See more photos of Melissa's trip to Zlatibor and other places including Mali (and Timbuktu), Tunisia, and Sicily

Melissa's Travelblog

For all, the beauty of its rolling pastures, creeks, and forested slopes is enough to provide some respite from the business of modern-day life. In the spring of 2005, I ventured to the region via bus.

Small farms with terra-cotta tiled roofs dot the valleys and sides of steep hills. The abundant pine forests (Zlatibor gets its name from zlato, which means gold, and bor, which means pine) provided green, compensating for the decidious trees that had yet to produce leaves.

Over the course of several days, I traveled to several villages around the region. With the assistance of such kind residents such as my taxi driver Mikica, Zorica and her staff at Sirogojno Ethnographic Museum, and the hotel staff, I was able to gain a more personal access to the rural sites and its residents.

In spring of 2006, I revisited this region of Western Serbia. I enjoyed the tranquility and home-cooked meals while staying in a cabin at the Ethnographic Museum. After visiting some of the small villages in the area, I rode on the historic Sargan Eight Train, did a bit of hiking through the Tara National Park, and visited several monasteries.