From the title of this post, you probably thought I was going to talk about crime, gun warfare or gangs making the streets of Belgrade a dangerous place to be. But no, what I’m referring to is ice. Apart from today, it’s been pretty darn freezing across the Balkans – Belgrade being no exception – with the temperature constantly being around -6C (21F), plus some snow and slight rain.
Now, that’s not so bad – simply wrap up warm when you go outside and have the heating on in the apartment (well, easier said than done as many across the Balkans and the rest of Europe found out during the current Russo-Ukrainian gas dispute).
What is bad is the fact that Belgrade has turned in to a giant ice rink from freezing rain. Not so good, well in fact pretty bloody dangerous, when you need to walk or even drive somewhere. And to make matters worse, Belgrade city authorities don’t seem to think putting grit, which is a mixture small stones/salt scattered on the pavements so pedestrians don’t slip on the ice, is a top a priority – not on my route to work at least.
I don’t miss many things about the UK, but grit’s one of them. I have so far managed to not slip and embarrass myself, not to mention risk suffering some sort of injury.
However, not everyone has been as lucky as me. Hundreds of people in Belgrade and across Serbia have been turning up at ER departments with bruises, cuts and broken bones. One unfortunate pensioner died from his injuries after slipping, and there’s been at least 1 fatal car accident as well.
A large ice rink has been in the centre of Belgrade for the last few weeks at Nikola Pasic Square and I thought about visiting it at one point – but who needs an ice rink when you have the opportunity to slide to work or the shops? Whether you actually choose to use that form of transport is another matter all together!
How have you been coping this winter? Any slips (hopefully no broken bones)? Have you been affected by the gas dispute?
Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to Balkan File via RSS or e-mail.
on Jan 17th, 2009 at 4:34 am
Yeah, just leaving the ice as-is is pretty lame. Lots of elderly don’t leave their apartments at all when it’s like that but sometimes they must. My apartment is heated by electricity only so if the grid goes out I’m in trouble. I might buy a canister of gas to use in one of those propane heaters (we have one but it’s down in the cellar at the moment).
on Jan 20th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Heh yeah, the ice certainly added some nice excitement to Serbian New Year’s eve….
It rained for just barely 5 minutes I think, about 1/2 hour before midnight… After that round of drinks it seemed everyone emerged onto the streets to go to their next evening destination.
Surprise! I’ve never seen such a spectacle of people everywhere falling and slipping around. I can’t even imagine what kind of hell it must have been for all the pretty girls in their high heels.
I was thoroughly laughing and enjoying everyone’s misery until I myself fell. Four times.
Everyone looks stupid when they’re slipping on ice.
Leave a Comment