Zlatibor

Only a 4 hour drive (ok, in a bus it takes longer) from Belgrade, the town of Zlatibor is a favorite destination for Serbians. In the winter (with over 100 snowy days per year), three ski lifts  and some cross-country trails accommodate winter sports lovers. In summer, people flock to the region and its mild climate, seeking refuge from the heat of cities. Although Zlatibor has an altitude of over 1,000 meters with peaks up to nearly 1,500 meters, the climate is milder than one would initially expect. The clean, pure air also attracts people with medical ailments, and is particularly known for its successful natural treatment of people with respiratory and thyroid disorders.

For a tourist town, I was surprised to see that signs (including the hotel and restaurant road signs) were in Cyrillic. Even the tourist information booth's sign was in Cyrillic! I knew that I would have to crack open the Serbian phrase book in order to make myself understood here – which was a good thing, since teaching at an English-language school doesn't force me to learn much of the local language.

After dropping off my stuff at the hotel, I headed back towards the city center. Although the air wasn't all that warm, the radiating sun felt wonderful. A small "lake" (more like the size of a large pond) provided a nice focal point for the town, with park benches and a sidewalk circumnavigating it. Children munched on popcorn from the rabbit popcorn vendor stand and all ages happily relished an ice cream cone. Groups of school children chattered and skipped along. Some paused for a drink at the "Cesma Kralja Alexandra I" drinking fountain. After enjoying some moments of peace, I walked onward, heading towards the buildings past the lake. Here, newer cottages had been constructed, especially popular with weekenders from Uzice and Belgrade. Moving onward, I meandered through the cluster of shops and restaurants. Nearing suppertime, I headed towards the direction of the hotel but was drawn to the expansive hill. On closer observation, one could see small purple spring wildflowers, delicately swaying in the mountain breeze. As I moved onward past the ski lift area, the flowers became more numerous, dotting the entire hill. Sitting down on the grass amongst nature with the warmth of the sun was quite refreshing.

Nature's view of Zlatibor

A large tree hides the resort town