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All sessions of the VWBPE 2020 Conference are held in Second Life®. All times are in SLT (Pacific Time).
You may access this time zone converter for your local time: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html.
Add these events to your personal calendar! To add all VWBPE conference events to your calendar, scroll down to the bottom of the calendar, find the "Subscribe" button and click on it. You will find options to add to your Google, Outlook or Apple calendar. To add individual events, click the event and find the "Subscribe" button on that page. You don't have to miss any events at VWBPE!
Note: Daylight Saving Time
In most of the United States and Canada, Daylight Saving Time is in effect as of 8 March 2020. Is your location affected? Check this page to find out when (and if) Daylight Saving Time begins for you. The Spring/Fall time change occurs throughout March and April, if at all, depending upon your location.
Facilitator: Andrew Wheelock / Spiff Whitfield ; Assistant: Marie Vans / amvans Lapis
The digital divide has been a concern for years. This has generally been understood as the gulf between those who have access to technology like computers and the internet. Has the proliferation of immersive technologies increased this gulf? What are the solutions? Bring your ideas to the first Quadrivium of the conference as we explore this important topic.
Accessibility: Voice to text transcription
Speaker: Leticia Deleon / Letty Luckstone, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
While virtual environments have been explored, discovered, and conquered, true immersion for learning continues to be elusive. This workshop will engage participants in an immersive model that borrows from experiential learning through the marriage of avatar, environment, and actions. Not only will participants engage in an immersive, interactive experience by using multimodal tools, but also create a plan for using the model with their own learners.
- The participant will immerse their avatar in a learning experience using multimodal tools.
- The participant will design their own plan for engaging their learners in true immersive learning.
Accessibility: Speak easy HUD
Speakers: Alyse Dunavant-Jones / AlyseDunavantJones; Pat Franks / Preceptor Amat; Marie Vans / Amvans Lapis San Jose State University, School of Information
In Fall 2019, San Jose State University's Virtual Center for Archives and Records Administration developed a survey to determine criteria for courses based in both desktop and headset Virtual Reality. 56 VR and virtual world educators responded, and the survey resulted in 29 criteria. In this presentation, VCARA members address key factors that affected the survey, how the results compared to expectations, and how research and experience in virtual worlds contributed to the survey's success.
- Participants will be able to describe VCARA's survey methodology and identify VR course criteria.
- Participants will be able to compare educators' needs in headset/desktop VR vs. 3D virtual worlds.
Accessibility: Speak easy HUD
Speakers: Lorelle VanFossen / Lorellev, co-founder of Educators in VR
Introduction: Lorraine Mockford / LoriVonne Lustre
Lorelle VanFossen is the co-founder of Educators in VR, and producer of the world's largest immersive virtual conference, the 2020 Educators in VR International Summit, held in February. She is an educator, keynote speaker, trainer, writer, and consultant on virtual reality in education, web writing, digital storytelling, content curation, social media, and blogging. Called a digital evangelist, she's taught over 1000 workshops and classes in virtual reality and has published over 3,000 articles on digital storytelling, social media, and web publishing as a thought-leader in the industry.
Accessibility: Voice to text transcription

subset: commoncrawl


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What is this project?
It is a project to install 480 feet of new concrete sidewalk on the east side of Gregg Avenue from the existing sidewalk to Elm Street.
Why is it important?
This new segment will provide a connection between existing sidewalks, providing a connection between major arterial streets.
What is the current status?
This project is complete.
How is this project being funded?
Funding for this project comes from the Street Fund. The Street Fund is financed through two sources:
1) Turn-back revenues from the State of Arkansas. The State collects motor fuel taxes, which are returned to the City on a per-capita basis.
2) Turn-back monies received from the County Road Millage Tax. The City receives 80% of the road millage levied by the Quorum Court on real and personal property located within the city.


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Snaffle Bracelet
Snaffle Bracelet
How to measure my ring size
Fingers can vary in size depending upon whether our hands feel hot or cold. Its always best to measure your fingers when you feel a normal/average temperature.
- Wrap a band of paper around your finger and mark where it overlaps.
- Lay the piece of paper over a ruler and measure the distance.
- Use the ring conversion table to find the British Size (e.g. 55.6mm = Size O).
- If in doubt we can send you a ring sizer in the post.
Delivery Information
All orders will be processed ASAP.
When you receive a dispatched e-mail from us your order is on its way.
If we are not able to dispatch your order within 2-3 days we will notify you accordingly by e-mail.
We send parcels 'Royal Mail Signed For' which is a track and trace service.
We charge a fixed price of £3.95 on orders under £50, orders above £50 are sent FREE.
This applies to orders received within the UK only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's your jewellery made from?
Fashion jewellery is made from a copper based metal which is then silver and gold colour spray finished. It is all nickel free and hypoallergenic.
Silver jewellery is made from 925 sterling silver. Any item of jewellery weighing above 7.78 grams is described as 'hallmarked 925 silver'. Any item below this threshold is described as 'exempt by weight'.
Please visit our hallmarking page or visit - https://theassayoffice.co.uk/ for more information.
How long will my items take to arrive?
As soon as we receive your order it will be processed.
If items are in stock they will be despatched within 2-3 working days.
We send all orders 1st class 'Signed For' delivery with Royal Mail to ensure we can track and trace your item.
