Beograd - A City That Never Sleeps

I have heard the term "The City That Never Sleeps", but I never understood it like I understand it now. About five days after I arrived in Beograd I realized that there was noise all around me - constantly. No matter what time of day it was or where I happened to be - people were awake and people were making noise. Sound vibrating from cars, buses, car washes, construction, loud laughing voices, music, clanking dishes, et cetera. I realized that I am literally living in a city that never sleeps. And, for me, it is a first. I'm from rural Indiana, what can I tell you? :-) Denver definately sleeps (quite a bit)...and, despite it's size, Istanbul had its sleepy moments as well. I don't even think Beograd has eyelids it is SO constantly awake. :-)

So far I have found only one place in the city that actually can be fairly silent (though never asleep, make no mistake about it)...and this is Kalemegdan (the fortress). Amanda and I visited Kalemegdan again last week and it was even more enchanting than before. It is truly a place of refuge and incredible beauty. Kalemegdan sits on a very high corner overlooking the rivers Sava and Danube...which is truly a sight to see. It is seperated from the city by a road, and has enough trees and walls so that the sounds of the city may as well not exist...it is completely blocked. There are archways and walls and towers and gulleys, roads and wells...it used to be a town within the fortress. There are long expanses of very well-kept gardens, grass, and trees...like a massive park. There is such a sense of history there, different histories in different areas, really. I am sure to be hanging out at Kalemegdan quite a bit!

I have gained an even greater appreciation for my walk-man and wonderful pair of headphones. After we went to Kalemegdan I listened to the group "ARIA", and it fit the mood of Kalemegdan perfectly...check them out if you ever want to hear something different. Music is a wonderful escape and way of relaxation...especially when the birds outside the apartment start to compete with the noise of the city. (I believe the birds may have won yesterday, by the way.) :-)

Ha ha! The great thing about a city that never sleeps is that there is always something to do, somewhere to go, and people to watch - always. For insomniacs and night owls especially, Beograd is the place to be...