Picture Motherload

Things over here are going very well. We have done stuff and seen people and things. We also plan to do more stuff in some places with other people. My language skills took a bit of a leap in their dormancy somehow, and I am able to speak a bit more fluidly. Natalija is obviously very happy to be here with all of her friends and family, and the fact that we are only here for a month has motivated everyone to really be available and generally down for whatever. 

Highlights include the surprise party, the doomed river trip, drinking domestic white wine at a bar named Tosin Bunar that for some inexplicable reason everyone calls Jakarta, um karaoke with a live band, coffee with EVERYBODY, Sasa's birthday, dinners with Nata's Dad, being with family, a really disappointing boat tour of Belgrade, delicious food, and a couple of sleep overs at other people's apartments because we missed the last bus into Surcin. Here are some pictures in no particular order.

Suzi the elegantly posing cat

Ana and Nata catching up at karaoke

Sasa and some pretty lights

Clearly, this pose wasn't talked through ahead of time...

...and sadly, this one was!

R to L: Ruzica (Nata's cousin), Misa (Nata's brother), Raka (other cousin)

The late night view from Ana's and Vlada's balcony.

He's gonna be trouble!

Danny's sweet 16th birthday!

The new parents, Iva and Mirko with baby Vuk (his name means "wolf," how cool is that?)

Yay for friendship!

and dancing!

and for more of the same!

and for love!

but most importantly, friendship!

but also family!

Tosin Bunar, AKA: Dzakarta (Dz = J sound)

Spontano.

Drinska Regata

We went to an event called Drinska Regata on the Drina River near the border with Bosnia. The idea is that a bunch of people float down the river on rafts for some way, then get out near a town called Bajina Basta, where even more people are camping waiting for a party to begin.

Well, we bought some tents, got a great spot, put the tents up, and that was about the only thing that went right. It started raining, a lot... My memory about the order of these events is a little distorted because I was sleeping when the rain ungraciously woke me up (Did I mention that we woke up at five in the morning to leave for this trip?).

Nevertheless, the rain started. Then, as I was falling asleep again, thinking, "Thank goodness we bought these brand new tents for this trip!" I felt a steady cold drip falling on my neck... Right about that time was when I noticed a lot of yelling outside. Natalija called for me to exit the tent, but as soon as I poked my head out, I saw there was a big fight under way in the exact spot where only a few minutes before a Serbian trubaci band was playing. Rather than act on Natalija's advice and run away, I thought it best to not draw attention to the one long haired foreigner when tensions were already so high. Natalija, seeing the predicament I was in, ran over to the tent and proceeded to stand guard over me like a wall of Serbian language skills, capable of talking her way out of danger. (She's so valiant!)

I hate to be anti-climatic, but the fight ended without bloodshed, and we packed up the tents and went for coffee. After much discussion and more hanging out at a cafe, somebody decided it would be best to simply make the three and a half hour trip back to Beograd. 

As I'm reading over this description, I realize that this may not sound like a fun trip, but it sure was! We enjoyed every second of it and the act of going on a road trip with so many good friends was "extra" in and of itself. Even though our Drinska Regata wasn't what we though it would be, we will be back one day to Bajina Basta!

... Taken by Surprise!

Well, it was a long trip. That is all I will say for now... No, wait a minute, I will also say that even though we ultimately took pity on her, there is a woman named Consuela who works for Air Canada in DFW who has no business doing what she does for a living. Oh Consuela, so slow, so incompetent! When we were checking into our flight, it took her forty minutes (10 of which were spent trying to find out if Natalija needed a visa to land in a German airport... the AIRPORT!) In the time it took for her to check only Natalija and me in for the flight, her smirking and infinitely more competent colleague took care of every other passenger on the plane. Poor, poor Consuela.

Anyway, when we arrived, we ate until we forgot how to talk. Then, other stuff happened, most of which we don't remember because we were so sleep deprived. Somehow, Natalija's aunt, Lela and mom, Vesna took advantage of our discombobulated state and convinced us to go see Natasa and her family at her house (we wanted nothing but sleep). When we got there, all of Natalija's closest friends were there to surprise us and we had a party! Needless to say, this did not help the already pitiable cognitive state we were both in, but it was a very welcome surprise, and a very fun time. Pictures below.

So here we are again in Serbia, having fun and adjusting from the jet lag. Hooray! Write emails or comments: I look for them regularly throughout the day and do a happy dance when my inbox is full! Hope all is well with everyone.

We're Going (going) Back (back) to Belgrade (belgrade)

Hello all, whether this message comes as a surprise, a bore, or a surprising bore to you, we wanted ya'll to know that we are going to Serbia**  for a month in two days. While there, we will be doing our best to maintain the connections we may have with our favorite humans (i.e. you, et al.).

For whatever reason I thought that now (in the midst of Natalija running around like some bizarre women's apparel Easter Bunny- stashing shoes, belts, and dresses in various pieces of luggage) would be a good time to let you know the blog is back!

The weight distribution game of How-Much-Shit-Can-We-Cram-Into-the-Airline-Baggage-Allotment began in earnest this evening and recently ratcheted up to a fever pitch. It seems that we will be able to somehow stuff a powerful amount of crap (much of which will ultimately be given away as gifts) into our bloated old bags. Hooray!

We are leaving Thursday morning... I won't bore or depress you with the rigorous itinerary, but don't be surprised if you don't hear from us again for a couple days. We'll be back: like Serbian Hair-pez, we will always make a reappearance. (But for real, if I get the Hair-pez again, I am gonna have a Come to Jesus Meeting with that whole damn country!).

Have fun with your droll, work-a-day lives while we recklessly frolic in the Serbian summer sun for a month, Ha ha!
(kidding)

We'll talk to everybody soon, stay safe, stay happy, and for God's sake keep your A/C blasting on high!

Love,

Natalija and David

**If you're the facebooking type, follow the link to an important Geography lesson!