During exhibitions it may take 3-6 days to despatch your order but we will notify you accordingly.
How do I return my item?
If you need to return an item you have 14 days as per our 'Returns Policy'.
Items need to returned in the condition in which they were sold unless faulty.
We cannot accept returns on earrings due to health and hygiene regulations.
Please send returns to - Burbi 45 Leicester Road, Ravenstone Leicestershire LE67 2AR.
Where can I see your products?
We exhibit at a variety of events throughout the UK in locations such as exhibition centres and halls, shopping villages and marquees.
Visit our 'Calendar of Events' page for more information about a show near you.
How do I measure my ring size?
A change in temperature can make rings feel either; too tight, or too loose. Its always best to measure your fingers when you feel a normal/average temperature.
Ring sizes may also vary depending upon the style of ring (e.g. engagement ring or spinning ring). A slightly larger size is usually required for wider bands.
Please see our 'Ring Sizing' charts for more information.
How long are your necklaces?
We offer a variety of necklaces in different lengths.
Most fashion necklaces come with extensions allowing you to adjust the length between 18-22 inches. Long necklaces are approximately 26-30 inches.
Full measurement details are available within product descriptions.
How do I contact you?
You can contact us in a variety of ways; telephone, e-mail, social media and post.
See our 'Contact Us' page for further information.
How can I pay for my items?
We accept all major credit and debit cards securely via PayPal and Shopify. You will be given the opportunity to select your preferred payment method at the checkout.
Is my personal information secure?
YES - Please read our 'Privacy Statement' for more information. Or visit the government website - https://www.cyberaware.gov.uk/ for more information.


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Criticism of the Federal Reserve has become a mainstay among the financial commentariat, politicians and gold bugs who believe the U.S. central bank is bringing economic ruin–and among regular folk complaining about low rates on savings and checking accounts. Far rarer does one find analysis that comes to defend the status quo, but that is what the American Enterprise Institute's John Makin has done in a policy paper that argues the Fed's near-zero rate policy is necessary to prevent a far worse outcome, despite the toll it takes on savers.
Titled "The Pain of Zero Interest Rates," Makin's analysis essentially argues that both the Fed and U.S. savers today must choose among unpleasant alternatives.
As regards monetary policy, higher rates would have several negative outcomes. They would add hundreds of billions of dollars annually to U.S. debt-service costs, on top of a $14 trillion debt burden already weighing down the economy; they would put added pressure on the stock market and real estate, still struggling at pre-crisis valuations; and by strengthening the dollar, higher rates would suppress exports. So withdrawal of easy money would "kill the economy or make it a lot sicker," while the maintenance of an accommodative monetary policy has the effect of stabilizing the U.S. economy, Makin says.
Parallel to the beleaguered central bank is the plight of U.S. savers, especially those at or near retirement, who face low rates on safe assets, though their retirement income projections were likely based on the higher rates of return available in the years before the crisis. Makin says that Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has made clear he is aware of savers' pain, mentioning it in nearly every speech or testimony. But in order to avoid another Great Depression, his hands are tied.
For that reason, savers must choose among spending less; working more; dipping into their past savings (for those with the luxury of doing so) even if that reduces funds for future spending; or to do what the Fed policy is meant to encourage: put money into risky assets.
Much of Makin's analysis is devoted to explaining why that last alternative remains unpalatable to Americans today. Having already suffered portfolio losses and real estate losses, financially scarred savers often feel they can't afford the risk of loss that ownership of stocks or gold entails. The S&P 500 index is valued roughly at 2001 levels (despite wild swings in between), so investors have seen little return for hair-raising risks. Makin suggests a thought that must have crossed many investors' minds: "Suppose … you had needed cash at the end of 2008 during the financial crisis when the S&P 500 had dropped by over 50 percent on the year."
The pain of savers is all the more deeply felt among those who have seen their housing assets sink in value. The average U.S. home is still down by more than a third since 2006, Makin says, intensifying the feeling that they lack the wherewithal to take risk with what's left, if anything, of their assets.
In the aggregate, Americans' risk aversion "will probably keep interest rates on safe assets low for some time," Makin writes, while the weak global economy currently affords no room for a Fed rate hike.
There is no quick path out of this dilemma, but Makin prescribes a reduction in government spending to bring the deficit and debt under control. If consumers see fiscal discipline on the part of the government, they may loosen up their own purse strings, spending more and perhaps shifting into riskier assets. Only then can the Fed consider "letting interest rates rise–very slowly," Makin argues.


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Ilya Zubov
Chelyabinsk Russia
Eligible for draft:
4th round (98th overall), 2005
201 lbs.
Prospect Talent Score
Probability of Success
Ilya Zubov, born in Chelyabinsk, Russia, was a 4th round selection of the Ottawa Senators in the 2005 draft. In his draft year, the talented center was one of the top forwards out of Russia. Considered by many to be a "safe" early pick, Zubov has made great strides and shown a good attitude and maturity to go along with his impressive hockey skills.
2002-03: Zubov played in one professional game for Traktor in Russia's High League, picking up one minor penalty. He also skated on the Russia '87 squad, notching 2 points in 3 games.
