NOVI SAD, SERBIA
2016-01-21, 23:30, THORIN
STAY: KUTAK HOSTEL
After the strange night in Osijek, we took an early morning bus across the border to the northern Serbian town of Novi Sad. Novi Sad is considered the more relaxed and scenic sibling to the city down the Danube - Belgrade. Not dissimilar from Bath and Bristol.
We arrived in Novi Sad around mid-morning, after a 3 hour journey from Osijek, and made our way to our hostel. After checking in, we decided to do some gratuitous exploring (as we do). Saw some cool churches and buildings and stuff - Novi Sad has a cool central square where a lot of the life happens, with cool coffee shops and a long avenue that goes down to the Danube, which you can then walk down for a few kilometres past beaches, restaurants and bars. It had a cool vibe, and felt quite 'hip' as th young kids say.
After a cheeky coffee in an old converted slavic rail car, we decided to cross over the river to the castle and do a quick urvey of that while the weather was so good. Across the river from the 'newer' part is the older area, with a stunning castle in top condition. The castle is also now the site of one of the biggest music festival in the Balkans called 'Exit', where stages are set up tucked into flying buttresses and in courtyards - its meant to be really cool! But when we were there it was nice and quiet!
Also, at this point, I was feeling some bizarre discomfort in the side of my foot which made it hard to walk - still no idea what it was, maybe Plantar Fasciitis. Regardless, all the videos from most of the trip are me shuffling around awkwardly! Anyway, we had a quick lunch and then spent the afternoon walking along the river, stopping for some drinks on the way. For a few kilometres down either side of the Danube they have a huge bike path which was full of locals roller-blading and cycling. And then on the actual river banks are beaches with cool bars and terraces attached - apparently its popping in the summer!
That evening we had dinner down a little alley at a kebab shop before getting ready to get up the next morning to get to Belgrade! Novi Sad was absolutely lovely though, will definitely be back!