Day 2: Kalasin to Belgrade

Weather Update: Cloudy. High 16c

Elevation Above Sea Level: 117 Metres

Day 2: The Kindness of Strangers – Kalasin to Belgrade

A Race Against Time

The train arrived late into Kalasin, and with no announcement to indicate its arrival, I nearly missed it. There was no warning that the next train was the Montenegro Express to Belgrade. I had to hurry, making it on board by the skin of my teeth. Once settled into second class, I found the carriage relatively empty. However, when the train departed, I noticed that “cattle class” was completely packed—an extra couple of euros for a better seat would have been well worth it.

A Midnight Mix-Up

The conductor informed me that I needed to change trains at Bijelo Polje, the border crossing into Serbia. As instructed, I got off—only to realize that the train I had just left was continuing to Belgrade. Scrambling back on board, I found another seat that would offer a good view once daylight returned. Though the seats were comfortable for sitting, they weren’t ideal for sleeping. Eventually, exhaustion won, and at 4:45 AM, I drifted off for a short rest, waking as the train descended from the mountains towards Belgrade.

Arrival in Belgrade: Navigating the City

Belgrade’s train station had the feel of an airport, with arrival and departure boards and even a duty-free-like atmosphere. As expected, taxi drivers hovered both inside and outside, eagerly waiting to pounce on unsuspecting travellers unfamiliar with local transport. I planned to take the local bus number 36 to the city centre, just 3 km away. One particularly persistent taxi driver tried to convince me that the bus was unreliable and that I should take a taxi instead. But I stood firm—I had my route planned and wasn’t about to be swayed.

I boarded the bus and showed the driver where I needed to go, but instead of helping, he threw his hands in the air in frustration and turned away. Frustrated, I muttered an expletive under my breath, thinking back to my earlier run-in with the taxi driver. Rather than backtracking, I decided to walk. A 3.7 km walk is nothing for a traveller with determination, but arriving in a new city always comes with some uncertainty—was I making the right choice?

The Warmth of Strangers

I arrived at the Up Hostel, located in the Bohemian quarter of Skadarska, and was immediately pleased with my choice. Check-in wasn’t until 1 PM, so I used the time to run errands, including refilling my medication—a priority. I ended up at what appeared to be a private clinic, prepared to pay whatever was necessary. To my surprise, the doctor and I connected instantly, and when it came time to settle the bill, I was told the consultation would be free of charge.

The generosity of strangers never ceases to amaze me. You don’t ask for kindness, but sometimes it finds you when you need it most. Whether it’s a stranger paying for a taxi, buying a bus ticket, guiding you to your destination, or in my case, waiving a medical fee—these small acts of kindness restore faith in humanity.

There’s an old saying: “A stranger in need is a stranger indeed.” I encourage anyone reading this to reach out to someone, even in the smallest way—you never know what impact it may have on their journey.

Onward to Tomorrow

In the end, it turned out to be a great day, despite its challenges. Tomorrow brings another adventure waiting to be explored—let’s take it on together.

Andrew

Inspiring Seniors to Travel—get out there and explore while you can!