2003-04: Zubov became a professional as he joined Traktor's division 2 team in Russia's High League. Skating in 33 games, Zubov accumulated 7 goals and 7 assists. His +8 rating was tops on his team and he was an important player who saw significant ice time. In the playoffs, Zubov was a go-to player and he notched 3 points in 8 games. Traktor made it to the semifinals, but lost to Molot. During the series, Zubov, despite being just 18 at the time, was entrusted to a crucial penalty shot on which he scored. Zubov also participated in several tournaments as the youngest member of Russia's U18 '86 squad.
2004-05: Along with centering the top line on Russia's U18 '87 squad, Zubov continued to play an important role for Traktor in the Russia High League. In 42 games, Zubov picked up 9 goals and 17 points while going +6. In tournament play, Zubov was extremely impressive, scoring 2 points in 3 games at the 4 Nations Tournament, 3 points in 4 games at the 5 Nations Tournament, and a remarkable 8 points in 4 games at the U18 World Junior Championships, leading Russia to the Gold medal.
2005-06: Zubov graduated to the Russian Elite league joining Spartak. In 43 contests, he recorded 14 points. During the playoffs, Zubov scored 4 points in 3 games. Zubov was once again a star at international tournaments, this time at the U20 World Junior Championships when he scored 6 points in 6 games as Russia captured the Silver medal. Zubov also skated in the 4 Nations Tournament.
2006-07: Zubov spent the season with two clubs in the RSL, HK Atlant and Salavat Yulaev. He tallied a goal and two points in 16 games with HK Atlant, and another four goals and 10 points in 26 games with his next squad. He again competed with the Russian National U20 squad, netting three goals and four points at the WJC; Russia took Silver at the tournament for the second straight year. He attended Ottawa's Development Camp over the summer; expect to see him in North America next season. Zubov made his first trip to North America, participating in the Development Camp during the summer of 2007. He has signed a contract with the Senators.
2007-08: The Russian winger brought his game to North America this season, netting 15 goals and 38 points in 74 games in his first season of pro hockey with the B-Sens (AHL). He also saw his first bit of NHL hockey, appearing in one game (no points) with Ottawa.
2008-09: The Russian center spent the season with the B-Sens (AHL), the second straight of his pro hockey career. In 63 games he tallied 14 goals and 52 assists. He also saw more ice-time in the NHL, registering two assists in 10 games.
2009-10: One game is all Zubov would spent in North America this season, not registering a point and earning 2 minutes in the box before going to the KHL. In his time there between two clubs, Zubov would score 4 goals and 7 points in 31 games.
Talent Analysis
Zubov is a very offensively gifted forward, one of the best 1987 born Russian forwards. A speedster with a very smooth stride, Zubov is strong in tight spaces and can dangle extremely well. Zubov possesses a precise and very dangerous wrist shot which he uses often. His above average on-ice vision allows him to distribute the puck well and make needle-threading passes. Primarily an offensive player, often skating as the pivot on the top line, Zubov is no slouch in the defensive zone as he works very hard to help out his team in the backend. He possesses decent size but does not use it often enough and isn't very comfortable playing in traffic areas. Zubov has the ability to play wing, but is a natural centerman, though he needs to work on his faceoffs.
Zubov has an impressive package of skill and natural offensive instinct making him a good candidate to become a top-six forward at the NHL level.


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Union Pension Underfunding Time-Bomb Soars By 75% In One Year, Nears $400 Billion
by Tyler Durden
The shortfall in US labor union pension funds is huge and growing rapidly. The latest data, from 2009, from the PBGC showed that these multi-employer plans were 48% underfunded with $331bn of assets to support $686bn of liabilities – and it has hardly been a good ride for those asset values since then. Critically, as the FT notes today, recent changes by FASB has enabled Credit Suisse to estimate shortfalls more accurately and it paints an ugly picture. The critical difference between reality and what is being reported is the ability for firms to use actuarial 'facts' to discount liabilities or compound assets at a 7.5% annual growth rate – as opposed to the sad reality of a financially repressed investing environment where returns swing from +20% to -20% in a flash forcing all funds into market timers and not long-term buy-and-hold growth players. These multi-employer pension schemes cover over 10 million people concentrated in industries with highly unionized workforces such as construction, transport, retail and hospitality but of the shortfall only $43bn lies with firms of the S&P 500 – leaving the bulk of the burden on small- and medium-sized businesses once again. It seems the number and size of unfunded (implicitly government) liabilities continues to rise or does this force pensions to follow Ben's path and increase exposure to hedge funds (which are underperforming in this serene rally so far this year) in an effort to meet these hurdle rates? Either way it appears this under-appreciated drag on the real-economy as one after another small-, medium-, and large- (Safeway faces shortfalls larger than its market cap) businesses will need to eat into earnings to fund this shortfall.
The Rest…HERE


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Difference between revisions of "Belgrade"
Revision as of 01:00, 15 April 2013
Belgrade (Serbian: Београд, Beograd) [60] — meaning 'White City' — is the capital of the Republic of Serbia. Various styles of architecture dominate the city, while its recent resurgence as the leading hub in south-eastern Europe make it a must see destination.
Belgrade is the capital of the Republic of Serbia and is, as such, the country's largest city with a population of about 1.7 million people [61]. It lies on the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. The city has a long history, dating back to the 4th century BC, when the area was settled by Celtic tribes. Later on, it became the Roman city of Singidunum, and relics of that era can still be seen in the city, particularly at Kalemegdan Fortress. During the Middle Ages the town became a Serbian stronghold until the Ottoman invasion. In 1878, when Serbia got its independence, Belgrade became the capital of the new country.
