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Hi I'm Laura Alexandra and welcome to Serbia.
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I'm exploring this beautiful European country and discovering its rich history,
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unique culture and of course its modern-day offerings.
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Last time I left the capital Belgrade and began a journey following an ancient Roman cultural trail.
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By river or by land I've certainly discovered that Serbia has an incredible history,
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and I know I have much more ahead.
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The trail has taken me to the city of Niš where my adventure continues.
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Niš is the third largest city in southern Serbia. It's a lively university city with cafes, bars, restaurants,
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galleries and even a park here as well.
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It dates back to the Neolithic period and it's the birthplace of the Roman Emperor Constantine.
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But not only is it steeped in history and culture, it's also the adventure capital of Serbia.
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There’s loads to find out about this place, so let's delve into its dramatic past.
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As dramatic past go it's tough to beat the remnants of Nazi occupied Serbia,
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and a concentration camp in the city is certainly a harrowing sight
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I've brought you here to a Niš concentration camp because
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it represents the most important part of our history during the Second World War.
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Many people suffered and died here, more than 12,000 were killed in the nearby Bubanj Hill,
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and the rest were sent to Auschwitz, Mauthausen Dachau and north of Norway.
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More than 30,000 people passed through this camp, almost all Jewish population of Niš was exterminated,
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370 people. Even 12,000 Serbs were taken out from their homes,
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put here and afterwards transported to the nearby execution place called Bubanj Hill.
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The rest of the people were transported to Auschwitz, Mauthausen, Dachau and other camps in Reich
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What's different about this camp is that almost nothing has been changed, apart from wall paint
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Yeah
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and drainage system. Everything is authentically original, like from 1944, and we on purpose left this like
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in original state, just to show people what life is like in a concentration camp without any altering or changing.
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Should we go inside the concentration camp itself?
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yes
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The grounds are very bleak and as I enter the building, the concrete walls certainly get the emotions going.
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Germans destroyed most of the evidence of their atrocities, very few photographs and documents
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remain but here we can see the magnified photo of the commander of the camp, Werner Schultz.
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He was nicknamed ‘Man with Stick’ because his specialty was to kill a person with one blow of his stick.
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He also had a trained German Shepherds attack dogs who attacked and bite flesh, human flesh.
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And how about all this stuff here? What’s all this?
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Everything is authentic even the paint on the window
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put by the Germans to prevent prisoners to see what's happening outside.
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Wow and what kind of letters have we got here then?
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We have a different German orders for arrests of civilians here in Niš
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and what particular reason did they give for the arrest?
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There was not a reason for arresting people because the Serbs organized massive resistance against the
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Germans, and also first towns and villages in Europe were liberated here in Serbia. From that even in 1941
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and that's why Hitler ordered we should be treated harshly here
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and Germans had many excuses to do that.
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He looks like a pretty despicable man, but let's see
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what else is in the other rooms and what else he's responsible for?
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let's go
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So where are we going to now? What's this?
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This is one of rooms where Germans kept more than 200 people at the same time packed like sardines
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200 in this space?
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Yes not very sanitary situation they had a few buckets to go to the bathroom and during the winter just one
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layer of clothes so many were freezing to death.
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So they died even before they reached the execution place out of starvation, malnutrition.
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And in terms of what we can actually see around here.
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There's writings on the wall there's even blood isn't there?
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Yes bloodstained writings on the wall; those are writings put there by prisoners.
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Most of the writings are notes to their families, dates when they were arrested and things like that.
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Well let's move on to another part see what else we can see.
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This is the room where Germans kept separately women and children
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and yes, women and children were also arrested here in Niš, even pregnant women.
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So those pregnant women were giving birth here at the concentration camp?
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Yes in this very room
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So what would happen to them because they were starving? Would they have enough milk for the baby?
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No they would have no breast milk so the baby starved actually, as well as their mothers.
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So the babies would be starving to death?
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and where would the babies be sleeping?
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This is one example of the crib where, that was used by the, those mothers to keep their babies.
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But often they didn't have any bed, you know to put their babies in.
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The museum here is very solemn, and with every room and each piece on display
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is as if they were whispering stories of the suffering that was endured here.
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This is a place where Germans put the fighters of the resistance groups and political activists who fought
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against the German occupation, both Royalists and Communists.
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And what can we actually find in some of these cells?
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Are they just empty cells? Is there something else in there?
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One very horrific invention so-called ‘Carpet made out of Barbed Wire’.
