SERBIA - National review no. 15
Prologue
Here we go again – travels, photographs, stories, and memories. Welcoming and seeing off. We are chasing you with beautiful photographs and you should definitely see them all. All our stories have concrete irrefutable examples – names, dates, photographs, and deeds. We stand up for dreams, romantics, style, but we have documentary and factography foundations. The unexpected Serbia rises in front of us, charming us, while we are passing through it every day not ever noticing her. Every step of each one of us includes the steps of generations of our ancestors and of generations of our heirs. We smile and we realize that cameras do not lie and that the beautiful face of Serbia is actually our own.
CONTENTS
Cover page
Twin Sisters
Panorama
GATHERINGS, NEW MAGAZINES, SEPARATIONS
The Beautiful Face of Serbia
PHOTOGRAPHS BY IGOR MARKOV
Visiting
THE FOURTH BIGGEST MUNICIPALITY IS CELEBRATING ITS GREAT JUBILEE
Twelve Decades of Lazar’s Town
Only 14 years have passed since coal was discovered in Vreoci, in the summer of 1889, on Vidovdan, one-half a millennium after the Battle of Kosovo. The ministry board of the Kingdom of Serbia, on the demand of citizens, allowed that the small town of Zbegovac is permanently called Lazarevac. Today, a century and a half later, it is a serious modern town, on 55 kilometres from the centre of Belgrade, famous for its big coal mine, but also for other possibilities on whose affirmation more work should be done
By: Zoran Plavšić
Photographs by: Milan Cvijetić
Pioneers
ONE HUNDRED AND SIX YEARS OF THE HYDROELECTRIC PLANT ”VUČJE”
Standing by Tesla
Under the woods of Kukavica Mountain, in the centre of the exciting canyon of Vučjanka River is the second oldest hydroelectric plant in Serbia. It was once the balance wheel of regional industry and today it is a real tourist attraction – for more than one century, ”Vučje” is constantly producing electric energy. In 2005, it became part of world heritage of electrotechnics, among 75 most important achievements (patents and objects) of the kind in the entire world
Text and photographs by: Svetlana Dingarac
Cities
EXCLUSIVELY: ”NATIONAL REVIEW” AT THE NEW ARCHEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN THE CAPITAL
Emerging of Roman Belgrade
Recently, during the works on the tram rails running by Kalemegdan, parts of a 1.800 years old Roman fortification were discovered. Based on conducted researches, the main communication routes within the city, the positions of the northeastern wall and main elements of infrastructure were determined with certainty. Numerous big questions about the attitude of present Belgrade towards the Roman one were also excavated. If this generation does not give real answers, it will already be too late for the next one
NR Press
Course
RAFTING DOWN THE DRINA THIS SUMMER, THROUGH INDESCRIBABLE BEAUTIES AND HORRORS
With the Sopur in the Sails
We sailed from the confluence of the Piva and Tara and the Drina, and then all the way to the confluence of that river and the Sava. Seven unforgettable days, 343 kilometers. All that time, the warm Drina wind called sopur followed us, and has not left us since. Before the construction of the hydroelectric power plants on the Drina, that wind created problems to the rafters in the canyon, it used to make waves on the river, stop the sailing of boats. It greeted us reconcilably, hospitable and gentle, intoxicated us only with the scent of pine trees, remedied us from horrible images
Text and photo: Aleksandar Ramovš
New Summer
RESORT AND BEACH IN GAJ ON THE DANUBE, MUNICIPALITY OF KOVIN, FROM PERSONAL UTOPIA TO DRY REALISM
Genius of Nature and Power of Culture
Yes, it is an open issue whether we really have a state or the corruption and punishment apparatus in other hands smuggled under that name. Yes, there is a doubt whether the remedy for the present staff and organization structure in Serbian tourism is dismissing or arresting. Yes, it is known who should answer why navigators from Belgrade to Tekija can load fuel only in three places, why willow groves nest dumps instead of birds, why laws are brought only to charge their non-applying, why demons of filth and selfishness are grinning below the branded smiles of politicians. However, for a long time now in this country, the thing is not to describe the situation, but have each one of us do anything one can do, what depends on him or her. And that is not little at all. Here is one example
By: Dragana Bukumirović
Notebook
HOW PEOPLE USED TO SPEND THEIR SUMMERS IN SERBIAN TOWNS IN THE FIRST DECADES OF THE 20TH CENTURY
Unforgettable Summer Promenades
Beaches on river banks and beautiful public bathrooms on pontoons; swimming marathons and excursions on boats from Kladovo to Šabac; travels to Opatija on the seaside; fashion and newspaper reports on the ”epidemics of glasses for the light”; the whistle in the night and eternal youths; refuge from war images and conquering of the heart – all of this marked the summers and the generations of the 20s and the 30s of the 20th century. It is still difficult as today, but people did not lose their enthusiasm
By: Jovan Gajić
Notebook
MORE THAN HABITS, MORE THAN PLEASURE
Meze as Identity
Tell me what are you having as meze, and I shall tell you where you come from. One cannot have meze with whiskey, which one takes at the bar. Having meze is a ritual which belongs to a different civilization. We have the Russian meze, the northern meze and the Greek meze. For example, Serbs from Central Serbia have different meze form the Serbs of the Mediterranean. Why is meze of the province and the suburbia better from meze in the town centre?
