After just two hours of sleep, Christine took me to the airport as my flight was at 6:00 am that morning (I was really eager to go to Serbia when I booked my flights, which I had to do long before in order to get my Visa for Serbia). About 30 minutes after Christine left, I wanted to buy me a drink while waiting (at that time I haven't checked in yet), when I realized that I must have forgot my purse at the B&B, normally it wouldn't be such a big problem because they can deliver it to the airport, but my B&B was actually just a room in a house, and the hosts went away Monday morning for the week, and the person running the house for them will only be in at 8:00 am. Time to not panic and decide what to do... I went to the ticket desk and ask them if I can change my ticket for a later flight so that I can maybe wait for the guy to arrive at the B&B and ask him to bring it to me, or go there and fetch it, but they told me that they only have another flight at 8:00 and that it is already fully booked, and they can only help me the next day. My ticket was also, a non-refundable ticket which meant that I had to buy a new ticket (that cost quite a lot), find accommodation for the night, so I kind of start to panic. I knew my family at home wouldn't be able to help me in time, so I phoned Christine and after weighing our options, she told me that I should get on the plane and she will transfer some money for me to the Zurich airport or Serbia via Western Union or moneygram. Because of this delay, I was almost late for my flight to Serbia (why do airports have to be so big, and way did my flights had to be at the most far gates?), remember running down the hall and thinking, "maybe I should just leave everything" then thinking how far I've already came and how badly I wanted to experience Davis Cup atmosphere, and kept on running, they called my name for the last time just before I reached the gate :)
Landed in Zurich, me and Christine had to communicate via twitter (thankfully they had free wi-fi for a hour on the airport), but I didn't have a visa for Switzerland to go to the bank and withdraw the money (at that stage Swiss people were not my favorite at all, sorry, some misplaced anger :)). To top things off (for a while) my phone ran out of battery power, and the airport have charging devices for all sorts of phones, but iphone 5 one didn't work :), so I climbed on the plane to Serbia, not having heard from Christine after I told her I couldn't withdraw the money, but with really not much else to do.
Landed in Serbia, without money to go into a internet cafe or to buy a sim for my phone (which would have helped nothing at all anyway because my phone battery was flat) or to pay a taxi to take me to my hotel where could at least recharge my pne and have internet access. In short, I really struggled on the airport (at east it is a small one) because some couldn't understand me, maybe because of my accent, I don't know (a note for when I'm visiting Serbia again, to knew a lot more Serbian than just Hvala, Dobar dan, Zdravo etc :)) until I finally met a guy who let me borrow his phone and call my hotel to arrange for a pick-up.
At the hotel (which was in Zemun everybody told me), I received a message from Christine that said she transfered money to the bank at the airport in Serbia but that I will be able to collect it from any bank that have moneygram, but since the banks was already closed, that had to wait till the next day...
Really drained, I went to sleep early.
Wednesday - 13 November 2013
After London I really found the bus services in Belgrade 'interesting' - I was told beforehand by Sanja (One of the two famous twins on twitter) to buy a buscard at newsstand so I spend a while watching the people climb on and off the bus but none of them paid cash or use any card or even see a newsstand close where people buy tickets. Since I was unsuccessful at a few banks in the region where I stayed, so decided to go to the airport again since I know there is one. I didn't want to walk to far from where I stayed because I really struggled with the names of the streets :) I finally climb on the bus to the airport and inside I saw there is actually a machine to use a buscard on. So, yes I didn't pay for my first bus ride in Belgrade (but when I bought my buscard, I did pay for a few extra rides which is anyway better than my free ride in London)
The Bus tickets and even the taxi's in Belgrade was really affordable (Ok, I admit after London and SA's poor currency, everything in Belgrade was affordable, even comparable with our prices at home).