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No one survived those cells without shoes, without clothes proper clothes, you can stand for a while
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but after a while and you’re exhausted, fell down and you bleed to death.
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And there's also other forms of torture, because this is almost like a torture chamber isn't it?
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When people came up to the third floor, that was it wasn't it? They were coming here to die?
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That was it for them yes, but this was not the end.
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Before their gruesome death they were tortured in different ways for example, we have another cell
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with a hatch where the Germans put several people.
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They block the airflow and people were suffocated to death.
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Sometimes when officers are in the mood they suddenly opened the airflow, the hatch, so prisoners,
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for a short period of time, come back to life. And then after that they torture them again,
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they block the air and they finally die here.
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So they were sort of playing God at that point?
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Of course, they're playing God, they decided the life and death of numerous people's.
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Marko, thank you so much. This has definitely been a real sombre experience, but anybody that's in Niš
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definitely needs to come here and show their respects. Thank you so, so much.
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Thank You Laura for visiting.
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This has certainly had a deep impact on me. Let us hope history never forgets.
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Time to change the pace and get out into the open and fortunately there is something nearby that can get
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my mind of those deeper thoughts.
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Of course people come to Niš for the culture, but it's also the adventure capital of Serbia.
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People come here for loads of things paragliding, rock climbing, white-water rafting
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and today I'm going mountain biking.
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This is so good.
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Actually mountain biking is so, so hard but it's really rewarding around here because it's so beautiful,
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but I found myself a friend, Ivana you look very professional,
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tell us a little bit about the park we're in right now?
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Oh thank you, you found me on my favourite place to ride bicycle.
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We are in Niš Cabana and these are one of the trails we use for races in highest ranked this was a course for
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national championships so you pick up a good one.
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Wow and we've just done a couple of the trails, but you yourself this isn't your first time biking at all is it?
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Oh, oh no of course not I'm all the time here. I do my technical trainings here maybe twice a week
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so I know all these trails you found the right person to show you.
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And the wonderful thing about you as well you know, if a tourist actually came here they can get taken out
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by professional like you can't they?
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Yes of course people all the time ask me on Instagram and Facebook to show them Niš,
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and routes here in Niš so I do that.
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And I think the other thing as well is the fact that you know, we've got our bikes here, we've worked so hard,
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we've come all the way up, we've gone through the trails and now it's a nice rewarding bit.
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So are you ok to guide me back down is that okay?
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Oh yes of course.
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Excellent
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Let's go
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This is quite a hill actually, I’m just gonna get used to the gears right so let's go
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yeah that's easier a little easier to cycle now.
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I'm an expert
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I don't think so I think I'll just go down this way it's much easier.
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I'm exploring the cultural offerings of the city of Niš, which certainly seems to have had a trouble past.
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In the centre of the city is a monument known as Skull Tower.
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It was built in 1809 by the Turks during their occupation and was constructed using the heads of over 900
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Serbian rebels. Today there are only 50 still visible but it makes for quite a gruesome sight.
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The Turkish occupation did bring some positives.
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Serbian cuisine has a strong Turkish influence and any chef will tell you that it's all down to the ingredients.
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My guide Marco has decided to reveal to me the secrets of that wonderful taste.
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A lot of the food in Serbia is organic so where better to come and see it and taste it, than Marco's local market.
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Where are we?
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We are very close to the centre of the city, between the fortress and the main bus stop,
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so I suggest that we look around.
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And are these typical Serbian fruits here as well, cherries?
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Delicious, organic, not treated with any chemicals, cherries. Best in the world.
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They look lovely but also over here we can see people shopping for vegetables as well,
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what are typical Serbian vegetables?
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Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, garlic, anything you can choose and imagine off
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And they do look so tasty I'll be honest, since I've been here in Serbia, I've actually noticed the difference with
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these tomatoes they actually taste totally different to the ones back home for me.
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Maybe for the first time in your life you will really taste the real tomato and the real vegetable here in Serbia,
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and find out what is the taste of a real tomato.
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I love that and just to point out the sort of prices here,
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so it's around about 135 Dinars to the pound, something like that.
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So I've just looked at the prices for the tomatoes, so you can actually get a kilo of tomatoes for just
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over a pound. Is that why you know you don't particularly use them tinned you know,
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you're cooking from fresh?
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Yes it's very food is very cheap here so everyone can enjoy a lot of healthy vegetables here.
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and a lot of the food that you're gonna find in the local restaurants,
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that's also going to be from these markets isn't it? Very organically cooked?