After the First World War, Belgrade became the seat of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (in 1929, the country changed name to Kingdom of Yugoslavia) until its collapse, and it saw violence again in 1999 with NATO's bombing campaign. This often violent history and outside influence has colored much of Belgrade's evolution, which is evident in its culture and architecture. Often caught between the hammer and anvil of clashing empires, the city has taken on a unique character, reminiscent of both Austrian and Turkish influences, with a unique set of Communist elements thrown in as Yugoslavia was expelled from the Eastern Bloc in 1948. Yet, the city has its own spirit, and in it can be found some not only unique features, but also a healthy joie de vivre in its café culture, nightlife and often Mediterranean flavor in its view of life.
Whilst there isn't much by way of ethnic or cultural diversity in Belgrade, in terms of different migrant populations – compared to other European cities – there are minority communities (largely Roma and Chinese), as well as people from other former Yugoslav republics, such as Bosnia, Croatia and Macedonia. There is also a small expat community. Cultural events from round the world, however, are starting to be increasingly common, particularly in the spring and summer months, thanks in no small part to both local arts and culture organizations, as well as foreign embassies/cultural centers. These attract a good deal of local attention, and will help in raising the city's profile as a cultural hotspot.
Belgrade is an energetic city re-discovering its tourism potential. One great new magazine, White City is a must read for anyone who plans on visiting. They call themselves an urban magazine but it's a great lifestyle magazine written in English for both locals and foreigners. It's available at any place that sells magazines in Belgrade.
Get in
By plane
Belgrade is serviced by Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (IATA: BEG) [62], about 12 kilomeetres west of the city, and is the home base of Jat Airways – Serbia's flag carrier airline – which flies to nearly 40 destinations worldwide. Other major airlines fly to Belgrade, such as Aeroflot, Qatar Airways, Turkish and Swiss. Turkish Airlines offers twice daily flights and the best connections via its Istanbul Atatürk Airport hub to more than 200 cities around the world. Discount and no-frills carriers offer modest number of flights. Wizz Air has direct flights from London, Eindhoven, Memmingen, Gothenburg, Malmö, Charleroi, Rome, Stockholm and Dortmund to Belgrade. Istanbul based Pegasus connects Belgrade to Istanbul's smaller airport Sabiha Gökçen with great connections to many European and Eurasian cities.. Germanwings does have a number of less expensive flights to cities across Europe and Norwegian Air is another low cost airline operating to Belgrade. easyJet flies from Milan. For travellers from Asia/Middle East, the low cost airline FlyDubai offers cheap direct connections from India, Sri Lanka and other destinations to Belgrade via Dubai. For a full list of carriers see Serbia#By_plane.
Airport transfer
By train
The Central Train station is located, not surprisingly, in the city center. From the station to Republic Square is 1-2km (steep uphill) - about 15 minutes walk. All international trains stop here.
If you have any enquiries you can go to or contact the booking office at The Central Train station: Putovanja Wasteels, 11000 Beograd, Savski Trg 2. tel/fax ++381 11 265 8868. e-mail: [email protected] To Munich, Zurich and Berlin one way ticket can be bought for €44. You can book a sleeper cabin here, but leave yourself an hour to do so as there may be a queue, or you might have to go away and come back later if there is a technical problem.
For actual timetable consult: http://w3.srbrail.rs/zsredvoznje/?lang=en
By bus
Belgrade's central bus station [66] is next-door to the central train station, in Karađorđeva street. Whilst coach service to national and international destinations is frequent, departure times are usually reliable, but arrival times may be not. Timetables aren't clearly posted; the timetables that are there are in Serbian only, so ask for information inside the terminal.
Ticket reservations and purchases are made in the terminal building.
When buying a bus ticket, you will also receive a token to enter the platform area, for national travel. For international travel, you will be given a paper stub to present at the platform gate.
Be aware that most coach drivers will charge you a fee for baggage handling in the cargo compartment, though this is not a uniform practice with international travel. As of December 2012, this fee was approximately 100dinar per bag. Also be aware that drivers rarely speak English or any other foreign language. Inform yourself about your trip prior to departure as much as you can; if in doubt, ask a fellow passenger for assistance.
Coach travel in Serbia is a hit-and-miss experience; whilst there is a huge number of companies to chose from, not all of them have clean, modern coach fleets, particularly for travel within Serbia or to neighbouring Montenegro. Coaches are more often clean and modern when embarking on trips to Croatia and Western Europe. For international trips to the rest of Europe, Lasta [67] is the Eurolines carrier.
For long trips, drivers usually stop for 15 minutes breaks roughly every two hours, though this isn't by any means guaranteed. Pack appropriately with food and bottled water. When disembarking on breaks in the trip, make sure to either secure your belongings, or take them with you.
When you get off the bus, you'll probably be offered a taxi ride or baggage-carrying by some men. Don't accept any offers, no matter how they may insist. They are all illegal and their only intention is to rip you off.
By car
Coming north from Subotica and Novi Sad, the E-75 highway is recommended, as well as driving to Belgrade from the south. There is also a major road called Ibarska magistrala (Ibar highway, M-22), which provides approach from south-west (direction of Montenegro, for example). From the west, use the E-70 highway (from Zagreb, Ljubljana etc.). Major roads can be used coming east and north-east from Vršac and Zrenjanin.
