Six plus months ago we started our journey from the US and had the outline of a “plan.” We had guidelines to follow, the most significant being visa restrictions that kept us in the European Union for only 90 days within a 180 day period. Last week we started a new journey, exiting Romania and the most eastern part of Europe, which included stops in three different locations. After Romania the plan was to go to Budapest. Until that changed, when Kathleen said, “What do you think about Belgrade (Serbia)?”

Serbia had come up in conversations several times as we explored the many countries we could visit, and since we had already BEEN to Budapest, Kat suggested a new city and country, #26 on my list.

Flexibility. We have found that when we are too rigid or set in our ways it can become complicated. With that in mind we try to let the Universe guide us when we feel inspired or decide that another way may be better.

This is blog #49 for me, and I’m thinking about taking the first 50 entries and creating a book called “Traveling the World Six Weeks at a Time, Volume I.” What do you think??

Back to the flexibility thing.

We did decide to go to Belgrade and spent three days there. It was much nicer than we thought and we enjoyed the combination of relaxing after a few very early mornings, walking along the Danube, eating at great restaurants along the river, and of course, exploring yet another castle: The Belgrade Fortress. I’ve lost count of how many castles and forts we have visited and yet they are all different and mostly worthwhile. A few have been less than expected, but hey, that’s life.

The first night we were there we walked along the river, which is filled with restaurants and nightclubs on barges tied up to the bank. These are 100% stationary barges and don’t move and some of these restaurants are pretty cool. But as we walked along the bank we saw a hostel on the water, which surprised us both. So Kat went to explore.

We usually avoid hostels because they normally offer singular or bunk beds, plus they are a bit noisier than we would like, and maybe a bit too transient for our comfort level. Forty years ago it would have been a different story.

When Kat sent a text that said “There’s a black cat at the door,” she knew I would come down, which I did. I love black cats in case you didn’t know.

The lobby looked like something out of a Victorian movie, filled with stuffed chairs and lots of charm. Kat was upstairs checking out the room we could use, which had a King sized bed (pretty rare), PLUS another single bed, plus our own bathroom- no sharing. The price? Twenty euros each.

Long story short we decided we HAD to stay there since the chance to sleep on the Danube on a barge doesn’t come around very often. We had already paid for our three nights at our other room, which also had its charm, but was a bit boring. Waking up to the sun rising over the river was pretty cool, and sitting downstairs with coffee while swans came over to feed was a novel experience.

Later that day a five hour bus ride to Zagreb, Croatia, and the beginning of our next leg, which also will last about six weeks. I will be back in the US for about five of those weeks and Kathleen will stay in Split, Croatia, a city we know very well since we were in Croatia for 60 days already.

Quality versus Quantity

We started our Nomadic Life by staying six weeks at each location, but the LAST six weeks have been different as we attempted to “use” our Eurail pass which afforded us 15 days of travel over a 60 day period. We will end up using just four of those travel days and in hindsight, it was a waste of money.

Or was it??

The original “plan” was to travel every two to three days and work our way up to the Scandinavian countries, then back down the south west side of Europe and we figured we’d hit about eight countries. Didn’t work out that way. Due to a hot spell, a crowded holiday season and exorbitant prices that accompanied them, we turned east and went to other places. Instead of a new place every few days we slowed down and decided that quality was more important than quantity and checking countries off on a list.

Our journey and our life has been about choices. We gave up homes, cars and understanding what people are saying around us for visiting new lands, absorbing new cultures and history. We get confused by train and bus stations and currency conversions, but these are the choices that WE have made. For those that may be inspired by what we do, GOOD! Nothing will expand your mind like visiting unfamiliar places and you will be humbled walking through buildings that were built before Jesus walked the globe. Makes you realize and appreciate that we are here for just a few moments in time.

Enjoy them.

#travel, #travelflexability, #serbia, #belgrade, #hostels