Blog

I leave the hostel and cross the place nearby, between the church and Нови Сад (Novi Sad) Town Hall, where a film set is currently set up. I stop for a moment to watch. It seems to be a simple filler plan, with some extras walking randomly, while a mother and her children walk towards a flock of pidgeons, who take off in a stunning cinematrophical fashion. Such good actors. Anyway, if anyone knows what was filmed in the morning of 22 September 2022 on the main square of Нови Сад, let me know!

The bus leaves at noon, and is typically unpleasant. I don’t know why the guy sitting besides me even bothered to put on earphones, I could hear his music as well as he did.

Same border post and formalities (although my Serbian exit stamp is pretty weak and you can’t read the date… I hope that won’t be a problem in 2024…), drive over the Danube I’m back in Hrvatska!

Once on the Croatian side, the rain is pouring, and of course the bus window I choose to sit by is not waterproof… Reminds me of my former workplace. And finally it’s over, no more buses, ahahaha! I’m unstoppable now!

No time for tourism in Osijek, I directly board the train to Zagreb. It might be a ballsy move, but after this five hours ride, I only have 24 min in Zagreb to change train for Slovenia. Which would probably have been fine, were we not waiting 10 min in the middle of nowhere for another train to pass. In this part of Croatia, the railtracks aren’t doubled, so this will happen. 14 min left, large… except we somehow lost another 10 min. I’m starting to worry, and I’m at the door ready to run like Hell when we arrive at the station at 21:27… or the exact time when my next train is supposed to leave.

Frantic run to the announcement panel. Platform 4. I run down the stairs and in the tunnel. Platforms stop at 3. Shit. I climb to platform 3. No. Climb down and up platform 2. No. Run back. Turns out Platforms 4 and 5 are closer to paltform 1, where I got off, but a bit further ahead. Sprint to the train (all that with my full backpack on of course), but I didn’t need to worry again. They were waiting.

I crash into the first open compartment and catch my breath for a good 20 min. Oof, that was just, but the train crossed into Slovenija!
Croatia is not yet fully into Schengen, so there are still passport controls. And today they are taking a very long time. I got questionned by the police about why I was going to Slovenia. For fuck’s sake, I’m European, I’m at home here! I’m not sure how that use of police is bringing peace and justice for all, however it allowed me to break the ice with my fellow travelers, two Slovene students.

They tell me that Slovenia is not only super cute, but also a great place to live, with a good system, good education, cheap rents, cheap food, cheap trains, cheap everything. And it’s super safe. Apparently people barely ever leave their doors and cars closed! I’m falling more and more in love…