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Correct, correct, not only vegetables and fruits but also animals
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Well you know what? It's getting very busy in the market so
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I think we're gonna go and explore a little bit more, let's go.
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So look at these potatoes here? I mean they just look so fresh and so yummy and like
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they've just literally been picked.
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Of course yes, they're freshly picked
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And again look at that price. Around about 80 pence, back at home for me anyway,
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these are really interesting as well are these chilli’s or peppers?
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Yes they are peppers. Some are very hot some are not for everyone's taste
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Very interesting colours really like that you wouldn't get those at home
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I mean you can really feel the atmosphere here, the hustle and the bustle,
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there's absolutely everything you can imagine happening here.
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This is one specialty here in Serbia and the translation is Wild Garlic.
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Wild Garlic?
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So-called domestic garlic and this is Wild Garlic
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I've actually never seen this
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Taste, yes I know, taste is the same as this one
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Really
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Yes but you pick that on the slopes of the mountains and hills special places it's very healthy.
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and hills special places it's very
healthy
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but you know what Marco I think we've got so much more to explore,
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should we go and see what else there is to do in Niš?
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Let's go and do it
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Let's go
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Laura I brought you here to the Fortress, this is the jewel in the crown of Niš. Let's go and explore
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Let’s go
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Built in the early 18th century Niš fortress is a cultural property of great importance.
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It holds regular events and is a great place to just unwind from the city.
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Can you tell me a little bit about the fortress?
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It is the best-preserved fortress in the centre of the Balkan Peninsula,
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and very rare occasion where the centre of the city hasn't been changed for 2,000 years.
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Romans came here in the 1st century AD and they build their city called Naissus.
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After that, in the Middle Ages, Serbs had the biggest city in medieval Serbia called Niš
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and during the Ottoman occupation Turks added Turkish fortress in the 18th century.
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It covers 22 hectares and walls are 8 meters high, 3 meters wide
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and it is testimony of rich history and archaeology here in the Nišava valley.
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Now if I was here, I think I would come up here to get away from it all apart from anything else
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it's beautiful and you can see so much from around it.
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The mountains, the actual city of Niš itself and you know,
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all of this bird's-eye view of the actual fortress is that something that you would do to come up here?
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Every time I can do it, I do it, because it's a little bit different temperature from the buildings
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and all the concrete and steel there. We have a wind here too, lots of trees, a beautiful park,
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you can relax here in the centre of the city and be out of all the noise
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I also hear there's a significant monument around here as well is that right?
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Yes that is the monument dedicated to our King Milan Obrenovic,
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who liberated the city after four centuries of Turkish rule.
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Wow can we go and see it?
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Yes of course
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Excellent let's go
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let's go
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I brought you here to this very important monument, some locals joke and call it lipstick monument,
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but it’s not a lipstick.
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I can see why
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Yeah actually it's bullet and around the bullet are cannonballs. The symbolism and that the Serbs always
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had to fight for freedom with weapons against the enemy and it's dedicated to King Milan,
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it says Milan Obrenovic the Prince of Serbia liberated Niš 28th of December 1877.
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and you see the year 1877 it is according to Julius Caesar calendar, followed by Serbian Orthodox Church
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and in modern calendar it is 1878 actually.
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and tell me about King Milan as well?
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As he was very important, first of all, historic figure who liberated southern Serbia from Turkish rule.
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But he has also rich, private life. One of the biggest Playboy's in 19th century Europe and he has many
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mistresses throughout the Europe. But one of his many lovers was a British lady American-born Jennie Jerome
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and she refers to him in her diaries.
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And what does this actually mean to Serbs themselves?
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It marks the end of the dark period of Serbian history, we call it slavery under the Turkish occupation,
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for centuries of slavery and the beginning of a new era of freedom in independent Serbia.
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Really interesting, really significant as well, but there's so much more to see in the fortress.
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Can we go and take a look at some more things?
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Let's go
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One of the best ways to see the fortress is by train and as it's fun as well isn't it?
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Yes of course, not only for children but for grown ups.
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This looks like a secret passage
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History is full of mystery and, and enigma and indeed under our feet everywhere all over the park
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there is a Roman city hidden from view.
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But underneath are different passages, different tunnels and building structures
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that inspired many locals to talk about those tunnels.
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And we're in the entrance to what could be one of those tunnels right now?
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Of course, of course
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And what where they used for?
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Actually underneath is a Roman city the regular streets, regular buildings,
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but gradually covered by the dirt by the dust.
