Donji Milanovac, Serbia and the Iron Gates

Using my wonderful computer "time machine,"  I am now back on the Danube River on my Uniworld Riverboat Cruise in July 2010. If you want to enjoy the beginning of the trip, click on Danube Cruise on the sidebar for the earlier posts.

The Iron Gates is probably the most beautiful 84- mile stretch of the Danube.  In order for us to enjoy all of  it in the daytime, we entered the area in the afternoon and then stopped at a small Serbian river town, Donji Milanovac, overnight.  In the morning, we were off again, but first we had a few moments to enjoy the town.

Donji Milanovic is a fairly new town now.  When a dam was finally built in 1971 for this section of the Danube, several towns were immersed under water. (coming post)  Donji Milanovic was rebuilt on higher land and the lovely paintings from their older church were brought to the new one.  It was also once a town know for its caviar.  The dam not only took away their old town, but also prevented the sturgeon from getting upstream to lay their eggs.  They hope tourism will be their new "golden egg."

Donji Milanovac was a very friendly place, and, like in small towns in America, the town folk turned out to see what was happening when we arrived at their small dock.   The ladies quickly set up tables to display their hand embroidered and crocheted clothing, table cloths, and doilies.  The priest agreed to take us on a tour of their church, and the inquisitive children gathered near the boat and nearby park.

Almost everywhere we went on the trip, ladies displayed beautiful handiwork which I knew took much skill and  time to make.  But today's luggage limits really restrict what one can take back home.  I did get two embroidered blouses for young nieces, but was sorry I  couldn't buy from them all.

I especially enjoyed the children I met.  Parents were responsibly nearby and seemed pleased when I spoke to their children in English, explaining that I was a teacher from America.  The children tried out some of their school English on us and were delighted when we wanted to take their picture back to show children in America.  Here, in this small town in southern Serbia, the politics of the world seemed so far away, and we could just enjoy the brotherhood of mankind.

After early morning exercises as the sun rose the next day on the Danube, a Serbian family on our cruise invited some of us to go with them to get the special Serbian apple and cheese pastries that were just coming out of the oven at a local pastry shop.  Delicious!  What a great way to start another beautiful day on the Danube!  Next post:  The Majestic Iron Gates.

Click link below for slideshow:
Donji Milanovac

Music:  Ansambl Triola, Kozak--O mama, mama,
Kolekcija pesama 2009