Podgorica

Managed to negotiate taxi to NoviSad Station and pay by card. Obtaining a seat reservation for the train from the lady at the ticket desk was not so easy. I smiled and said 'dobra den' and then showed her a translation of what I required on Google translate. Lots of tutting and huffing, then with a perfect take on a Mr Hitler, said 'ticket, TICKET'!
Still smiling through gritted teeth at 07.45am, I showed her the Interail pass with details. Unimpressed, she repeated her demand. Quick as a flash, out came the phone to say 'I HAVE A TICKET I ONLY WANT A SEAT RESERVATION' Lots of muttering...,'CARTE'. Then it wouldn't do contactless, so ' PIN' then demanded, at which point I enquired if that was a hat pin or a safety pin she wanted. Totally ignored me and finally provided me with a reserved seat. Really set me up for the day.😡
There were directions to every platform on that station but NOT mine!
I found a scarecrow with a railway jacket on, and he took me to the train. I thought at first he had been sleeping on the station.
The next many hours were just boring, except when a Serbian lady started talking to me. We had a conversation neither of us understood, and even using the translator didn't help. It was hugely entertaining, and many more people joined in. All Serbian! She gave me her phone number much to the amusement of all involved.
We had to change trains after 8 hours and be checked out and in at the Border. Absolute Chaos. Nobody would get off the train. Some had and were involved in a raucous argument on the platform. Man in blue uniform, hat, epaulettes, and 2 pistols got on the train. He had a date stamp in one hand a swipe machine in the other. He picked random travellers. Then suddenly there were 3 more. One more like him checking us out and the others checking us in Hilarious!
The rest of the journey, yep 3 more hours, was taken up with the scenery. The pics are not brilliant, but you get the idea. This train stops running between 16th Sept and April. It's hair-raising enough now. Would be dicing with death in winter!
Relieved to arrive, the taxi man said a card was good for payment. It was until we reached my destination. Ridiculous man kept repeating 10 dinars. I made him find an ATM and got some cash. Bleeping euros. If he had said euros, I had euros and had told him so.
Hotel weird when you get to reception. There are odd sorts of shops along the corridor, and then suddenly it opens into reception. Booked in and immediately went out to get something to eat. Didn't feel especially safe in the dark, so I kept moving fast as if I knew exactly where I was.
I am in now, watching all manner of indecipherable stuff on TV. My body still thinks it is on the train.🤭
The train was travelling at considerable height with a sheer drop most of the way on my side!!Read more