Slap you, Bloggers!

Something else you would like to post on the blog – the antiblog.
By Miloš Jovanović

Blog! So common word today. Blogmania is shaking the whole Internet world. Everybody thinks he or she has something to say. Moreover, they think the others have to read their thoughts and opinions. It seems like all the scribomaniacs and self proclaimed think-thanks finally heave their space to widespread their thinking sanctuary…

A half of these blogs waste the hard drives and servers. It’s a waste of cyber space, actually. Some people are writing and posting everything that they have on their minds. The majority of the blogs that are using some space on the web stay there unnoticed and unread.

What I would like to post on a blog is, in fact, The ANTIBLOG. I would ask people who show the need to spend their time on useless typing to stop doing that. I would ask them to spend their money working on something useful, to read a good book, to spend some quality time with their friends…

Of course, I don’t think all of the blogs are for nothing. There are some of them that can give a good analysis of some political or social problem, some that are more like fan sites of legendary rock band (where one can find a lot of information about the topic of that blog), some are written by a famous writer, an intellectual or a philosopher.

I am an antiblogger, but I never said that I don’t read blogs at all.

Crossing borders…

The only thing one knows for sure is that status quo is not an option.
By Ivana Arandjelović

Borders have always seem to be a contentious issue in Serbia and its surroundings. Crossing them and alleviating different kinds of sufferings that people endured in the past 15 years is not an easy thing to do. So what could be the crux of the problem? Some say that we should change ourselves, others that we must change people around us. Either way, the only thing one knows for sure is that status quo is not an option.

Our bellicose leaders provided us with nothing but the turbulent periods and hardships.It is often difficult to tell right from wrong even now when something has actually changed. In my opinion, everyone should adopt a kind of introspective approach to her/himself in order to realize what had happened to her/him throughout 90s. That is the first step in reconciliation with others and the first brick in building the crossing border bridge.

So let us try to face the unpleasant facts and get that burden off our chests. In this moment, I cannot paint a rosy picture of a situation within my country’s borders but I do believe in a fledgling democracy most of us are willing to accept. We have to be aware of the fact that certain rules are to be obeyed and that there are regulations one must comply with. It is not just a question of crossing borders in a geographical sense, it is an internal urge to erase borders and destroy impediments inside our heads so that we can reach out for other people’s minds and ideas.

In conclusion, the issue of crossing borders seems to be tackled worldwide more often than any other issue. On the other hand,it has become frequently used phrase without substantial meaning hatsoever. It is our responsibility to actually make this phrase work both in theory and in real life.

Belgrade Socks Accident

People that live here must have good spirit to overcome problems of the city
By Hrvoje Grujić

My first impressions of Belgrade were miserable. The continuous rain and grey mist were more to blame for this than the city itself. Belgrade (Beograd) means "White City" but at that moment, it looked like it was washed with black socks. One of the local people told me that those who visited Belgrade in the rain usually never returned. Wrong, because if you live in Zagreb, Belgrade really knows how to get in your way when you are traveling to Turkey or any other Balkan country.

Lucky for me, because I had many opportunities to discover this city and the beauty of his sights. Next time I visited Belgrade the weather was much better but still you could see many parts of the city still suffering of the previous “socks accident”. In my opinion, the first thing you have to say about Belgrade is that this is the city of many contrasts. It is a big mixture of the beautiful and ugly, old and new, sad and happy.

As a tourist, I found it very easy to enjoy Belgrade advantages, but people that live here must have good spirit to overcome problems of the city. And you know what? It looks like they are doing really nice job. This spirit is very important part of Belgrade.

You should climb Ipsarion

It is fantastic when you look up and see only stones and five little trees and then take a look beside you and see sea
By Mirjana Vasić

Two days ago I returned from Greece. From the island Tasos named by brother of Europe. The legend says Zeus kidnapped Europe, her brother was chasing Greek god for a quite a long time but finally he was completely exhausted and he find a rest in this beautiful island. The highest peak of Tasos is Ipsarion (1117m).

That was my goal, as well as everybody in our mountaineering group.