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So underneath are you can call it new Pompeii,
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Wow!
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Still undiscovered, only few buildings are presented.
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This is a collection of ancient Roman tombstones
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this was not the cemetery but two tombstones were brought here.
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And all this is 2,000 years old, the youngest 15 centuries old.
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And what is important we can read here Gentille, and that means the persons who are buried here are not
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of Latin origin, but natives who had a Roman citizenship.
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Actually those Roman Emperors, who were born here in Serbia, are all natives from Illyrian and Thracian origin,
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not Latin from Italy.
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And there's carvings of three of them up there, does that mean there's a family here?
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Of course there are family tombstones, individual ones.
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Mostly from noble families who could afford these kind of tombstones.
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And what else can you find around here?
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We can see actual layers of different archaeological and historical periods,
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from the Roman time, Byzantine, Serbian and Ottoman on top of it.
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And talking of archaeology, I've heard there's a Mosque around here can we actually go and see it?
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let's go
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okay
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So Marco we're at the mosque can you explain a little bit more?
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The Mosque is from the sixteenth century,
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built by Bali-bey during the period of Sultan Suleiman, Turkish Ottoman ruler.
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But under the mosque there are layers of previous buildings from earlier periods.
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Turks first they destroyed the Orthodox Church in the 14th century and the city was all in ruins,
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but later they built this Mosque and they used also Roman material.
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You see those bricks? Red, thin bricks?
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Those are 17th century old bricks from the late 3rd in the beginning of the 4th century
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very durable and well built. Under the mosque you will see so-called Byzantine streets and different
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styles overlapping from the 6th century, the 12th century,
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structures from made by architects of Justinian the first famous Byzantine ruler.
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Marco this has been an amazing journey for me. I've loved learning about the history, the culture and what a
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great place to end here at the mosque as well, the fortress.
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Thank you so much for showing me Niš.
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Pleasure was all mine.
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It’s certainly been a memorable time here in Niš, now though it's time to hit the road and discover more.
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I've just left the city of Niš and I'm continuing south to find a town known for relaxation.
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But of course I had to stop off on the way to investigate an area of outstanding beauty
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with a very curious name.
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I'm here in Devil's Town, a geological wonderland. It's full of mysterious rock formations,
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how the rocks came to be here and shaped the way they are is shrouded in myth and legends.
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I'm going to find our tour guide Slavica to find out more.
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Hi, are you Slavica?
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Hi I am
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Nice to meet you, thank you, tell me a little bit about Devils Town then?
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Well you are in protected area of Devil's Town, one of the most famous places as a natural phenomenon
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as touristic places in the south of Serbia.
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In 2009 we were in competition for new Seven Wonders of the World and we came in shortlisted.
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That's really good. Well listen, I want to explore more I've heard there's loads to look at so shall we go?
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Yeah, you're almost welcome, please.
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It's a reasonable 500-meter walk through a picturesque forest to get to the rock formations.
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Luckily there is plenty to see on your way.
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We should we should stop here
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okay
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Because we're near behind the Saxon mines, and they’re original, they are from 13th century.
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Wow!
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And in 13th century, our Great King Uroš, brought miners from Germany, from area Airedale,
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to dig iron ore here. Also in that time except the iron, they found gold and silver and we found the data
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saying that, for example, from the iron ore they made, they made weapons and from gold and silver they
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make coins and jewellery. So it was very a popular place in that time.
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I can imagine and what about this hole we can just see behind us, would people have actually gone in that?
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Yeah it's, it's amazing, for example these holes today are more similar to bear caves than to the well
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known mines of today time, but for example they are about approximately 800 meters deep
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Wow
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in the mountain so imagine that you as a miner get into the mountain with the ore or and of course risk your life
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Yeah so you're risking you're life going in there
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of course
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To get the water out and you might not ever come back out
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Yeah there are, there were a lot of cases of the miners entering the mountain and never coming back.
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and the noticed that the river is a particular colour that's running through you know it's got a sort of
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red-y, orange-y is there a reason for that?
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Yeah because, because the whole area especially the Mountain Dragon, which is nearby,
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is very rich today with iron ore. Because of the oxidation, this colour is very, very specific.
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That's why it looks like that.
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Not the prettiest water colour I've ever seen, but then, it does add mystery to the name Devil's town.
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Absolutely beautiful the scenery around here, do you know what?
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This looks like a really good resting point actually.