That night I meet up with Ana Mitric at the Republic square and she explained to me a lot about Belgrade - Old Belgrade vs New Belgrade, Danube and Sava river etc. Then we went to a restaurant to eat and chat further. She told me portions in Serbia are quite big and if I mind if we share a few dishes, and took time to explain to me what it is. We had ćevapčići (sometimes called ćevapi) a grilled meat dish (almost like a patty in the form of a sausage), and of course I had to have Sarma (filled cabbage). Both of the main dishes were served with potatoes (the sarma with "krompir pire"--mashed potatoes). We also had a salad of roasted peppers (pečene paprike) with a type of bread called lepinja (a flat, circular loaf) as an appetizer. Oh, and we had Rakija too. I opt for the Pear one, called Viljamovka. To South Africans who knows "Mampoer", Rakija taste a lot like it :)
We talked about my views of Serbia, Sport in Serbia vs against South Africa etc (I will do another post of my views of Serbia, otherwise this post will get way to long)... Afterwards we walked a bit through Republic square and of course Palačinke. I had mine with Nutella (in South Africa we eat pancakes traditionally with Cinnamon and sugar but also any other possible filling, never thought of Nutella though).
Republic square at night, really nice vibe
The horse statue in Republic square
Thursday - 14 November 2013 Seeing a bit of Belgrade
Someone from Nole's forum (for those who don't know about it or haven't visited yet, it can be a nice place to chat, especially to discuss things more in detail than twitter (http://www.novak-djokovic.com/forums/) arranged for his brother (Miroslav) to show me a bit around Belgrade (don't tell my mom about all the "strangers", she'll get a fit, although I'm almost 30, she was very concerned when I told her I'm going overseas and that alone lol).
1. In and around Kalemegdan Fortress
I really don't remember all the places we saw that day (an excuse to visit Serbia again), but this one beneath is the post office, (if I remember Miroslav correctly)
And this is Parliament (House of National Assembly)
And this is the place where Serbia honor their athletes who bring back medals from Olympic games etc, and the place where the Davis Cup team was honored in 2010
This was from the same region, don't remember the building though
2. Teniski Centar Novak
The Novak Tennis Center consists of the tennis courts, spa, restaurant, Novak shop and trophy room (I only found out after my visit about the trophy room, more reasons to go back then). Can I just say, his spa looks amazing. I didn't take any photos of it but you can always visit this page the photos beneath are the ones I took while there.
Photos of Nole's trophies on the wall
Cafe and Restaurant
3. Skardalija street
What a cute, vintage street. Although it was winter, and the street was quite still without many people, I can only imagine the atmosphere there in the summer with all the restaurants etc.
Friday, 15 November 2013 - D(avis Cup)-Day
By this time I actually figured out that I had to take bus number 18 (sorry, I'm good with numbers not names) to Belgrade arena and I made sure that I always stood near the doors (so I can see the announcements on the card machine :)) and when returning that I had to stop at the McDonalds :) (at least something McDonalds is was good for, of course didn't eat there). So, I went there at about 13:00 to go and wait for Sanja and Tanja with whom I arrange to pick up my Davis Cup tickets, (thanks again girls). It was already busy when I arrived there with persons selling Davis Cup stuff etc.
Watching the Davis Cup was really special, the noise, the patriotism, just everything. It was really beautiful when the little girl sing the Serbian anthem. I bought a Serbian scarf and went inside with my Serbian flag. Behind me sat a little boy and I think he could only speak like 3 words of which 2 where "Nole, Nole, Idemo Nole" so cute, even later when Dusan played he keep on saying it :) later on he manage to say "Dule, Dule, Idemo Dule". It was in a way also kind of weird to be in a stadium where Nole is the overwhelming favorite. I got the impression that after Janko withdrew, the Serbian fans didn't really believe that Serbia could pull it through and most came just to watch Nole play, thus so many of them leaving when Dule played even though Nole did his best to try and ask them to stay for Dule's match (thanks to the lovely lady sitting next to me for translating everything for me after I told her that I'm from South Africa), which was really sad to me because Dusan could do with the support. I really felt for Dusan, he was thrown into the deep side, but he really tried, I could sense the intensity with which he played, and I remember thinking to myself "This guy is playing 200%, really giving it his all" and to me, that is what the Davis Cup means... It seemed like a pretty straight forward and easy victory for Berdych, but it doesn't tell the fight Dusan put up and any Serb can be proud of him, if he can show this heart also in his professional career, who knows what could happen... I also think he has a really nice game.