Our group was very interesting, a lot of retired people in 60’s, children from 7 to 10 years and few students. It was very interesting group because it showed that old man and children were better mountaineers from us, students. Start was at five. Bus drove us to Panagia and from there we started attack on Ipsarion.

The view is fantastic and what is strange, countryside is very uncommon for island landscape. Beyond that you can see sea while you are climbing. It is fantastic when you look up and see only stones and five little trees and then take a look beside you and see sea with longest beach called Golden beach.

All the time of our climbing on Ipsarion strong wind was blowing and the sun was shining. After ten minutes two students were so tired that they were asking for a break. It was fun watching old man saying in that moment: "Where are we going? On Ipsarion or on some club?" This scene has repeated several times. After four hours we finally reach the peak. There, on a top, was so cold that we had to return immediately.

Returning was even harder than climbing. I could not believe it is so hot and our group had only three hours to return on same place we started. Even we were in terrible rush from Ipsarion to Panagia everybody were in good mood, smiling and making jokes. That was the best and the most interesting is that we come on time to catch the bus.

Breathless in Belgrede

The city seems like it is spinning around you and going faster than time while you only have to take a breath in order to catch it.
By Biljana Vasilevska

8:00 in the morning… Crowded, hot, grey… First arrival, first impression….. Well, to be honest – it could have been worse. The traffic is terrible, the drivers are nervous, but it doesn’t matter since we are here, in Belgrade - one of the most beautiful cities in the whole world.

It is so funny when you think that you know your neighbour but in fact you don’t even know his or her name. The same feeling is here. I see myself at the bus station thinking that I know something about this neighbour of mine but in fact, I don’t even know where I am and where I should go. My telephone is blocked and I am nervous but lucky to travel with my friends so that we can all together find a way to switch to the mobile Network.

The first thing we do – a cup of coffee in the early morning and than straight to the Youth center in the downtown to register.

It’s time to take a walk in the center and see what Kalemegdan really looks like. Walking through Belgrade somehow provides the same feeling and taste as the one I have at home.

There are people everywhere. The city seems like it is spinning around you and going faster than time while you only have to take a breath in order to catch it.

I can hardly wait to see what this city will offer to me.

Belgrade's sunny fortress

Kalemegdan – a real piece of art which takes your breath away when you see it for the first time.
By Yelena Sivaya

My first impressions about Belgrade are very positive and sunny. The air is filled with different fragrances and the language which at first sounds to you as being unfamiliar but as soon as you hear the words you understand you begin feeling like you are at home. The atmosphere is full of warmness but not just because of the temperature – the warmness comes from the people smiling and watching you with their shining eyes.

The eye-catching thing is a great number of cute young people – girls and guys - which makes you feel and understand that you are in the right place. At night the city turns on thousands of lights which attract you – night clubs, cafes, “pecaras”, a lot of cheerful people outside in the streets, Serbian music all around you.

Great environment and great place to hang out!

At daytime you can experience the real Balkan sun which is sometimes hard to stand but the rivers - beautiful Danube and Sava – will not let you die from sunburns.

The most impressive about Belgrade? Of course Kalemegdan Fortress – a real piece of art which takes your breath away when you see it for the first time. It radiates the spirit of the Serbian history and you begin feeling as if you were at the same place but moved back few centuries ago.

Around you, you can see the Serbians - hospitable, kind, helpful, smart, patriotic, cheerful and still optimistic despite their hard past.

If you ever come...

Macedonian mega booster of Serbian shattered football confidence
By Nikola Dimitrovski

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Belgrade is the biggest sport city in Europe. The first visit to Belgrade and the impression was completely different than what I expected. Belgrade is a very beautiful city with two rivers Dunav and Sava that are making the city more popular. Here you can make a lot of friendship.

Belgrade has a great night life with a lot of night clubs seething with people. It has interesting places to see and one of them is a beautiful city square with a monument to Prince Mihajlo and of course, inevitable Kamelegdan fortress. If you ever go to Belgrade, don’t forget to visit the famous football clubs Red Star and Partizan and their stadiums Marakana and JNA.