Exploring Novi Sad

Monday, Aug. 15, 2016--Novi Sad

Novi Sad is large enough that it feels like a capital city.  It has massive government buildings, a large center of town, etc.  It's also a beautiful city.  Everyone we met previously who knew we were coming here eventually said it was one of their favorite cities.

Today, we headed straight across the Danube River to explore the Fortress. It is a large fortress on a hill that somehow was never conquered during its active life.  It had great views back across the river to the city.

Next, we went down the river to see the Family Sculpture/Raid Victims Monument.  It is to commemorate a terrible event in the history of the city.  In 1942, Hungarian fascists rounded up Jews, Serbs, and Gypsies and threw them through holes in the frozen Danube and watched them drown under the ice.

From there, we headed to Danube Park, the main central park in Novi Sad.  We sat and watched people coming and going, others playing with a frisbee, many taking their photos with a statue, etc.

We needed to do laundry, so we stopped at a small supermarket to buy soap and some food items we needed, then we came back to the apartment for the hottest part of the afternoon.

For dinner, we bought a Novi Sad Index each, a popular local sandwich somewhat like one from a Subway made with ham, melted cheese, flavored sour cream, pickles, and shredded cabbage.  Again, we ate on the balcony and we had a local Apatinsko beer with it.

In the evening, we spent two hours downtown.  Even though it is a Monday, the area was filled with people sitting at sidewalk cafes, walking up and down the streets, listening to street entertainers, etc.  There was a great clarinet/bass duo playing jazz.  And elderly man was playing the accordion.  Two men were playing guitars.  We stood by the beautiful Orthodox Bishop's Palace and listened to the jazz duo.  Later, we walked by the Jewish Synagogue looking for a concert that was supposed to be occurring in a courtyard there, but we never found it.  Eventually, we headed back home while many people were still enjoying the evening.