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Yes, yes we can we can have a seat and a little bit rest here because, to Devil’s Town we have
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approximately additional 500 meters and as you can see the untouched nature,
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is something, which is also unique for this place.
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Beautiful
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You really do feel lost in nature while you're here and the rest points are useful to take in a moment
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before continuing on.
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It's so quiet and peaceful that even the occasional snake in the grass is enough to turn you away.
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Oh the Red Well that sounds pretty interesting
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Yes, because Devils Town is not only famous because its figures but also with two extremely acidic springs
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of the water with high mineralization because for example, the red spring its pH value is 3.5
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Oh that’s low.
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Yes, but we have the worst one yes? And that's the spring of Devil's Water in the centre Devil’s Town
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and its pH value is 1.5, so we compared that water with literally acidic acid.
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9 kilometres from here we have prolab water, which is extremely soft water 9.5, and also very rare in the world
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because for example it's categorized as a water of youth.
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This water is the extreme opposite of the town water so in a very small space
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we have two very different types of water.
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Yeah and is this quite rare to have a 3.5 pH sort of stream here as well?
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Yes for example in the world there are also five similar springs.
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Oh okay so not many at all
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Yeah, three in Russia, two in Italy and these one in Devils Town.
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I do enjoy a good forest walk and it's quite free of obstacles to make the journey easy for visitors.
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With not much further to go, you can start to see the face of Radan Mountain where the rock formations live
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It's certainly high up.
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Wow and these stairs are going to take us to hopefully a really exciting point aren't they?
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Is this the best view point then? Of Devil's Town?
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Well by this stairs we will arrive to the central platform and to the centre of Devil's Town.
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Wow.
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More stairs
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Oh we must be nearly there now mustn't we?
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Yeah we just passed by fifty steps so
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So we've climbed up over two hundred steps and we’re six hundred meters up in the air just about now,
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but my goodness this view is so impressive it's well worth it isn't it?
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Yes, now we're on central platform in Devils town so literally we are in centre of natural phenomenon
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and in front of us you can see the mountain Radan, which is 30 million years old.
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30 million?
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Yeah but that was not the main reason that we came here let me show you something else.
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This is the main reason why we came in Devils Town, these figures are the essence of the natural
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phenomenon. They are 202, there are different tribe, shape and size, they are from 0.5 to 3 meters in width
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and from 50 centimetres to 15 meters in height . Most of them as you can see, has those rock hats.
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The scientists have an explanation on how these figures are here. By very slow erosion process,
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they are made from clay, from volcanic rocks and lime stones and unfortunately even today we don't know
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how old they are. But we find documents that even in with Bizantique, Roman and even in the time of Turkish
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slavery, the figures were on this place.
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But again the scientists said one thing and the people through history and even today say it's something else.
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The legend says that the devil came here and that he found the villagers that truly believed in God.
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So he got the idea to give them the spring of Devil's Water. They drink that water and get the idea to get
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married, brother and sister.
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Wow.
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The fairy, which lived on Mountain Radan, started to pray to God to stop the marriage. He heard her praise
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and transform all wedding guests with the bride and the groom into these figure today because for example,
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a lot of people truly believe that the hats on the top of these figures are literally the human hats and that the
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body of the figure is a human body. Even when it's raining for example there are a lot of red springs
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because of the iron, that I mentioned to you, and those springs are very red and for example some people
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believe that the wedding guests are bleeding because of their sin.
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My journey has been incredible so far is there anything else to see?
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Yes of course I have one more spot to show you.
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Ok let's go.
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This looks like a church what on earth is it doing in the middle of Devils Town?
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Yes, when we started the whole project of Devils Town, this was the place of the remains of the old church
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from 5th Century and we also wanted to rebuild it, so we started the project with the church, this is the
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church of St. Mother's of God, so there is a legend that one of the villagers had a great sadness
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and the people said that he has the devil on his neck, on his back.
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Yeah
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And he came here during the night and started to pray to God. The devil, afraid and started to run away
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and the legend says wherever he put his foot, there on a great rock, there is a hat on the figure of Devil's Town,
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to thank to God that villager built the church on this place, so even today we have a lot of tourists, a lot of
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guests that come here pray to God in belief that all their problems, or all their, their Devils that are walking
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around them, will live in Devil's Town and that they will walk from this place happily.
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And there's some candles just over here as well what are they for?
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Yes in our Orthodox religion we put the candles, the candles the first level is for the living for the good
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health, and the second level is for, the for the death.
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And what about this tree over here? Can we have a look at what this is?
