Three Consistent Problems

Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016--Novi Sad

During the trip, there has been one consistent problem throughout--so much smoking everywhere.  Then starting in Croatia, two more were added which continue to be a problem--bicyclists on the sidewalks and mosquitoes.

Smoking has deteriorated so much more in the US compared to the rest of the world.  Everywhere we have visited on this trip, there is regularly the smell of cigarette smoke in the air.  People walk down the sidewalks smoking.  They sit at sidewalk cafes smoking.  They stand in lines smoking.  It's really quite sad and quite discomforting to endure.

Italy and Slovenia had bicycle lanes everywhere, and bicyclists used them.  In Croatia, and here in Serbia, there may be a bicycle lane and there may not be.  Either way, the bicyclists mostly ignore them and ride through the walkers on the sidewalk.  They will swoop by so fast and so close that there is a wisp of unexpected breeze.  It can be a bit scary and seems quite dangerous.

I had not expected to encounter mosquitoes here.  So much of Europe is mosquito free.  But in Croatia and Serbia, they seem to be everywhere.  It has become necessary, even when the air is quite fresh and nice to enjoy, to keep windows closed from just before dusk until after dawn the next morning.  Even then, however, mosquitoes can show up in the daytime.  Here in Novi Sad, we are keeping the windows closed all the time.  There are still some mosquitoes in the living room area that got in the first day, so we are also keeping our bedroom doors closed after having killed and/or drawn out those that were originally in there.

Today, after going to the bus station to get our tickets for tomorrow, we explored leftover places we still wanted to see.  We tried to see the synagogue, but it was closed.  A review somewhere said that they only let Jewish people inside the building complex, so I guess it was right.  From there, we walked to the campus of the University of Novi Sad and walked among the buildings most of which were unimpressive because of having been built in communist times and greatly showing their age and deterioration.  The one good, new building on campus (a black cube that can be seen among the photos at the link above) was for the administration!  Back in the downtown area, we went to the Catholic Cathedral, a simple, but elegant building with a fantastic roof and steeple.

After sitting and watching people for a while, we returned to the apartment for the hot part of the afternoon.  Then we went out again to get food to bring home an eat on our balcony.  Finally, we went back to town to wander among the crowds.  The best street group consisted of three young boys (probably brothers) ranging in age from 9 to 12 or 13 playing unbelievably well--a violin, an accordion, and a guitar.  They played 1950s popular Italian songs, Viennese waltzes, and Russian pieces.