Serbia Day 2
I woke up and researched how to buy a bus ticket to Budapest.
It seems I can buy it via an app, so I downloaded the app and searched for available seats for tomorrow.
There were still 3 seats left, so I researched hostels and other things for the time being.
I felt a bit like I'd entered a modern city, being able to buy long-distance bus tickets on an app.
When I checked for bus availability again an hour later, it was down to zero.
#NoWay
Thinking, 'Oh wow, seriously?', I considered switching to a flight that arrives at night, but then one seat opened up, so I booked it immediately.
#SoLucky
When going to a new place, I prefer to arrive during the day to get a feel for the city and the directions so I can safely get to my accommodation, but it couldn't be helped.
After that, I did some research while thinking about my itinerary after Hungary.
I want to go to Germany and Switzerland, but I have no idea where to go (lol).
Finally, I wondered where I should buy my flight home from to get a cheap price, and so on.
There are many people traveling around the world or on long-term overseas trips, and I wondered if they are also just winging it.
Around noon, I finally went out.
First, I looked for an ATM that looked like it belonged to a major bank.
#FeeProblem
When I tried withdrawing money at the bank I found, it charged me about 500 yen.
#DidItAgain
I pulled myself together and headed to a restaurant where I could eat Serbian food.
I entered a restaurant with good reviews (a high number of reviews) on Google Maps.
When I asked for a recommendation, they suggested a rather expensive dish.
#EvenThoughGoogleMapsSaidAffordable
I feel like the price was around 3,500 yen in Japanese yen...
I might have only spent over 2,000 yen on lunch once in my life.
That was since I had a lunch buffet at the Shangri-La Hotel in Roppongi (lol).
I ordered the recommendation and a beer as an extra.
The price difference between the beer and the cola was 100 yen.
#DejaVu
By the way, the recommended dish was ham, cheese, and meat wrapped in bacon and grilled, which was probably over 300g—a menu that would surprise even McDonald's.
#DefinitelyOver2000kcal
#ComesWithFriesToo
#DrankBeerToo
The taste was incredibly good, but it felt like a size just right for two people.
But the beer went down so well from lunch...
I stopped at one glass, though.
After that, I went sightseeing, visiting a fortress, a shopping mall, a church, and a building hit by a rocket, among other things.
The church was the most massive one I've ever been to!
(I just looked it up and it seems to be one of the largest cathedrals in the world. I went there on a whim, so I was lucky.)
The ceiling and walls were all gold, and there were various paintings on them.
It wouldn't fit in the camera I had, and it didn't even fit in my iPhone's ultra-wide-angle camera.
My impression of Belgrade is that it is definitely more prosperous than Sofia, Bulgaria, and it feels like a European cityscape!
Thinking about my wallet situation, I realized, 'I might not have enough money withdrawn from the ATM,' so I tried an ATM again.
This time the fee was only 100 yen, so my hypothesis that major banks have lower fees was successful.
#ThoughItIsHardToTellWhichBankIsTheMajorOneInThatCountry
The ATM at this bank was like a giant, state-of-the-art tablet, which moved me a little. Japanese ATMs have touch panels, but they are still the type with poor sensitivity, aren't they?
After that, I went to a supermarket to buy some things, and the cashier said 'Ni hao' to me. When I gestured that I wasn't Chinese, she said 'Konnichiwa'.
I was moved, thinking, 'It's amazing that she remembers
Konnichiwa. I'm glad it wasn't Annyeonghaseyo!' On the way back, I found a bakery that looked delicious, so I bought some bread and went home.
And that's how Serbia Day 2 ended.
Well, that's all for today!