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Yes, when we started to rebuild the church, in the middle of the church was very big tree and the people
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came here, even in those remains, to pray to God and they put their wishes or their problems connected with
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the branches of that tree. But unfortunately when we started the rebuilding of the church we needed to cut
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the tree, but the branches we left and even today people do the same thing like years, years ago so,
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if you like you can do the same thing?
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Wow so do I need to write anything down or just think about it?
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Yeah you can think about it and put it over there.
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Okay do I have to tie it anywhere in particular or?
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No you can you can put this wherever you want
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So this is my little wish hopefully it comes true.
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This has been such an incredible journey thank you so much for showing me around
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Thank you Laura, I hope I see you again
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Having left Devil's town I continued south, it's late and time for some food before a big day tomorrow.
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After a really busy day there's nothing better to do than, come to a traditional Serbian restaurant and have some
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really tasty food. After all I've got some pretty hard work tomorrow. I'm going to spa.
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The quality of the food in Serbia is just outstanding, combined with value for money and a great atmosphere
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eating out is a joy.
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It's been quite an unexpected journey but I finally arrived at the town I've been looking forward to.
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Time for some pampering I think .
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I'm here at Vrnjci Spa it's a famous royal spa town in western Serbia. In fact it dates back to
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King Alexander the First, the spa that I'm about to go into from the 1930s.
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It's called Rimski spa and quite frankly, if it was good enough for him it's good enough for me.
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So let's go inside and check out the treatments.
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Rimski spa is a major attraction here and brings thousands of tourists every year
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all looking for something very particular.
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The water here comes direct from local natural springs and supposedly has healing properties
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for all kinds of ailments.
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As a result this area has been known as a natural place of healing for centuries.
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Before I get wet though I'm going to relax with some massage therapy.
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Rimski spa is very much a full Wellness Centre with all kinds of herbal remedies,
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lotions and skills designed to make you feel amazing.
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Before long I was ready for those magical waters even if I am feeling fine.
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I've got to be honest the water does feel great but there's a very interesting smell in the air
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must be this miracle water.
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Of course the pool isn't really designed for swimming lengths in, but then its purpose is healing
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and its reputation stands out in that regard.
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I'm loving this whole experience and I totally recommend coming here if you're in the area.
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Go on pamper yourself.
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Fully relaxed it's time to meet my guide who's going to show me around the town.
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Hi I'm Laura, nice to meet you.
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Hello, I'm Boyanna, nice to meet you.
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So tell me a little bit about Vrnjci Spa?
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So Vrnjci Spa is one of the most popular tourist the places here in Serbia.
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So it's a combination of traditional things and modern things.
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So there is there is a big legacy that was left from Romans, back in time, so we are trying to combine
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those traditional things with new modern things. So we can make a unique service
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that we can give to our visitors.
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And let's talk about, more about the Roman times, so you've actually got things from the Romans here?
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Yes, yes many, many years since centuries ago the Romans were very important part of this part of Serbia,
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especially Vrnjačka Banja. So they were, they found some coins and after founding those coins,
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they also found hot mineral water. So based on those water 4 mineral springs were later found and that
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mineral water has a lot of benefits for human health. So that is the most important thing in this town that is
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used in also health issues and also in some cosmetic procedures and there is a wide range of uses of that.
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Tell me a little bit about the healing properties you mentioned before?
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Yes, so there are 4 mineral springs, each of them has some benefits for help. For example I would mention
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that one of the mineral springs those waters are very beneficial for, for example eyes, problems with eyes.
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Also the other one those waters are very good for kidney problems.
436
00:38:55,360 --> 00:39:00,880
and in terms of this town what else is there to see apart from the Roman baths?
437
00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:06,780
So these parks where we are now, it is the very important part of this town.
438
00:39:06,780 --> 00:39:14,080
Tourists love to go to walk along these areas. So I would also mention Castle Belimarkovic
439
00:39:14,080 --> 00:39:18,760
that was also summer residency of a King Alexander the First.
440
00:39:18,760 --> 00:39:25,940
So it is in traditional style it has all, it always has some exhibitions with traditional things,
441
00:39:25,940 --> 00:39:29,620
so it is also very nice place to visit when you come here.
442
00:39:29,620 --> 00:39:35,360
I would also mention our surroundings in Vrnjačka Banja, because the position of Vrnjačka Banja is very
443
00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:40,560
good, it's very close to many Orthodox monasteries that are very near us.
