WHERE TO GO FOR LABOUR DAY Belgrade’s perfect
picnic spots International Labour Day is much more than a day off work in Serbia – it is a day to rise early, find a spot in the shade on time, and spend the entire day socialising in nature B y the time dawn breaks on 1 st May, Serbia’s parks and picnic areas have already started to fill up with fami- lies and friends wanting to celebrate Labour Day with a picnic, bar- becue and relaxed conversation. The custom of early morning gath- erings has a long tradition in Serbia. Al- ready at the beginning of the 20 th centu- ry, workers were celebrating this holiday by gathering in nature, far from the factories and the hustle and bustle of the city. That has today become a mini springtime ritual — a day when people abandon the city as early as possible and stay in nature until sunset. You don’t need much for a perfect picnic: a large blanket, a basket filled with food items that are easily shared, a flask of hot coffee and a little good mu- sic. The most important thing is to find a spot with grass, trees and a pleasant atmosphere, where you can spend the whole day enjoying nature. Avala Belgrade’s mountain offers spacious grassed areas and forest trails just 20- odd kilometres from the city. It is an ide- al location for families and friends want- ing to find a spot under tree canopies and spend the day in nature. Apart from picnics, nearby trails enable easy hikes, while nature provides a tranquil envi- ronment far from the madding crowd of the city. Apart from the natural environ- ment, located close by is a popular trail enabling easy access to monuments and
Beside the Sava and Danube New Belgrade is a perfect May Day spot thanks to its large lawned areas and proximity to water that creates a pleasant ambiance. Many arrive by bicy- cle and the day easily becomes a combi- nation of socialising, playing and light recreation, while the space is further en- riched by nature and birdsong. You will find numerous riverside spots along the Sava and Danube to sit and spread out your blankets to enjoy the sounds of children at play, numerous sporting ac- tivities and the scents of the river. Zvezdara Forest Zvezdara Forest is an excellent choice for those wanting to experience nature while remaining in the city. For- est trails, clearings and landscaped pic- nic areas allow for blankets, barbecues and board games. This large forest pro- vides a sense of privacy, while its prox- imity to the city centre ensures that you can quickly arrive in nature. This makes it the perfect destination for a relaxed May Day with family or friends. Belgrade is, of course, home to many forests – the Banjica forest was once known as Tito’s Grove, while it is today called Byford’s Forest, because it was thanks to the late Timothy John Byford that it was declared a natural treasure and placed under state protec- tion as a monument of nature. Some of its trails lead to the magical Banji- ca Stream, which springs on the south- ern side of the forest, and the entire forest is beloved by everyone who re- ally wants to escape the crowds, cafés, sports fields etc. There is also Bojčin Forest, which is also under state pro- tection as a natural and memorial monument. Dominated by the English oak, its trees still remember World War I. Choose the destination that’s dear- est to you...
smaller observation points, so an excur- sion here can easily combine relaxation and a short adventure. The most leisure- ly stroll on Avala becomes an unpre- dictable adventure if you are aware that the mountain is home to many medici- nal and rare plant species; that there are eight mountain springs of pure potable water; that the unique blue-green min- eral avalite was discovered on Avala; that its trees preserve the truth of numer- ous legends, one of which claims that Ja- son and his Argonauts visited Avala on their quest for the Golden Fleece. You are awaited at the top by an unforgetta- ble view of Belgrade, but also a picnic in beauty that you won’t forget. Ada Ciganlija The so-called “Belgrade Seaside” is a popular spot for urban picnics. Large lawned areas beside the river enable so- cialising in a chilled atmosphere, while the lakeside cafés and kiosks are on hand if you forget to bring something. Sport- ing activities and outdoor play provide for a day of even more fun, while the river and trees provide a natural spring break setting. The River Sava embraces the riv- er island of Ada Međica, located practi- cally in the middle of the city, while the Danube laps the banks of Great War Is- land, Gročanska and Višnjička ada. Their shared ward is Little War Island, occu- pying the confluence, while the Serbian capital also has its own peninsula: Ada Huja, which was connected to the main- land during the last century with the cre- ation of an earthen embankment. Still, the most popular spot of all remains Ada Ciganlija, a favourite destination for all those wanting to feel as though they’ve wandered into an area of pristine nature without leaving the city. This is undoubt- edly the ideal place to enjoy Labour Day for those who don’t want to be alone.
Belgrade » Beograd | 81
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