By: Momo Kapor
Islands
CUBA, ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE DESTINATIONS (2)
The Magic of Life Hidden in the Heart
Havana and its old town, through which one should pass by foot or in a carriage, was established in 1514. It was a well-protected port from which boats were set off to Spain, loaded with gold, and the town soon became the capital of the New World. In the 30’s of the 20th century, moving away from the prohibition in Cuba, the rich men of the States were settled here. They built palaces, hotels, bars, pleasure salons, and the press called Cuba an American bordello. But, for half a century now, everything is different in Cuba. Never mind your ideological views; you shall not leave this country indifferent, well-rested or empty-hearted
Text and photographs by: Mišo Vujović
Events
EUROPEAN ATHLETICS JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS IN NOVI SAD: THE SHORT HISTORY OF THE SERBIAN ”QUEEN OF SPORTS”
One Hundred Years of Success
Since 1912, when Dragutin Tomašević represented the Kingdom of Serbia on the Olympic Games in Stockholm, Serbian athletes were present on the important scene of this sport. Moreover, we always had one name among the best: the legendary Franjo Mihalić, the unmatched Artur Takač, the golden Vera Nikolić, the flying Nenad Stakić, the samurai Dragutin Topić, the uncompromising Olivera Jevtić… From July 23rd to 26th, young athletes should make their new steps, among which Ivana Španović, Tatjana Jelača, Mihajlo Dudaš…
By: Helena Duković
Host
FAST GUIDE THROUGH THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF NOVI SAD, WHERE THE EUROPEAN ATHLETICS JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP TOOK PLACE
The Irresistible Aristocratic Charm
These summer days and months, many guests will again visit the ”Serbian Athens”, especially young people and foreigners, young athletes from all around Europe. Since ”National Review” (as the media sponsor) will be in the hands of most of the latter ones, we are giving them a brief cultural and historical background of the city they will be staying in. We also remind the people of Novi Sad of the golden threads they are continuing, since this represents a great obligation
By: Djordje M. Srbulović
Camera
UNIVERSIADE 2009
Mascot
WHY SRBA THE SPARROW WON THE HEARTS OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS OF THE BELGRADE UNIVERSIADE
Password for Returning
Just to avoid any doubt: he was given space here due to connections (he and the author have the same name). Otherwise he would never be able to enter this text. Would that little guy be able to pass by all those big birds, vultures, dangerous beasts with glowing eyes?! Do you, people, watch television: beasts are fashionable again. Ok, it is true, he is so ours, every day he hangs around, lives with us, in the neighborhood. Naïve foreigners say that he is the image of our kindness and goodness, our ”local mythology”, the image of the imperfect Belgrade which they too fell in love with at first sight. Suckers! Each of them won something at the Universiade with lots of efforts; only this little one effortlessly won it all
Text: Srba Janković and NR Press
Crowns
SERBIA — THE HOMELAND OF ROMAN EMPERORS – JOVIAN (363-364)
Belgrade Man on the Throne
The son of an officer from the surroundings of the lagging Singidunum, the imperial guard with no particular education, was proclaimed to be Emperor in the middle of a diffcult battle against the Persians, when their ancestor and hero Julian got killed. The young and immature Jovian did not get to the throne but into jaws from which he never came out. The following year, he died under sudden and mysterious circumstance. He was buried in Constantinople, in a porphyry sarcophagus, with all the honors. Later on, he was deified
By: Professor Aleksandar Jovanović (Ph.D.)
