Grillin' up some testicles in Serbia

That's right. Did you know that Serbia is (proudly) home to the first official testicle cooking and eating festival in the world? Usually held at the end of summertime, this fetish food-fest attracts the young, old, beautiful and the ugly for one of the world's strangest delicacies. The village of Borac plays host to "Mudriada", the Olympics for testicle cookers.

This food festival took place for the first time in 2005 and one might say, this type of thing could only happen in the Balkans... Naturally an event like this attracts a lot of attention, soon transforming it into a competition for the best tasting testicles rather than just a celebration of the delicacy.

Almost instantly the village explodes with people, tents, music, dancing and bonfires used to cook the meat on festival day. Bottles of wine, brandy, oils and jars of spices are already lining the tables, so cooks can easily choose their flavour. Cars line up for miles, trying to find parking spots as close to the action as possible. What I think is the real clincher is that ancient Chinese myths say that testicles are the most powerful aphrodisiac (maybe this is why there are so many big Serbian men with their women in tow)!

The cooking starts at noon and the pork, veal, goat ad ram testicles start to grill. My mid-afternoon the cooking finishes and the judging panel makes their decision. After the prizes are awarded the celebrations begin, going long into the night.

One of the great things is that the village isn't far from Belgrade which means that a festival like this is totally accessible for a budget traveller. Wizz Air for example flies to Serbia from London, you just have to keep an eye open for hot travel deals. Trips to the Balkan states are never boring, that's for sure!

100 things to do in Belgrade

When a recent commenter asked me to do another post on Belgrade I was sort of scratching my head about what to write about since I already wrote about how to spend a weekend in Belgrade. To be honest, Belgrade isn't a pretty city, even the locals will admit that. But there is more to a city than just looks and this is where Belgrade really gets interesting.

When it comes to the Serbian capital, it's all about experience.

So how can a traveller experience Belgrade?
Well. I've come across an epic list of 100 things to do in Belgrade, not just for tourists but for locals too. If you're thinking, "Good grief is she really going to list 100 things to do in Belgrade?" then rest assured I'm not. I'll list only 10 and then if that's not enough, you can go here and read about the other 90.

1. Gradic Pejton - visit this symbol of struggle against the New World Order and while you're at it, browse the craft shops in the surrounding neighbourhood.
2. Dervish "turbe" - left over from the Ottoman era, you can find this little marker at the beginning of Visnjiceva Street.
3. Zeleni Venac - shop the black market and live life on the edge a bit. Enjoy the bustle of this somewhat mysterious pedestrian street. 
4. Kalemegdan - the best place to buy a five hundred billion dinar note for only one hundred dinars from a Belgrade memorabilia shop.
5. Svetogorska Street 17 - home of the first discotheque in the Balkans. It opened in 1967 but you'll need to report back if you want to know what's there now.
6. Kaludjerica - undoubtedly the wildest suburban area in Europe, constructed totally without any building permits.
7. Tram #2 - skip the hop on hop off buses, take the tram instead. Like Budapest, the Tram #2 gives you the complete and "unofficial" tour of Belgrade's best sights.
8. Balkanska Street - for shopping and browsing vintage shops that haven't quite noticed that they're vintage... they just haven't changed in 30 years.
9. Salvador Dali - Hidden on the corner of Dorcol, you'll get a little glimpse at local humour.
10. Sweets - Find yourself a stool at an old-fashioned candy shop. If you're not sure what to order, taste some Turkish Delight.

Belgrade shouldn't be underestimated. Start your trip through the Balkans here, you might be surprised at how easy it is to find cheap flights to Belgrade year round. If you've been and want to add some more experiences to the list, leave a comment!

A weekend in Belgrade and a royal palace

If you're in Belgrade for a weekend, there is one place that you should put at the top of your list (if it's not already there): The Royal Palace near Dedinje. Built in 1924 by two architects from the Royal Academy, this compound was once the home of Tito and Milosevic.

The Royal home in Belgrade, Serbia is open to the public only on weekends. Visitors are welcome to wander the interior hallways, admire the elegant salons and dining rooms and enjoy a stunning view of the city from the top of Dedinje Hill. If it is a clear day, you can see as far as Kosutnjak Forest and Avala.

Until October the Royal compound will be open Saturdsays and Sundays from 11:00 until 14:00. Registration in advance is necessary, especially for tours through the While Palace, Ryoal Palace and Chapel. The tour takes 2 hours.

What else to do in Belgrade on a weekend?

•  Visit the house where the assassins of Franz Ferdinand planned their attack. It's on the corner of Narodnog Fronta and Kamenicka Street.

• Explore the Bujljak, a flea market in New Belgrade which is especially busy on Saturdays.

• Visit the House of Flowers where Josip Broz Tito is buried.

• Spend an afternoon tasting the baked goods and sugary delights of the city by stopping in at a few of the many bakeries, cake and sweet shops.

• Find the oldest house in Belgrade, built in 1727 in Cara Dusana Street 10. Since Belgrade has been bombed 5 times in the last century, it seems a miracle that it's still standing.

• If you want an unguided tour of the city centre, just hop on Tram #2.

• Grab an evening flick at the Kinoteka, one of the richest movie collections in Europe and the world. A must for movie buffs and film lovers.

Belgrade may not be the prettiest city in Serbia, or in the Balkans for that matter, but it is a city with an exciting past and pretty palaces. If there is anything to really get excited about here it's the night life. Seems every night is Friday and everyday is Saturday in the  capital, something of course everyone can get used to. There are cheap flights from Newcastle to Belgrade with both KLM and British Airways.