The stray dogs keep barking and then someone fixes and tries out an engine at five in the morning. Inclusive of shouting and arguing. Im up, awake and Ive got a small headache. Probably more to do with a lack of sleep than my new found liking for alcohol. Its not a first. It happened before. Its just that the last time was twenty years ago in another country and so I really dont need much to get a little more than tipsy.
I do a recce through town this Sunday morning at eight and Im impressed how lively it is. Most shops and bars are open. Apparently the butchers opens at six. I buy some orange juice for breakfast and return to the kayak club by the Danube. By now the beach has got busy too and my friend from last night comes to join me. He takes me to another bar (in the car) by a lake and there is plenty of beautiful scenery and more beer. We travel over to the beach where a whole camp of friends and family is set up. Im being treated to one of the finest barbecues ever. Its thirty seven degrees in the shade and I so need a swim. I spent most of the afternoon eating boiled sweetcorn in one beach bar or other and make it to the internet cafe where I spent three hours and less than a pound updating the site.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ba%C4%8Dka_Palanka
They are a boisterous lot here but very considerate, polite and interested in and with the foreigner (me)
Fishing is a religion here and I hear stories of fishing competitions (Im even presented with a baseball cap from last years event), three meter, 50kg catfish, predetorial pike and cod being caught here.
Open campfires everywhere, drunk driving is just a misdemeanor and we havent even caught tonites meal yet... Honey, Im home.
Three more days and I'll be in Belgrade. Hmm, I also found the apostrophe...