444
00:39:40,560 --> 00:39:46,600
Also the mountain Goč is maybe twelve, twelve kilometres away from here so it's very close.
445
00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:55,780
So many our tourists go on trips to monasteries, to mountains, there is I think something for everyone.
446
00:39:55,780 --> 00:40:00,680
There's loads to do by the sounds of it so, can we get exploring and go off and see more of the town?
447
00:40:00,680 --> 00:40:01,480
yes
448
00:40:01,480 --> 00:40:02,420
let's go
449
00:40:08,240 --> 00:40:12,760
It's so peaceful here nobody really seems in a hurry, which is really nice.
450
00:40:12,760 --> 00:40:16,640
Boyanna talks of a romantic spot nearby that is a must-see
451
00:40:16,640 --> 00:40:20,320
and has even had poetry written about it. Sounds lovely.
452
00:40:24,480 --> 00:40:26,420
Welcome to the bridge of love
453
00:40:26,420 --> 00:40:29,500
Thank you, what is this bridge all about?
454
00:40:29,500 --> 00:40:36,000
Well this bridge is one very interesting place here in this town. So as you can see there are many padlocks here,
455
00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:41,920
locked on this bridge and the meaning of that is one very interesting love story
456
00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:51,680
about two people from this town. Their names were Raya and Nada and it was around the First World War,
457
00:40:51,680 --> 00:40:59,040
so he had to go to war, he left to Greece and stayed there for a few years.
458
00:40:59,040 --> 00:41:06,720
So after a couple of years she heard, she got the news that he found some Greek woman and that
459
00:41:06,720 --> 00:41:08,640
he got married with her.
460
00:41:08,640 --> 00:41:09,760
Ohno!
461
00:41:09,760 --> 00:41:18,720
So that really broke her heart so after that she died of sadness because she was very sad he found another
462
00:41:18,720 --> 00:41:23,040
girl, and after that the tradition started.
463
00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:30,400
Every couple that came here in this town started putting padlocks on this bridge and locking their love.
464
00:41:30,400 --> 00:41:40,960
After that they would throw the keys in the river, in that way they tried to keep their love alive and to prevent
465
00:41:40,960 --> 00:41:43,520
that what happened to Nada and Raya.
466
00:41:43,520 --> 00:41:49,860
This is the place that many tourists visit when they come here so I would give you this little present.
467
00:41:49,860 --> 00:41:51,540
Well thank you.
468
00:41:51,540 --> 00:41:54,020
So you can lock your love.
469
00:41:54,020 --> 00:41:56,000
So what do I do literally attach it to one of these?
470
00:41:56,000 --> 00:41:59,600
Yes, you attach it to one of these and put the keys in the river
471
00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:01,560
Let's do it then, I’ll attach it to this one
472
00:42:04,220 --> 00:42:04,840
Brilliant
473
00:42:08,660 --> 00:42:14,500
I'm continuing my journey of Western Serbia and it's brought me to this point, Žiča Monastery.
474
00:42:14,500 --> 00:42:19,840
In fact I feel so lucky because apparently we've got a nun who's happy to speak to us,
475
00:42:19,840 --> 00:42:23,500
and she speaks English as well, so let's go inside and find out more.
476
00:42:24,720 --> 00:42:29,880
Serbia does have a lot of monasteries, which makes sense, as their faith is very important here.
477
00:42:29,880 --> 00:42:33,460
Like this one they are all really well kept and stunning to see.
478
00:42:33,900 --> 00:42:34,920
Hi I am Laura
479
00:42:34,920 --> 00:42:38,340
I'm sister Patricia welcome to Monastery Žiča.
480
00:42:38,340 --> 00:42:43,240
Thank you so much, it looks so old and interesting this place can you tell us a little bit about it?
481
00:42:43,240 --> 00:42:51,520
Yes this monastery was built in the beginning of the 13th century. Founder of this monastery is our first
482
00:42:51,520 --> 00:42:55,280
crowned king Saint Stephen First crowned.
483
00:42:55,280 --> 00:43:05,760
He was crowned here in the 1221 and in that time his youngest, younger brother Saint Sava, was archbishop
484
00:43:05,760 --> 00:43:10,660
here because this was seat of our church in that period.
485
00:43:10,660 --> 00:43:12,280
So lots of history going on here
486
00:43:12,280 --> 00:43:12,980
Yeah
487
00:43:12,980 --> 00:43:15,080
well if it's okay with you I'd love to see inside?
488
00:43:15,080 --> 00:43:16,360
yes, yes, yes.
