How to Pack Smart

Have you ever experienced lost baggage? Most of us had and I have to admit - it’s nightmare.

That’s why I pack brutally light. 

5 years ago I had a stop over in Rome, Italy. I wanted to see some concert and

I knew that I had a very short time to change into my concert clothes so I took a nice pair of pants, tunic and scarf with me in carry on luggage. Mind, I didn’t know that my ‘real’ luggage will be lost.

Usually I travel in Yoga pants, t-shirt, and zip up hoodie and that’s exactly what I did that day. Hat on to Air France though. I got, as their sign of apology for the lost baggage, a plastic zipped bag with white T shirt ( with their logo), tooth brush and paste, make up remover, mints, nail filler, comb, small package of Kleenex,  band aid, QTips, tampon, small bottle with some nice, light l’eau de cologne and a – condom!!! French as they are – being prepared for every occasion is always a necessity.

Thank you Air France! That was great.

I got my big suitcase in the morning of my fourth day in Geneva and I had it back in Toronto, no problems.

But, that was a day I learnt my lesson: pack smart which means - pack light, as little as you can and believe me everybody can pack light.

So, my first rule is - make a list.

Samsonite

Second would be – buy a small, light, carry on luggage on wheels.

 




Third rule is to pack essentials in 2 colors- decide what you like the most. I like navy and white.                                           
                                                                                     

Fourth rule is - Don’t forget your passport and other documents or medications.

Everything else you can buy or find wherever you travel. Well, OK, not if you travel to South Pole…Obviously, there would be some additional rules when you travel to uninhabited parts of the world during the extreme temperature.

Most of the time we don’t need much when we are going on a vacation. I would say 95% of the time we are over packing. Being a traveller most of my life I realized that I need just few things, especially if I travel to some warm destination.

 

This would be my first choice...

I do my list and my list for – warm destination -  is not changed in last 5 years. I have my small suitcase, carry on to be precise and I put these things inside:

1. Two T shirts

2. One longer skirt.

3. One shorts

4. 2 underwear and bras

5. One light, long sweater

6. One pair of socks

7. Two swimsuits

8. One scarf and one hat

9. One pair of flip flops

10. One ballet shoes, preferably silver

11. documents, mini I pad

12. Moisturizer

13. Exact amount of vitamins

14. Credit card

15. IPad and

16. Yoga outfit and my converse – which is always on me not in the suitcase.

That’s it!

If I need more clothes, jewellery, sun screen, toothpaste etc. I can always buy it at my destination.

... and this is second...

I am an artist and I always pack my camera but I do only, and only photos of something that I know would inspire my work. Everything else, beach photos, town photos, all of these you can get in a good book shop, and done better then we can ever do. I used to buy postcards, as my ‘memory stock’ and some of them I would mail to myself as a small, crazy memorabilia. Long time ago I decided that I don’t need to overload my camera and computer with photos that can be found in every book store anyway… not to mention Google images…

So, I travel light and free. I am NOT waiting at the airport for the luggage, I am not going, ever, to be a victim of another ‘lost baggage claim’, condom or not coming with that, and I simply don’t want to worry about anything when I am ‘out there’.

And – who cares if you are wearing the same thing every day? As long as it is clean – that’s not important.

I’ve read this somewhere and it became my motto: 

When in doubt, leave it out.

By Lena Stefanovic
Geneva, Switzerland                                                                                   

BELGRADE, Republic of Serbia

Belgrade

”Back then I needed to meet people who would not treat me superficially as was the case back home, people who could sit at a table for hours just chatting, singing songs and always having an awful lot to say. This Belgrade period simply healed my soul...”

Erskine Caldwell, writer

By Maya Toracki

Belgrade, capital of the Republic of Serbia is outspoken, adventurous, proud and audacious* city.  It is also “my city”, where I was born and raised; where I love every quirky sidewalk, every tree, every corner, every passage, beautiful doors, constant hum of both rivers; I even love strong east wind named Koshava that blew in the sequences of the 3 days and clean city of smog; I love luscious smell of awakened vegetation in the spring and the colors  of fruits and vegetables on the farmers' market in the fall; I admire women who are dressed in the latest fashion although they all live statistically on less than 450 Euros a month and I love all that lively hustle and bustle of people milling about Belgrade streets and malls. However, more than anything I love these open hearted people that make you feel welcomed.

* www.lonelyplanet.com

 Why to visit Belgrade?

Knez Mihajlova Street

No 1 reason, beside having rich art milieu, amazing history and great food is

           The Atmosphere of the city

coming directly from its people! And my first advice when you are there is - befriend a Belgrader!