Highways have toll stations, which are moderately priced. As of summer 2007, there is major roadwork on the E-75 highway north, so expect occasional delays. Serbia's only highways are parts of E-70 and E-75 roads and the highway passes right through Belgrade without a bypass, causing large unavoidable traffic jams on the Gazela bridge and at the Mostar junction.
By boat
Belgrade lies where the rivers Sava and the Danube meet. Passenger ships enable you to reach every place along the Danube in a very convenient and meditative manner with many fascinating attractions along it, but it is a quite slow and rather expensive way of travelling.
By bicycle
Belgrade is located on European bicycle route Eurovelo 6 which connects Atlantic Ocean and Black Sea.[68]
Get around
Belgrade has an extensive public transport network, covering almost all areas of the old city, Novi Beograd, Zemun and other out-lying areas. The network itself consists of a large fleet of more than 1,000 buses, trolleybuses and trams but sometimes even this is not enough, and public transport in Belgrade is usually crowded during rush hour.
City transport is divided into two tariff zones (map). Tickets are 72 RSD for one zone and 95 RSD for both. Starting 1st February 2012, new tickets (Bus Plus) are introduced. There are several types of tickets:
All tickets (except those bought from the driver) must be validated on machines inside the vehicle. Tickets are also valid for BG:Voz commuter rail, but not for BeoVoz and minibuses. Transport authorities routinely check tickets for validation — particularly at peak hours on major lines — and an infraction can land you with an uncomfortable fine, which sets you back about €30.
GSP (ГСП in Serbian Cyrillic) is a public transportation company and there are maps of bus, trolleybus and tram lines on its website. Free maps of entire public transport can be found in tourist offices and here. Most (trolley)bus/tram stops now display a map of the city, with the routes of the lines marked on it.
All vehicles are equipped with GPS tracking, so it's possible to find out how far away your (trolley)bus/tram is. The distance is given in number of stops, as well as in minutes for the lines 7, 17, 23, 29 & 95. Some bus stops have a screen displaying the waiting time for each line, but this information can always be obtained by calling a certain number on a cell phone. Each bus stop has an unique number (which is clearly written on the bus stop). After dialing *011*bus stop number#, you will receive a message with the information. This service costs 1.8 RSD, when used with from Serbian phone number.
By bus
There are over 120 urban and over 300 suburban bus lines. There are also several seasonal lines, including Ada1–Ada5, the five lines which can take you to Ada Ciganlija, and one seasonal, weekend-only line (400) which goes to the summit of Mt Avala. As of February 2012, many buses are less than five years old. The area around Zeleni Venac is a major bus hub in the city center, with many lines going to and from Novi Beograd and Zemun stopping there.
Daily transport starts at 4:00 and ends at 00:00. Night transportation is operated only by buses. It is sparse and goes every half-hour to every hour, but there are plans to make all night lines depart every half-hour. It is best to ask where and when to use it since some of the night lines are modified versions of the daily ones. Here is a map of night lines.
Take note that few regular bus lines (such as 24 or 49) are operated by minibuses, but the tickets for them are the regular ones.
By tram
There are 12 tram lines in Belgrade, three of which are connected to New Belgrade. The trams are currently being replaced with brand-new Spanish low-floor articulated, air-conditioned trams. The new trams have not yet all been delivered, so there are still some old trams driving around that are beyond their serviceable lifespan. Some trams have already been equipped with an public announcement system, that informs passengers of the next stop.
Line 2 is famous in the city with a circular route, running in both directions. The circle is known as krug dvojke (#2's circle) and rings the central city streets.
Line 3 is famous for a beautiful neighborhoods it goes through, particularly Miloš's Konak Park.
By trolleybus
Trolleybus fleet in big majority consist of new Belarusian made Belkommunmash vehicles AKSM-321 and AKSM-333, and they run only in Old Belgrade, connecting the city center to east and south-east. There are eight trolleybus lines.
By minibus
There are nine public minibus lines (E1–E9) [69]. Minibuses are all air-conditioned, smaller and generally quicker than regular city buses. However, tickets are bought only inside a minibus and they are more expensive than ordinary ones. Also, in most stops, there is no indication of minibus line routes. This means that one will have to wait for the minibus to come and read the route written on the minibus itself (or just ask the driver).
As of March 2013, minibus fare is 145 RSD and the tickets are sold by the driver.
Here is a map of minibus lines.
Take note that several regular bus lines (such as 24 or 49) are operated by minibuses, but the tickets for them are the regular ones.
By commuter rail
State-owned BeoVoz commuter rail have six lines connecting Belgrade suburbs with the city:
However, it is very unreliable, and often late. Use it only if you must, and be patient. Very patient.
There is also one line under control of City of Belgrade, and that one is called BG:Voz (BG:Train). These trains run according to schedule which is every 30 minutes (15 minutes on rush hour). Timetables for both Beovoz and Bg:Voz are available here [70].
By taxi
Taxis are cheap by European standards (though far more expensive than anywhere else in Serbia) and plentiful, and you can either hail one in the street, or call a taxi company.
General precautions
It is always best if you order taxi by phone since your order will be saved in the operator database. Here is the official info about taxi service in Belgrade.