Road Watchmen
SERBIAN MEDIEVAL FORTIFIED TOWNS: THE FORTRESSES OF PRIZREN
The Centre of Serbian Empire
Two fortifications, Višegrad and Prizren (Kaljaja), less than three kilometres away from each other, were used to protect the shortest road from south Adriatic to Podunavlje, but also the rich medieval town of Prizren, the town of churches and the political centre of Serbia in the 14th century
By: Vojislav Filipović
Famous Loves
PETAR I KARADJORDJEVIĆ (1844-1921) AND ZORKA PETROVIĆ (1864-1890)
Where Guilt Begins
She was eighteen and he was close to forty when they met in France. Both from the Petrović family, both from Serbian courts. She was the eldest daughter of the Montenegrin Prince Nikola, ”father in law of Europe”, and he, in exile at the time, was the descendent of Djordje, supreme leader of Serbia during the uprising and founder of the Karadjordjević dynasty. All sources indicate that they did not marry for political reasons. Nothing else can be guaranteed
By: Milena Z. Bogavac
Belvederes
PROF. DR ALISA MARIĆ, CHESS GRANDMASTER, SERBIAN CHESS LEGEND, EXCLUSIVELY FOR ”NATIONAL REVIEW”
The Self as Revelation
Belgrade girl born in New York, Kerouac-like traveler and explorer, the most successful Yugoslav worshiper of the ”ancient game”, university professor of marketing, gives us her experiences from the arenas and journeys, how she restarted learning her language and got to know the significant elements of her identity, how she discovered in herself our common patterns of the ”Serbian individuality code”, and why she, after all, feels best in the Belgrade municipality of Stari Grad
By: Maja Radonić
Peaks
150th YEARS SINCE THE BIRTH OF PAJA JOVANOVIĆ (1859-1957), ONE OF THE GREATEST SERBIAN ARTISTS OF ALL TIMES
Happy Painters Live Long
Pavle was both the voice of the heroic Balkans and one of the favorite people of the European high society. He was considered an academic realist, yet he passionately searched for the mythical and the romantic. He made a masterly synthesis of all contemporary modernisms, yet remained traditional. He was literally international, famous and popular in all continents, yet he visited the Fruška Gora monasteries on foot with Ilarion Ruvarac and remained deeply devoted to his nation. He was loved by rulers, women, the church and fate. He lived 98 years, never to die
By: Dejan Djorić
Ethno
VASILISA, BRANKICA VASIĆ, SPREADS THE POWER OF MUSICAL HERITAGE FROM KOSOVO AND METOHIJA THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
Clarity from the Bistrica River
She often used to go to Prizren, to a white stone at the site of a destroyed church and quietly, very quietly, sang. She used to go back to that stone always, even when she did not know why. At that place, at the Prizren Kaljaja, in 1991, the song ”Gora ječi” rushed out of her and she immediately wrote it down. Today she works with Goran Bregović, Paco Rabanne, Oliver Stone, Patrick Chero, but keeps the Kosovo threshold, roots and singing as the most valuable testament for which each one of us is personally responsible
By: Sladjana Ristić
Eye
DRAGOLJUB ZVICER, A PORTRAIT PAINTER FROM BELGRADE
History Comes from Within
He started painting the Serbian capital from anger, angry with those who should have taken care of that beautiful town and preserve its identity. Then, while painting it, he realized that he could intervene, construct, and arrange. ”After almost ten years, I cannot wait to reach the end: I am building, laying bricks, moving around, and it is not easy”
By: Goran Budimir
Introducing
FINALLY A SUCCESSFUL SOUVENIR PROGRAM DEDICATED TO THE SERBIAN CAPITAL
An Ode to the Capital
They truly represent the Belgrade spirit; they are creative and witty, so original and so unexpected, of highest aesthetic and graphic criteria, along with the fact that they are a very important element of mass urban culture. One can see them and buy them in ”Oda” Gallery in ”Beograđanka”
Introducing
”MERKUR” FROM VRNJAČKA SPA IS GETTING OFFICIAL VERIFICATIONS OF ITS MODERN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
The Leader of Health Tourism
The business strategy of the biggest health and tourism centre in the most important Serbian spa, with its slogan ”No boundaries between healing and pleasure”, is dedicated to the market and to its guests and it is giving great results. For only a few months, they got three prestigious acknowledgments, but above all are those given by their guests. From all visits in Vranjačka Spa during one year, one third is in the objects of Special Hospital ”Merkur”
Introducing
”REVITA” – A MISSION FOR A HEALTHY LIFE
A Royal Journey
”Altamed” Company can be proud of its quick conquering of the domestic but also of the foreign market, which is rare for Serbian companies. Its products are in homes of many Europeans, and they have reached the fifth continent, Australia. The project is called ”Revita”, made in collaboration with the Russian Academy of Science
Introducing
ROYAL ECO FOOD
Organic Food
Gastronomy
”SUNCE” RESTAURANT IN VRNJAČKA BANJA: RATATOUILLE FOR THE READERS OF ”NATIONAL REVIEW”
By Their Deeds You Shall Know Them
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