Due to a number of unfortunate political and social changes that people of Belgrade and Serbia went through one would expect Belgraders to be grumpy and tired – and that is so not true!
In general, Serbs are proud, open, loud, outgoing, very 
hospitable people and it is incredibly easy to make contact with

them.They like to meet new people and have guests over.

Belgraders are very curious and in general very educated. They don’t mind talking about politics even though they've had enough of it and don't really care for politics (or politicians) any more. I would suggest everybody to ask about Kosovo and get a bit different perspective then what usually media presents. This is very sensitive topic since Kosovo is in genes and heart of every Serb.

No 2 reason to visit Belgrade is – Food, Restaurants and Night Life!

Belgraders are true hedonists. They enjoy good food, good wine and music therefore cafes and restaurants are always filled with people – no matter what time of the day or night it is.





 Left  - Travel friends enjoy coffee break downtown Belgrade

In last 20 years Belgrade became famous for its nightlife. There are many Night Clubs in Belgrade but be prepared to start your night late and end it with sunrise. A common dinner out could start at 9pm, drinks at a bar usually not before 11pm, and many people don't even bother going to a club before 2am.





Left  - Restaurants/Boats called Splavovi on river Danube during the day and bellow during the night.

As a tourist destination, Belgrade is famous for its gastronomy and excellent restaurants. On the whole, prices are cheap compared to Western Europe with main dishes ranging from €5–20 per person.

Most Serbian restaurants offer roštilj (BBQ) local cheeses, bread and great variety of salads all fresh and organic from the farmer's gardens brought over daily from the villages surrounding the city. You will notice the particularly good taste of this produce.

 

Cevepcici in Lepinja with Onions and Kajmak

Serbian cuisine is known for Sarma 
(cabbage rolls), Cevapcici, and Kajmak
(creamy dairy product, rich, savory unripened cheese that goes-with-anything ...).

Cevapcici consists of different types of minced meat mixed together, shaped like small sausages, and then put on the grill. It is usually eaten with diced onion, and is very tasty. 

Sarma is No 1 winter meal in Serbia. This dish is made of  layered sour cabbage rolls, pork ribs and bacon and slowly cooked in crock pot. It is so tasty!


Sarma (cabagge rolls) bellow

There are many delicious deserts in Serbian cuisine but one that stands out for me, beside Chesnut Puree with whipped cream (a local specialty available mostly during winter) is Floating Islands (or Shne Nokle on Serbian) a dessert consisting of meringue floating on creme anglaise (a vanilla custard). It is also known as 'eggs in snow'. My mother made it to perfection!

Floating Islands / Shne Nokle on serbian

No 3 reason to visit Belgrade is – Art, Culture and History

The Victor ( Pobednik) by Ivan Mestrovic, 1928 at Fortress Kalemegdan

Belgrade’s history is more then 7000-year-old. Due to its geographic position on Balkan it was exposed to numerous invaders as well as influences of many civilizations.
It’s well known that people of Belgrade was among the first in Europe to say NO to Hitler and later to Stalin. In my opinion that would sufficiently describe the heroic attitude and vitality of the people living in Belgrade.

Kalemegdan Fortress and a Rose Church

Ada Ciganlija, man made lake on river Sava

Situated where the Sava river meets the Danube, with Mt Avala in its ‘backyard’ and Ada Ciganlija, an island on river Sava, with pebble beaches and numerous recreational facilities, Belgrade offers to visitors a wide selection of sports activities.

There are also menu places to experience such  as downtown bohemian quarter of Skadarlija, lively pedestrian street Knez Mihajlova with many historical buildings, shops, cafes and restaurants and art galeries, bookstores and museums.

Saint Sava Church

Architecturally speaking, Belgrade has a rare variety of styles: from its contemporary and Art Nouveau buildings to the ‘old’ European/Habsburg legacy and Ottoman relics. Kalemegdan Citadel as well as the Church St.Sava, the largest Orthodox Church in the world, is considered as the crowns of the city and the most monumental places to visit.

At the end a few suggestions for the things you should do in Belgrade:

• Spend an afternoon at the Kalemegdan Park and enjoy the sunset at one of the fortress lookouts.
• Spend an evening on the terrace in one of the restaurants in Zemun next to Danube.
• Spend part of the day, enjoying some of the boats/ restaurants-cafes on the Sava River or on the  River Danube
• Ride the tram number 2 a full circle.
• Spend an hour sipping coffee at one of Belgrade's cafés.
• Bargain at one of the green markets in the morning.
• Wander the Kosancicev Venac neighborhood preferably on a summer Sunday for a taste of   authentic Belgrade.
• Have a cevapcici (grilled sausage look like burger) at one of the old style restaurants.
• And I would add – go to “La Vida Yoga Studio” where you will get superb yoga class by internationally recognized Instructor Vida Starovic. That would unwind everyone and disperse all worries!