Whenever you enter a cab, be sure to chose one with a roof sign indicating it's a city-regulated radio taxi (which carry a little blue sign with the city coat of arms and a number on it). Never take a privately owned cab (the ones with the white marker on the top that does not list the name of the company), since you can pay up to four times the normal price. Also, legal taxis must have their license plates ending with TX (for example: BG-1234-TX).
Insist that the trip be metered. The only exception is the case when you take taxi from the Arrivals section on the airport, where it is possible to buy vouchers with fixed prices. As of April 2013, the flag fall for starting a ride is RSD 170 (€1.5), and the rate is RSD 65 per kilometer (1st tariff) or RSD 85 per kilometer (2nd tariff, at night and weekends). Official maximum fares are here. Take note that a normal 'step' on a taximeter is about 3 dinars a time. Tipping taxi drivers is welcomed but not required. You only have to pay the amount displayed on the meter and your luggage is included in price.
Typical rip-off scenario involves a device known as "turbine". By pressing specially installed button (usually on the left of the steering wheel, or next to the clutch pedal) the driver starts the "turbine" and fools the meter to charge much faster then the usual speed. The change in the charging speed is obvious, so dishonest drivers talk and show around a lot, to make their passengers keep an eye off the taxi meter. The best way to prevent the driver from starting the turbine is to keep an eye on the meter at all times.
If you believe that the driver is trying to rip you off, call the operator of that taxi association to check if the price is regular for the specified distance. Afraid of the inspection, they might call back the driver and bring him to reason. Also, ask for a signed bill indicating date, time, start and end destination, price and drivers signature. Write down the number on the blue sign on the vehicle roof, as well as the license plates. Report the incident to city inspection (+381-11/3227-000) and if you are going from or to the airport, report it also to airport inspection (+381-11/2097-373, [email protected]). If the driver is aggresive towards you, call the police.
By car
As in most of Europe you must keep to the right side of the road. Avoid rush hours (8:30–9:30AM, 4:00–6:00PM). Plan you journey if you are going in to the city core, and expect to have hard time finding free parking place on the streets during Friday and Saturday evenings in the center. Garages might be a better choice.
Keep your low beam headlights turned on, during both day and night. Speed limit on the streets of the city is 50 km/h, near schools even less, on the highway is higher. Police is known to wait at places where you might feel comfortable to drive over the limit, but almost never on highway. Take special care while crossing Branko's bridge, and driving on following streets: Bulevar Mihaila Pupina, Jurija Gagarina, Vladimira Popovića, and other big ones. Keep your seat belts fastened. Other passengers must also do the same, even when sitting on the back seat (if there are seat belts installed).
Allowed level of blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.03%, which is roughly equal to one drink. If you do go by car to drink, consider going back using taxi or Safe driver service, +381-64/1746-411. They will come to pick you up on the small, folding motorcycle, pack it in your trunk, and drive you back home in your car. Their charge is modest, and slightly higher than one-way ride with the taxi (~5€ for <5km, ~7€ for <10km, and ~10€ for >10km).
Yellow lanes
Many boulevards and some streets have yellow lanes. They are reserved for public transport, i.e. buses and taxis, and you are not allowed to use them. The yellow lanes are marked with a yellow line, and are indicated on traffic signs. Some yellow lanes, though, are active only in certain periods of the day, usually during rush hours.
There are spaces for parking in the city center. There is a large parking garage with 500 spaces under the old palace in the city center, across from the parliament building.
Also, take into consideration that in the center almost all of the parking spaces in the central streets have zones marked with green, yellow or red paint on the street (yellow zone spaces are actually marked orange, to avoid confusion with other marks). You can only stay for 3, 2 or 1 hours, respectively, in those spots. You can pay using the machine usually found near the parking spots, buy the parking ticket at a kiosk or by cell phone (just text your car's license plate number (for example: BG123456) to numbers 9111 (red zone), 9112 (yellow) or 9113 (green)). Every message you send is valid for one hour and, some 5 minutes before the hour has passed, you get a text message telling you that you can send another SMS if you want to extend your parking for the next hour. Of course, this only applies in yellow and green zones, in which you can park for more than 1 hour. After the time is up, you'll have to re-park or risk paying a fine (around €15). All of this only applies on weekdays, from 7AM to 9PM and from 7AM to 2PM on Saturdays. After that (Sa 2PM – Mo 7AM) parking is free.
There are also several public parking garages and parking lots where you can park for an unlimited amount of time during day. Fees are charged on an hourly basis (price varies, usually around €0.7-0.9/hour). In some non-zoned areas, you also pay for parking depending on the duration of your stay, and this is paid in cash to the parking attendant.
Detailed information can be found on the Parking Service website [71].
Parking violations are dealt with rather swiftly in the city center and with less commitment in the peripheral zones. Failure to pay for parking in a marked spot is handled by parking enforcement officers and can only result in a fine which would be difficult to collect if you're operating a foreign licensed vehicle. On the other hand, illegally parked vehicles are handled by the traffic police. Once spotted, the police are required to wait for 15 minutes for the driver to return. If you do return in time, you will be issued a sanction and a fine (around €50). When the 15 minutes are up, your car will get towed to one of 4 designated lots in the city. You may locate it using an online service http://www.parking-servis.co.rs/en/vehicle_towing/where_is_my_vehicle. Once at the lot, you will be required to present a valid form of ID and the vehicle matriculation papers, pay the mandatory fine and towing expenses (around €90 in total).
