Day 2: Timisoara to Belgrade – A Journey of Patience and Persistence

Weather: Overcast | High: 19°C | Elevation: 90 metres

After about six to seven hours of sleep, I was up and ready to face the day, though the day seemed to have other plans. I started with a lukewarm shower, which, to be honest, felt more like a challenge than a refresh. Still, nothing like an uncomfortable shower to prepare you for a day full of uncertainty.

No Easy Way to Belgrade

My main goal was to get from Timisoara to Belgrade. Sounds simple, right? Not quite.

I asked at the hostel reception about transport options, and they came up as empty-handed as I was. The only faint glimmer of hope was a travel agency in town—Simplicity Travel. First stop, though, was the train station: no train to Belgrade. Another idea—Vršac, a border town—also turned up nothing.

At this point, I even considered taking a train to the Romanian side of the border and hitchhiking across. That train, however, wouldn’t leave until 4 p.m., which meant waiting around for nearly eight hours. Not ideal, but maybe a last resort.

Wild Goose Chase and a Flash of Inspiration

So off I went—3.7 km on foot to the travel agency. Only to find… nothing. Just an empty address. A flashback to a similar experience in Cairns popped into my mind—chasing a ghost listing through a residential neighbourhood.

Frustrated but not defeated, I spotted a place called the 80’s Pub nearby and decided to regroup there. While sipping on some resolve, I turned to a bit of reverse psychology. If nothing leaves from Timisoara, what about services to Timisoara from Belgrade? That little trick worked—I found a shuttle service that could get me to Belgrade. The only catch? They needed to contact me by phone, and I didn't have a local number.

The SIM Card Dilemma

Using local Wi-Fi has been my budget-friendly lifeline, but it becomes a real problem for situations like this. Buying a new SIM every few days is just burning cash. So, the risk was that they might arrive, and without a way to notify me, I’d miss the ride.

Still, I booked the shuttle. Backup plan? Dash to the train station and roll the dice.

I told myself I’d wait until 4:15 p.m.—if no shuttle, I’d give up, head back to the pub, and settle into a well-earned beer. But like clockwork (or maybe a small miracle), the van appeared just minutes before my deadline. We were off.

Across the Border in a Cramped Ride

The shuttle was a basic 8-seater, costing 130 RON (25 Euros). Pickup and drop-off included, which made arrival in Belgrade that much smoother. After more than four hours squished in the back of the van with bumpy roads that bounced you around the van, I arrived at my hostel, different from the one I stayed in about a month ago. This one’s more budget-friendly and has decent reviews, though it turned out to be a bigger operation than I expected. One kitchen might get crowded in peak season, but I’m not exactly the cooking type, so no worries there.

What's Next?

I settled in quickly. Tomorrow, I’ll take it easy and explore Belgrade a bit. I've got a few things in mind, but photography isn’t high on the list—sometimes, it’s nice just to experience a place without the lens in front of you.