Sun and Serbian. That’s what I craved on my trip to Montenegro, which is why I decided to kick off my eastern travels in the tiny seaside village of Petrovac.
I had been enthusiastically toting around my Serbian phrasebook for a month prior to the trip, and felt more than ready to use my new vocabulary to learn complex local histories, and ensure access to the tastiest meals and best beaches.
Little did I know that my Serbian would prove comical at first, and fail me in the end.
I spent my first Montenegrin evening at a delightful little Serbian restaurant, tucked under leafy trees and vines on the rocky shore of Petrovac.
A couple glasses of sweet red wine inspired me to practice a bit of my Serbian, and I managed to make very simple conversation with the shy waiter.
On my way out of the restaurant, I smiled and said “dobro vecer,” or “good evening,” to the waiter. To my bewilderment, he began to laugh hysterically - until he was literally red in the face!
“Dobro vecer!” he repeated laughingly, tears running down his checks. “Dobro vecer!”
“I must tell other waiter!” he said, and ran to his coworker, who, upon hearing of... read more >>