The dark side of Belgrade
By Kelly Limonova
Posted May/24 2008 14:22 CET



The dark side of Belgrade.

Most people are writing about the birds and the bees on Eurovision - let me be the Grinch who will steal Belgrades thunder as the happy, friendly, peaceful, beautiful place on this earth.

First of all our friends from Polish and UK delegation got beaten up right next to the Eurocaffe (in Belgrade's city center) - which was supposed to be one of the high-security areas. Thank god the guys are alive and all limns attached but this is outrages.

Then I was yelled at many times things like " we don't want Your Europe here"." get lost Europeans" and things like that.

I think that the country who will take the responsibility of hosting Eurovision, should educate and control their people on certain things like it is the only chance for Serbia to prove to the world that it is normal, European country with right values. I dont know how many tourists are visiting Belgrade after the Milosevich times or war in Kosovo, but I doubt that too many. Well we - the tourists are here now, but as many people I have talked to - nobody will ever want to come here again - it is just not safe. Just walking in city center and hearing, seeing the young guys (who are probably the local football hooligans) makes You want to run and hide.

Come on - take this chance and prove that You are changed! Educate your people that it is extremely good chance for You to show Your good sides which nobody knows about.

If leaving the beautiful tourist attractions out - You can actually see how poorly people are living here. The city looks dirty and smells bad. There are a lot of people sleeping on the streets and my heart goes out for all the countless homeless dogs who come up to everyone hoping somebody would feed them and take them home..

So sum it all up - Eurovision is the best thing that has happened for this country in a very long time - so I understand why all bartenders and taxi drivers are charging double and triple sums of money - this will be the only chance for them in a very very long time ;(
Let it be their X-mas.

Kome se ne svidja ne mora vise da nam dodje... Mi smo u tranziciji! ovde je sve moguce! Nek budu srecni sto im nije pao klavir na glavu!