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I slept too little, again, and woke with day 2 of a headache, not severe, just unpleasant. We walked to the neighborhood pekara (bakery) located next to the green market which wasn’t very busy. The route involved walking on a narrow street where cars parked on the sidewalk make it necessary for pedestrians to walk…

We had no trouble finding our little house in Belgrade and our host, Bora, was there to unlock the metal gate and guide Jim into the small parking space in front of the house. He and his family live next door (the 2 buildings are connected and share a mostly concrete garden space out back.…

Easter morning people trickled out to the living area at their own pace. We were served rakija and Turkish coffee (‘domača kafa’) and eventually had a breakfast of dried meats, cheeses, and a delicious ‘gibanica’  (a savory pastry filled with egg and cheeses) baked by Gligo. Ana works two jobs (language teacher, and at the…

Time is flying. We have been over here for nearly a week. I have so much to write about. I will continue with the most recent. We have had 3 Serbian language teachers in recent years. Our 3rd teacher, Ana, told us soon after we started lessons with her last summer that she would like…

It’s 6 am. I’ve been awake nearly an hour after 4+ hours of sleep. The monastery church bells are ringing. I’m surprised because I read that they don’t ring again until Easter, although there was disagreement on the internet about what Orthodox churches actually do or should do. Yesterday they didn’t ring at all until…

Walk-hike above Vrdnik Since I finally felt moderately awake and normal today we decided to take a walk above town. First Jim went to our favorite little bakery on the other side of town and brought home some pastries to go with eggs. He is once again the designated breakfast cook and I am the…

It’s 5:30 am here in Vrdnik Serbia. Roosters woke me at about 4:15 after about 6.5 hours sleep. I am still exhausted given that I did not sleep at all the night we flew, and only 4 hours the next 2 nights. Yesterday my head felt tortured because I was so tired. I don’t understand…

Jessica has Moved On  When I got home from walking in Carkeek today there was a group email from Jessica’s friend saying Jessica died last night at around 6:30. She took the death with dignity drugs and died at home with her sons Isaac and Adrian and close friends with her. The process was peaceful. …

Eve reclines on the bed pausing whatever she is doing every few minutes to cough or blow her nose. She had expected to be clearly on the mend by now but today is the worst she has felt since waking with a sore throat 5 days ago. She wonders if her two friends she saw…

I’m sitting on the balcony watching the day arrive. It was very quiet aside from morning birds until a few minutes ago when the church bells rang and a small boat began puttering its way across the water. I love hearing the robust voices of the men on the boat even from up here on…