LaVida Yoga Studio, Belgrade

Facts about Belgrade:

• Belgrade is the capital of the Republic of Serbia
• In Serbian it is called Beograd, literally translate as ‘White City’
• It is also a ‘youth city’ due to the fact that 40% of its citizens between 15 and 44 years of age.
• Has population of almost 1.7 million
• Moderate continental climate, 4 seasons.
• The official language is Serbian (Srpski) and the official alphabets are Cyrillic and Latin.
• Belgrade and Serbia are in the CET (Central European Time) – GMT+1
• Area calling code is (+381) 011
• The electricity voltage in Belgrade is 220V
• The official currency of the country is the Serbian Dinar (RSD). Euros and US Dollars are accepted too, unofficially, due to the unstable Dinar currency.

Belgrade at Night

 If you have some more time and love nature and want to know more about Serbian culture, please contact some travel agency in Belgrade and they will organize unforgettable trip to see Serbia.  

Enjoy!

Sretenje Monastery in Ovcar and Kablar gorge

Kopaonik, Mountain

Decani Monastery, in Kosovo - Serbia

River Tara

    Old Serbian Home, now a part of exhibition in the

Museum of South Serbian town Pirot









Resources:

LonelyPlanet.com
Voice of Serbia -Radio Serbia
wikipedia.org
tripadvisor.com
wikitravel.org
belgradeeye.com

Roaming Tips While Travelling

It’s happening. We heard about obnoxious roaming charges from our friends, our kids, media and - some of us experienced it first hand. We take our vacation, we are happy to leave everyday life and have at least six no pressure, relaxing days and at some point we turn on our cell phone and text or take a photo and – forget to turn it off. 

Unfortunately data usage is growing by minute, or by MB. We return home, fresh and full of energy and we find that our cell phone bill is as high as sky. Surprise is replaced with certainty that it was a mistake and after discussion with mobile provider we are shocked, angry, disappointed and – deflated.

What we all should know about roaming before we travel?

1. Roaming is a service that allows you to use your cell phone outside of your provider's coverage area and it is expensive both for incoming and outgoing calls.

2. Before you travel, contact your service provider and check your Contract. If you have a nationwide coverage plan, roaming charges may apply just when you travel outside of Canada.

3. Don’t forget that Roaming charges apply not just to voice calls, but text messages, the transmission of pictures, Internet access and other data that you receive, upload or send when outside your home network

4. Your  roaming charges will soar  simply by leaving your Smartphone turned on while travelling outside your home area so shut of the phone, turn off network connections or set your phone on airplane mode.

I checked few of our Top Mobile providers – Bell, TELUS, Rogers, Fido, Wind and Virgin Mobile.

All of them have plans or roaming data pass (Rogers, TELUS), bundles and pay- per – use rates (Bell). All prices are very similar.

I like that TELUS has Data Travel Tracker Tool and Data Calculator. It’s very simple, everybody can use it, even if you are not TELUS user.

Look if your provider has Threshold. TELUS has data blocking tool that block any usage over 100 threshold. Nicely, they send text message when you reach that. Similar is with Rogers - no overage fees - data usage is suspended when the Roaming Data Pass usage or time limit is reached.

With Bell you'll always be billed per minute, in Canadian funds. Wind has flat rate (20c/min) or plans and Virgin is charging 75c for sent text (incoming are free!!).

The most important Q is - How do I know I am roaming?

Easy – look to where you typically see your carrier’s name on the phone screen. If it’s a different company, that means you are using their network. They’re going to charge your carrier for that activity, and that’s what shows up on your bill.

Also, when you arrive in a place outside home network, your provider will send you a text message to alert you that you are now roaming.

In conclusion: 

Rule No 1 – Contact your carrier before trip and know your Contract.

2. Don’t leave your cell phone ON and definitely turn OFF Data roaming and service whenever your cell phone is on.

SIM card, Photo by Lasop, Stock xchange

3. There are many Wi-Fi FREE hotspots around the world and use it when you need to connect to Internet. I always carry my mini iPad, but having your own hotspot may always be good investment too if you are frequent traveller.

4. As an alternative to roaming, in many countries you can get access to local wireless service, by obtaining a SIM card from one of the local service providers in the area you will be travelling to, or by purchasing an inexpensive pre-paid phone.

With these Rules your cell/mobile Bill will never be high!

Now, you can have a great vacation!

 

Scuba in Cuba, Photo coutesy of  E.B.