Keith's Sabbatical Blog: The Bajrakli Mosque and some thoughts from Belgrade

The view from our window in Belgrade - which contrasted starkly with the sleek, ultramodern hotel itself, Hotel Zira, on Ruzveltova (i.e. Roosevelt's) Avenue. Another major street is named for Dzhordzha Voshingtona--George Washington.

Trg Republike, one of the main squares in the city. In the background is the National Museum, closed for several years and, apparently, the foreseeable future. The museum building itself is under major (i.e. expensive) interior renovation, and is not yet capable of securely displaying the collection--the single greatest, most important, and by far the most extensive collection of historical Serbian art. You can go in and see the ground floor, but not a single painting, sculpture, or artifact. I found that appalling.

For generations, the people of Belgrade have come out for the evening promenade. The city is especially beautiful at this time of evening. We were told repeatedly that it was safe all night, and indeed we saw many people, men and women of all ages, out walking, some alone, as late as midnight, and not just in heavily trafficked areas such as this. We never saw any evidence of any street crime whatsoever.