By bicycle
Old Belgrade is pretty hilly and the bicycle infrastructure is scarce, so bicycle transport isn't in wide use. However, New Belgrade and Zemun are relatively flat and offer enough space for bikes to be used. Bicycle tracks link Zemun, Dorćol, Ada Ciganlija, New Belgrade and Bežanijska kosa. There is a bike lift on Brankov Bridge operating 365 days and the ride is free of charge. There is also more than 50 bicycle racks around the city.
Riding a bike on the same roads with cars and buses is considered too dangerous, although on smaller streets it can be reasonably safe. Avoid riding on major (multilane) roads. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to bring bikes into public transport vehicles.
Bicycle rentals are available mostly at recreational areas like Ada Ciganlija or Zemun quay. Average price is around 1.5€/hour and 4€/day.
By boat
Small boats connecting Ada Ciganlija to Novi Beograd's Block 70a are the only mode of public transport on rivers. Also, there are several tourist boats which offer day and night cruises along the Sava and Danube.
By night
Night public transport starts at midnight and lasts until 4am and is operated by buses. There are numerous lines [72] that will take youto any part of town [73]. The tickets are bought inside the bus and, as of July 2011, they are 120 RSD for one zone and 170 RSD for both zones. The ticket-seller will ask you where are you going to, so that you buy a proper ticket.
Sometimes it can occur that you ride on a daytime line well after midnight. Take note that night lines have suffix "N" (e.g. 15N) and only in them you have to buy the night ticket. Daytime lines are daytime lines even after midnight.
Belgrade city core is not too big. Everything between Kalemegdan, Knez Mihajlova street and Skadarska street is best viewed by foot. Other than that, it is recommended to use other means of transportation. Note that many of Belgrade's museums are closed on Monday. It may be wise to check before making a visit.
Churches and monasteries
Museums and galleries
Movies in Serbia are subtitled, not dubbed. Best movie theaters are:
If you prefer theaters in the city core, check also:
While Begrade isn't home to any of the traditional European football giants, the local derby between Partizan Belgrade[96] and Red Star Belgrade[97] (won both European and International Cup in 1991), also known as the Eternal Derby (Вечити дерби), is considered to be one of the most intensive sport events. Even if you do not support either club, but you enjoy cheering, watching one of the matches between the two sides is still recommended to experience the atmosphere. Due to the intensity of the rivalry, it is not recommended to wear either team's colors outside the stadium during matchdays between the two sides.
Things you must do before you leave
Serbian courses for foreigners are organized in several places including:
The currency in Serbia is the dinar (RSD). Money can be exchanged at official exchange offices (locally called menjačnica, often carrying the emblem of the National Bank of Serbia outside the building), which are clearly labeled and they are numerous in central Belgrade, or at the airport. Micko (on Vuka Karadzica street) changes all currencies, including rare ones. There are many ATMs, which accept foreign bank and credit cards without a glitch (note: they are new machines so you won't have any problems with them). Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard and Maestro are widely accepted though there are some shops, restaurants and hotels where cards are not accepted (these are very few nowadays). American Express and Diners Club cards are, on the other hand, rarely accepted. Likewise, traveler's cheques are not a well known form of payment in Serbia and cashing them in could present a challenge. The dinar is not widely convertible outside Serbia; it is advisable to re-convert your remaining dinars to Euros or other major currencies before leaving the country. Old Yugoslavian currency can be purchased from street sellers. A 500 billion dinar note makes an interesting souvenir. At Kalemegdan you can pick up a set of 10 banknotes from the hyperinflation era plus 2 gratis postcards of Belgrade for 500 dinars or 5 euro.
The stores work into late hours during work days while on Saturdays they normally close around 15.00 and most of them are not open on Sundays. Therefore, finding an activity for the weekend must be thought of beforehand. Exception to this rule are shopping malls, usually working every day including Sunday until evening hours (usually 10:00 PM).
At night, there are bars, cafés and discotheques that are open, selling cheaply priced drinks. Belgrade is reputed to have some of the best night life in Europe.
Clothes and Accessories
Import taxes make clothes and shoes in Serbia very expensive. Many items from common European chains can be found for 20% less in neighboring Budapest. Still, Belgrade has many flagship stores, mostly located on Knez Mihailova Street and the Terazije square, or the pedestrian zone, representing assorted high-fashion brands.
Almost all of the worldwide high street brands are present in the city, such as Guess, New Yorker, Zara, Bershka, Hugo Boss, Springfield, Stradivarius, Mango, Diesel, Liu Jo, C&A, Pull & Bear and numerous others. Local department store chains include Artisti and Land. More expensive clothes & accessories (such as Diane Von Furstenberg, Lanvin, Marni, D&G, Valentino, Marc Jacobs, YSL, Mulberry and many others) can be usually found at the Kralja Petra street (Dorćol) in Distante Fashion center, as well as in XYZ stores that are located in Ušće Shopping Center and Delta City. Local Belgrade designers are present in the Choomich (that is officially called Belgrade Design District) shopping center, with more than 20 stores providing newest designer fashion.
Belgrade has 2 shopping malls in the city - Delta City and Ušće Shopping Center, as well as more than 30 shopping centers like Merkator, Immo Centar, Millenium, Piramida, City Hall, Zira and others.
