katarina
where are you originally from?
serbia
people
how would you describe the people in your country?
friendly and hospitable
on a scale of 1–10, how well do people in your country speak english?
5
what’s a common word or expression people use in your country?
bre
how do i say hello, thank you, please, and sorry in your language?
zdravo or ćao, hvala, molim te or molim vas (more formal), izvini or izvinite (more formal)
what do people in your country usually do for fun?
going out and partying!
food
what’s the best local food to try? anything unusual?
best food: roštilj (serbian barbeque) – ćevapi, pljeskavica, ražnjići, etc. weirdest food: šnenokle (egg white dessert). local food to try: gibanica/burek
what local drinks would you recommend trying?
rakija – medovaća
what’s a typical breakfast like in your country?
usually food from the pekara (bakery) such as pogacice, rol virsle, žu žu, along with drinkable yogurt, cold cut meats and cheese
culture
what’s the best festival to attend?
exit festival
which sports are people in your country most passionate about?
football (soccer for americans)
what activities or experiences would you recommend to visitors?
visit kalemegdan, skadarlija, saint sava church, party on the river (clubs like freestyler, river, etc.), shopping in knez mihailova, mountain avala
are there any local customs visitors should be aware of?
don’t talk about politics involving kosovo/albania, the usa nato bombing or balkan war between croatia/bosnia/serbia
places
what are some of the most incredible places to visit in your country?
djavolja varos is an unusual landmark with rock formations
is there a lesser-known place you’d recommend? maybe a secret spot?
zvezda open air cinema
where can visitors find the best beaches?
there is no beach but you can go to ada ciganlija for a swim
if i only had a few days, which city should i visit?
belgrade
country
how would you describe your country in one sentence?
serbia is one of those places that doesn’t have the craziest landmarks but the people make the experience one to remember.
how many days would you recommend spending in your country?
3-4 days
when’s the best time to visit?
late spring/summer/fall
what’s a common misconception about your country?
all serbs smoke
travel
do you travel often? what’s your favorite place so far?
yes, i’ve been to 38 countries so far. my favourite countries include mexico, cuba, spain, italy and greece.
what’s your most memorable travel story?
one night in santorini my boyfriend and i rented an atv. we were staying in a village called karterados and were driving to oia to check out the classic santorini views. it is about a 30-40 min atv drive. on our way back it was night time and both our phones had died so we had no knowledge of how to get back to where we were staying so we just winged it and drove along the coast. the sky was filled with stars and we were so content just driving, even though we had no idea where we were going. after a while some locals helped us and showed us the way. they were nice enough to drive with us halfway through to guide us. definitely an incredible experience of just letting go and friendly locals wanting to help.
what do you love most about traveling?
i’ve been travelling since i was a baby and lived in 6 different places around the world. this experience has made me open to all sorts of different cultures and traditions that i greatly value. travel is entering into someone’s world and immersing yourself in their way of life. it is a powerful learning tool that makes you more open-minded and kind hearted.
about katarina
instagram: @k.atarina
e-mail: katsalatic@gmail.com