As our train to Sofia does not leave until 6:42pm, we have another day with Olivera. We took a taxi into town and stopped for a drink at the juice bar and then another one at the Kofemat. Some great combinations of juices were available and at the cafe they served a milkshake with orange and peach flavouring.
We entered the registry building where Philip and Olivera had their marriage ceremony and were given permission to look at the formal hall where it happened. The Serbian flag is tricolour and the Novi Sad flag is blue.
Nearby was the Square of Newlyweds where they stand under this arch for photos.
Olivera photoed some oldlyweds.
It was definitely not a long time between drinks in the never ending run of scorching days, so we had a fizzy water with a sample of Serbia's best hamburgers (pljeskavicas). So good that they do not melt in your mouth they melt in your hand. We needed three serviettes to clean up.
We got back at midday and enjoyed the air conditioning till we said goodbye and left for the station at 6pm. Olivera came with us to Novi Sad station where we heard the train would be one hour late arriving. We watched a baby pigeon which had been ousted by the bird wire fixers as he tried to climb the stairs towards his nest. Then Olivera translated an announcement that the train would be 90 minutes late, so we feared it may not get to Belgrade in time for our NUSIC overnight train. Olivera checked at the bus station next door and found us seats on a bus at 8pm.
We decamped and waved a very fond farewell to Olivera, who went home to an empty flat to prepare for another long trip to Karlovic tomorrow to bring back her children. We had a comfortable trip, arriving at Belgrade at 9:30pm and boarding our train with half an hour to spare.
The trip to Sofia was to take 10 hours but actually took 12. The train had only two carriages; one for sit up and one for sleeper. Both were covered in graffiti and the inside the sleeper van looked like it had not been cleaned for months.
The seat was missing from the toilet, the bowl was chipped, it emptied on the tracks, flushing water was inadequate, hand washing water was inadequate. There was no toilet paper or hand towels. All cabins had six beds and all were booked. We were given top bunks, but fortunately two young ladies who had the lowest beds offered to take the top ones. More youngster aid for us. Two young men from Sweden turned up to take the middle beds. There was no air-conditioning so everyone was in the corridor at the open windows till midnight when the temperature dropped to below 30C. Nearly all the passengers were young backpackers. There is never enough space in the cabin for the luggage of six people. The guard collected all passes and tickets to be handed back at Sofia. This was the first time our valuable Eurail pass had been out of our sight.
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