I forgot my camera at the hotel (I know, if my head wasn't screwed on on my body, I would probably forgot that somewhere too) and didn't take any photos.
When Nole, finished his match, he went to the team box and gave Jelena a little kiss, it was shown on the big screens in the arena and the crowd really liked that :)
Saturday, 16 November 2013 - Doubles day
Since Janko withdrew, we all had the feeling that the doubles match would decide the winners of the Davis Cup, and Serbia (especially the Davis Cup team and captain) was in a very hard situation. Ilija and Nenad seem to really have a spark in their first DC match, and even in the match against Canada they were so close to winning, compared to teaming up Nole with Nenad (which, in my opinion is not a good match, at least not on HC), I still consider this doubles team the one to play, unless they were willing to risk teaming up Nole to play doubles, (I personally would team him up with Ilija and not Nenand) which is already a huge risk to take, the doubles can go to five sets, and Nole, who must have been the most tired of all the players after winning the World Tour Finals, could be exhausted for his second match against a dangerous opponent. I know people felt afterwards that Serbia made the wrong decision for choice of doubles players, but in my opinion, the team they've selected was their best option under circumstances...
So I was really disappointed seeing this doubles (which I really like, because I really like the whole Serbian team) team not even trying (it felt that way from the start), they could've easily used the crowd for their advantage. I know the Radek/Tomas combination is really a good one, but I think many felt they could've done better. If they have shown the heart that Dusan showed or that they've showed in the QF and SF, it wouldn't be that disappointing and maybe even a different situation (not saying they would've won of course).
Nole was there at the start of the match, and he really didn't seem happy, and then after a while left. I don't know if it was then when they called him for that ridiculous 5 hour doping control procedure, because I can't remember him returning.
The first day, the Czech fans had a sort of band, that made some really good noice for them, and I was happy that on the second day, there was a huge Serbian band supporting the Serbian team.
Sunday, 17 November 2013 - Do or die for both teams
I arrange to meet Sanja and Tanja at Novak Cafe & Restaurant near the Kombank arena (it is a different one to the one in tennis centre Novak). I really liked the choice of music they played there (mostly golden oldies), and there is a big screen tv that play Nole-matches non stop... That sounds like some sort of heaven already :) The restaurant was really, really busy, and people even joined tables with strangers because there was not enough tables for all the customers.
Later Srdjan and Dijana arrived accompanied by the loud and cheerful sound of a band (they started to play as soon as Srdjan and Dijana arrived) and it made for a real festive atmosphere.
Can I mention that Srdjan is really, really attractive, much more than on tv or photos... I couldn't help but stare for a while (which is good news for Nolefans, because if Nole have his father's genes, he will grow old pretty :)
Me and the twins tried to steal a photo of Srdjan and Dijana, but we didn't want to do it openly, so we pretended to take "selfies" or photos of each other to get a shot at them.
With Serbia trailing 2-1, it was a do or die match for Nole. He managed to win in straights to keep Serbia's hope alive (like expected) but it was actually a really intense match. Nole was really cranky during some parts of the match (don't know if it was the previous day's procedure or just the result of a very long last 3 weeks).
Unfortunately, for the last day my ticket was in the "Czech Republic" section, and they were really loud, I of course don't mind loud, but there was this guy with a horn right behind me, and he kept on blowing it in everybody's ears. Some of us really got annoyed, and then he was like extra spiteful and blowing it even harder and directly to us.