489
00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:16,960
Should we go?
490
00:43:16,960 --> 00:43:17,540
Yes
491
00:43:25,480 --> 00:43:30,540
This is so peaceful and it's so beautiful as well around here
492
00:43:30,540 --> 00:43:37,980
Yes but this is new part of our church because church was bombed in the big beginning of the Second World
493
00:43:37,980 --> 00:43:48,820
War in 1941. Germans bombed the church with the six airplanes and destroyed our library with the
494
00:43:48,820 --> 00:43:52,980
58 thousand books and some parts of church.
495
00:43:52,980 --> 00:43:58,700
This is one of those parts but I show you older part of our church.
496
00:43:58,700 --> 00:44:00,940
oh wow okay
497
00:44:07,180 --> 00:44:08,800
So where are we now?
498
00:44:08,800 --> 00:44:13,280
We are in narthex, this is the old part of our church.
499
00:44:13,280 --> 00:44:17,680
The frescoes that you see are from the beginning of the 14th century
500
00:44:17,680 --> 00:44:18,820
Wow.
501
00:44:19,380 --> 00:44:21,120
And they're very, very I mean,
502
00:44:21,120 --> 00:44:24,500
the fact that they're from so long ago they're actually in quite good condition aren't they?
503
00:44:24,500 --> 00:44:25,120
Yes, yes
504
00:44:25,120 --> 00:44:26,480
For being that old as well
505
00:44:26,480 --> 00:44:28,680
Eight, eight, eight centuries yeah
506
00:44:28,680 --> 00:44:33,760
And in terms of the decoration around here what have we got above us?
507
00:44:33,760 --> 00:44:42,960
This is the oreos and polyeleos, in some part of services we light candles and move
508
00:44:42,960 --> 00:44:44,300
Spin around
509
00:44:44,300 --> 00:44:45,620
Yes, yes
510
00:44:45,620 --> 00:44:51,120
It seems that there's lots of animation here as well, also tell us a bit about these?
511
00:44:51,120 --> 00:45:01,380
This is iconostasis and this is the work of our sisters. Our sisters painted disciples and as you said,
512
00:45:01,380 --> 00:45:10,940
this is all the technique of painting icons with the natural pigments and the gold
513
00:45:12,080 --> 00:45:12,780
Gold leaf?
514
00:45:12,780 --> 00:45:13,900
Yes gold leaf.
515
00:45:13,900 --> 00:45:15,900
And who have we got here?
516
00:45:15,900 --> 00:45:19,200
This is Virgin Mary with the Jesus Christ.
517
00:45:19,200 --> 00:45:27,260
This is angel, Archangel Gabriel and Virgin Mary and this is our Lord Jesus Christ
518
00:45:27,600 --> 00:45:32,620
It's really nice and obviously there's a very nice environment in here, very peaceful environment as well.
519
00:45:32,620 --> 00:45:38,800
And in terms of people, tourists coming along to your services, is it quite welcoming?
520
00:45:38,800 --> 00:45:41,800
Are people nice to you when you come along? It's not scary?
521
00:45:41,800 --> 00:45:49,060
Some of them are scary and they stay outside and
522
00:45:49,060 --> 00:45:49,780
Have a look?
523
00:45:49,780 --> 00:45:50,640
Yes, have a look
524
00:45:50,640 --> 00:45:52,320
Oh so they’re a bit scared at first
525
00:45:52,320 --> 00:45:52,820
Yes
526
00:45:52,820 --> 00:45:54,900
But then they're happy to come in because you're so welcoming to them.
527
00:45:54,900 --> 00:45:55,860
Yes, yes
528
00:45:56,100 --> 00:46:00,460
Well there's some lovely things around here like I said it's very, very ornate as well,
529
00:46:00,460 --> 00:46:04,820
and thank you so much because it's such an honour that you would actually be
530
00:46:04,820 --> 00:46:07,860
able to take the time to speak to us so thank you Patricia.
531
00:46:07,860 --> 00:46:12,200
Thank you and you're welcome to come again if, if you want
532
00:46:12,200 --> 00:46:12,700
I will
533
00:46:16,400 --> 00:46:18,060
Next time on Serbia Old and New.
534
00:46:19,100 --> 00:46:23,520
I experience another one of Serbia's cultural delights and have a go myself.
535
00:46:25,220 --> 00:46:29,340
And I'm off to the mountains for some action, adventure and further sight spotting.
536
00:46:29,940 --> 00:46:31,500
See you next time
55008
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