AWESOME! And it's thanks to our lovely friends that we are able to go to it, so thank you Toby et al! I am super excited!

Lots of love to you all!

Vixie