Moacs – Novi Sad – Belgrad
It’s a bit scary! I have hardly ever experienced so much military presence. The closer the country’s border with Serbia, the more massive the armed uniforms. Apparently, the aim is to prevent unauthorised persons from entering the EU. As I am driving in the opposite direction, namely out of the EU, I easily pass all the people checkpoints without stopping until I reach the national border. There I am asked to prove a PCR test result. Then I have to wait a few minutes… they check whether the certificate issued by the Hungarian „white lab“ is recognised. After a few more questions, I am finally granted access across the border.
The cycle path in the granary of Serbia leads me through pure nature and idyllic Danube landscapes to Backo Novo Selo. If you ever come to this small town, where there is practically nothing, you should definitely spend the night directly on the cycle path at the Hotel B & B Bela Vrba. It is rare to find such an attractive price-performance ratio. And a night right next to the water with frogs croaking and crickets chirping…simply paradise.
Unfortunately, the music festival EXIT is taking place in Novi Sad for several days, so it is very difficult to find accommodation. And once again, unfortunately, the planned visit to the imposing Petrovaradin Fortress overlooking the Danube, which is considered an absolute „MUST SEE“ and which I did not want to miss, is cancelled. Instead, I see thousands of festival participants in the morning when I leave the city. It is exciting to watch how the party participants, some of them staggering and freaked out, tiredly return to cross the Danube bridge from the fortress towards the city. Somehow they look at me as interested and questioning as I look at them. Soon this mass of people has rushed past me and from then on I concentrate on the last section of the route to Belgrade. Especially the entrance to the Serbian capital is hair-raising on a two-wheeler and I almost can’t imagine doing this voluntarily. To be quite honest, it would be sensible to get on a train or bus with your bike. But the ambition to cover the entire Danube route on a bicycle negates this consideration. After being repatriated in an accident last year, I have the fondest wish to arrive safely in the city centre soon. I take a short timeout to observe the traffic and decide how best to navigate this extremely dangerous bustle. Fortunately, for the last 5 km the cycle path leads along the quiet banks of the Danube again. After crossing the Danube bridge, there is a bicycle lift. At the bottom, I am greeted by a WELCOME TO BELGRAD flag. I cheer with joy…My emotions run high. I am in the FLOW 🙂 !!!!!