At the start of the Dusan match, the crowd had stayed and when he first broke Radek, you could even feel a glimmer of hope in the arena. There was a feeling inside me that maybe, just maybe just crowd could carry Dusan over the line, you never know what could happen, but then he got broken right back and the crowd went a bit subdued, but still supporting. Unfortunately, he was broken for the second time soon after, and once again the fans started to leave. This time I got some good shots of Nole's family (although from behind). Jelena was sitting with Mark, Marko and Djole, and after Nole won, they all went out for a while, and when coming back, Jelena cheered for Dusan sitting next to Djole (those two must be Nole's most passionate supporters lol).
Nole later joined the team in watching Dusan (he was wearing a orange T-shirt) and I think the people leaving really sort of annoyed him and the rest of the team. Once again, the score didn't reflect the fight Dusan gave Radek, and I was proud of the Serbian team even though they didn't manage to bring the cup home this time.
It was a sad sight to witness the home team lose. Nole and the rest of the team comforted Dusan so nicely afterwards, after all he did gave more than his best, but it wasn't enough. During the ceremony Nenad was even really teary. And I hope Serbia will be able to win the Davis Cup again someday.
I went outside to say goodbye to Sanja and Tanja and then went to my hotel again, although I was dying to go to Nole's restaurant again, but I had an early flight again (at least not 6 am) but I needed a good night's rest and still had to pack. I was a bit dissapointed afterwards when I learned that Nole, Jelena and his mum and dad was indeed at his restaurant later that night.
This was really an incredible journey for me, so many firsts in my life. I got to see Nole play and win 6 times, experience Davis Cup, meet some incredible new friends (although we were friends on social and other networks already). Memories for a lifetime.
Although I've learned a lot and would do a lot of things differently next time, I wouldn't want my first time to be any different, because not only have I experienced a lot of things, of which meeting Nole is certainly one of the biggest, the most wonderful was certainly that I can testify that in this world of ours, people doing good deeds still exist and they are part of us #Nolefam. I wish that I can somehow "pay it forward" in the future.
Time had come for me to went home... Christine send my purse to the airport. Luckily it was at City airport and the courier recognized me very easily.
All my photos of both trips here I see my skills got a bit better during the Davis Cup
Also the Videos I took on both trips.
I forgot my camera at the hotel (I know, if my head wasn't screwed on on my body, I would probably forgot that somewhere too) and didn't take any photos.
When Nole, finished his match, he went to the team box and gave Jelena a little kiss, it was shown on the big screens in the arena and the crowd really liked that :)
Saturday, 16 November 2013 - Doubles day
Since Janko withdrew, we all had the feeling that the doubles match would decide the winners of the Davis Cup, and Serbia (especially the Davis Cup team and captain) was in a very hard situation. Ilija and Nenad seem to really have a spark in their first DC match, and even in the match against Canada they were so close to winning, compared to teaming up Nole with Nenad (which, in my opinion is not a good match, at least not on HC), I still consider this doubles team the one to play, unless they were willing to risk teaming up Nole to play doubles, (I personally would team him up with Ilija and not Nenand) which is already a huge risk to take, the doubles can go to five sets, and Nole, who must have been the most tired of all the players after winning the World Tour Finals, could be exhausted for his second match against a dangerous opponent. I know people felt afterwards that Serbia made the wrong decision for choice of doubles players, but in my opinion, the team they've selected was their best option under circumstances...
So I was really disappointed seeing this doubles (which I really like, because I really like the whole Serbian team) team not even trying (it felt that way from the start), they could've easily used the crowd for their advantage. I know the Radek/Tomas combination is really a good one, but I think many felt they could've done better. If they have shown the heart that Dusan showed or that they've showed in the QF and SF, it wouldn't be that disappointing and maybe even a different situation (not saying they would've won of course).
Nole was there at the start of the match, and he really didn't seem happy, and then after a while left. I don't know if it was then when they called him for that ridiculous 5 hour doping control procedure, because I can't remember him returning.
The first day, the Czech fans had a sort of band, that made some really good noice for them, and I was happy that on the second day, there was a huge Serbian band supporting the Serbian team.
Sunday, 17 November 2013 - Do or die for both teams
I arrange to meet Sanja and Tanja at Novak Cafe & Restaurant near the Kombank arena (it is a different one to the one in tennis centre Novak). I really liked the choice of music they played there (mostly golden oldies), and there is a big screen tv that play Nole-matches non stop... That sounds like some sort of heaven already :) The restaurant was really, really busy, and people even joined tables with strangers because there was not enough tables for all the customers.
Twins Sanja and Tanja
Me at Novak's restaurant
Later Srdjan and Dijana arrived accompanied by the loud and cheerful sound of a band (they started to play as soon as Srdjan and Dijana arrived) and it made for a real festive atmosphere.
Can I mention that Srdjan is really, really attractive, much more than on tv or photos... I couldn't help but stare for a while (which is good news for Nolefans, because if Nole have his father's genes, he will grow old pretty :)
Me and the twins tried to steal a photo of Srdjan and Dijana, but we didn't want to do it openly, so we pretended to take "selfies" or photos of each other to get a shot at them.
My "selfies" featuring a glimpse of Srdjan and Dijana
With Serbia trailing 2-1, it was a do or die match for Nole. He managed to win in straights to keep Serbia's hope alive (like expected) but it was actually a really intense match. Nole was really cranky during some parts of the match (don't know if it was the previous day's procedure or just the result of a very long last 3 weeks).
Unfortunately, for the last day my ticket was in the "Czech Republic" section, and they were really loud, I of course don't mind loud, but there was this guy with a horn right behind me, and he kept on blowing it in everybody's ears. Some of us really got annoyed, and then he was like extra spiteful and blowing it even harder and directly to us.
At the start of the Dusan match, the crowd had stayed and when he first broke Radek, you could even feel a glimmer of hope in the arena. There was a feeling inside me that maybe, just maybe just crowd could carry Dusan over the line, you never know what could happen, but then he got broken right back and the crowd went a bit subdued, but still supporting. Unfortunately, he was broken for the second time soon after, and once again the fans started to leave. This time I got some good shots of Nole's family (although from behind). Jelena was sitting with Mark, Marko and Djole, and after Nole won, they all went out for a while, and when coming back, Jelena cheered for Dusan sitting next to Djole (those two must be Nole's most passionate supporters lol).
Nole later joined the team in watching Dusan (he was wearing a orange T-shirt) and I think the people leaving really sort of annoyed him and the rest of the team. Once again, the score didn't reflect the fight Dusan gave Radek, and I was proud of the Serbian team even though they didn't manage to bring the cup home this time.
It was a sad sight to witness the home team lose. Nole and the rest of the team comforted Dusan so nicely afterwards, after all he did gave more than his best, but it wasn't enough. During the ceremony Nenad was even really teary. And I hope Serbia will be able to win the Davis Cup again someday.
I went outside to say goodbye to Sanja and Tanja and then went to my hotel again, although I was dying to go to Nole's restaurant again, but I had an early flight again (at least not 6 am) but I needed a good night's rest and still had to pack. I was a bit dissapointed afterwards when I learned that Nole, Jelena and his mum and dad was indeed at his restaurant later that night.
This was really an incredible journey for me, so many firsts in my life. I got to see Nole play and win 6 times, experience Davis Cup, meet some incredible new friends (although we were friends on social and other networks already). Memories for a lifetime.
Although I've learned a lot and would do a lot of things differently next time, I wouldn't want my first time to be any different, because not only have I experienced a lot of things, of which meeting Nole is certainly one of the biggest, the most wonderful was certainly that I can testify that in this world of ours, people doing good deeds still exist and they are part of us #Nolefam. I wish that I can somehow "pay it forward" in the future.
Time had come for me to went home... Christine send my purse to the airport. Luckily it was at City airport and the courier recognized me very easily.
All my photos of both trips here I see my skills got a bit better during the Davis Cup
Also the Videos I took on both trips.
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