Cheaper clothes (among various stuff) can be found all over the city, especially in Buvljak (flea market) and Blok 70 shopping center, colloquially known as Kinezi (meaning the Chinese) because of the ethnic structure of the neighborhood. Both places are located in Novi Beograd zone.
Multi-brand store concept is catching on very quickly, so it's not going to be a problem finding all types of clothes. Best concept stores are Buzz (Knez Mihailova street), chain of street-wear stores called Urban and Avanguardia.
Biggest bookstores in Belgrade selling beside Serbian also foreign (mostly English) books are located in the city center. Those are:
Vulkan is at the beginning and Plato is at the end of Knez Mihailova street.
International Newspapers and Magazines
Kiosks and and bookstores in the city sell foreign newspapers and magazines. These include Delfi, Plato Press (near Studentski trg) and Inmedio (three locations - Delta City, Usce Center, Zira Center). Newspapers and magazines can be found in various international languages like English, Spanish, Italian, French, Russian, German and others.
Shopping Malls
Serbs are very proud of their food, which is heavy on grilled meats and sausages, local cheeses and bread. Salads are primarily tomato, cucumber, and onion, or cabbage. Local produce is fresh and organic.
Belgrade has hundreds of restaurants specializing in local cuisine and a few international restaurants. On the whole, prices are cheap compared to Western Europe with main dishes ranging from €5–20 per person.
Most Serbian restaurants offer roštilj, a large plate of various unseasoned grilled meats, or any possible variety of grilled chicken wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cheese. It is possible to order fresh salads, plates of grilled vegetables, crepes, or omelettes if you are not carnivorous. Serbian cuisine is famous for its heavy use of varied vegetables, fresh or cooked.
Snacking and eating on the go in Belgrade are easy and cheap. Bakeries – called pekara – are ubiquitous in the city center, and you will find a wide assortment of breads, sweet and savoury pastries, sandwiches and pizza on offer. Some are open 24 hours. A snack or light meal of pastry and drinkable yoghurt (similar to kefir) will give you an added healthy boost when walking about the city center. For good taste of Sarajevo pie try Fofa (Cyrillic: Фофа) at Kralja Petra 75. Nice gesture is that Fofa does not charge to pregnant women.
Foods that vegetarians and meat eaters alike should try include kajmak (something between cream cheese and butter) and ajvar, a savory spread made out of roasted red peppers. It is also worth visiting a pijaca (green market) to buy some fresh fruit, vegetables and other grocery items. The farmer's market at Zeleni Venac, close to the Hotel Moscow, is not one of the largest, but it is the one with the least expensive merchandise – in the city. Contained in a newly-built complex, it makes for an enjoyable Saturday morning experience, with the lively hustle and bustle of people milling about and stall-owners trying to attract customers. Depending on the season, an amazing assortment of fruit and veg can be found in farmer's markets, including watermelons, olives, wild mushrooms and fresh figs. Take the time to explore the stalls, and compare the quality and prices of the produce. Most produce at the farmer's markets in Belgrade are organic and fresh from the farmer's gardens brought over daily from the villages surrounding the city. You will notice the particularly good taste of this produce.
There is also pljeskavica, the Serbian version of a hamburger which can be purchased from fast food restaurants. You can find your typical McDonald's, Pizza Hut and KFC, but most of the fast food restaurants in Belgrade are local and sell baked goods, pizza, sandwiches, and pancakes (crepes). Some may go beyond that, selling Turkish delicacies such as baklava, tulumba and other Greek/Turkish treats. Coffee culture in Belgrade is particularly developed, walking about the central areas of the city you will find sprawling terraces and cafés, serving all types of coffee and sweets, particularly Viennese type cakes and local specialties. Be sure to try Serbian Turkish style coffee, and chestnut purée with whipped cream, a local specialty especially at Republic Square (available mostly during winter).
However, the most famous dish in Serbia is ćevapčići. Also called Ćevapi, they are a traditional Serbian food that is also eaten throughout the former Yugoslavia. It consists of different types of minced meat mixed together, shaped like small sausages, and then put on the grill. It is usually eaten with diced onion, and is very tasty.
Do not forget to taste the Karađorđeva Šnicla. It is meat that is filled with kajmak and bacon, and then also grilled. It is another traditional Serbian dish that honors the leader of the first Serbian uprising.
Try other traditional Serbian dishes, such as pečenje (roast pork or lamb), veal soup...
International Cuisine
There are a handful of international restaurants, including Italian, Chinese and Japanese. These are moderately priced to very expensive. Many dine out at:
Serbian Cuisine
For those interested in what would be a typical Serbian meal, check out these places :
Some restaurants are famous not only by the quality, but also the quantity of the meals:
If you prefer a delicious fish meal try fish gourmet restaurants:
Price is not so high, the best value for money. tel: +381 11 30 15 082 +381 11 30 15 083
Lila - svet izobilja, Palmotićeva 5 (center), +81 11 334 1845. Indian food with a day menu. There is a fixed price for 1 kilogram for all meals, the price you pay depends on the amount of food you take. Lila also serves desserts and lassi.
Jazzayoga Kralja Aleksandra 48 (center), 011 32 42 173.[122] Sandwiches, wraps, juices, and baked goods.
Tel Aviv Hummus House Carica Milice 3[123], across from the McDonald's at Zeleni Venac. Delicious and cheap Middle Eastern food. Falafel sandwich is healthy and quick and costs less than 3 euro.
Despite the warnings of the US.CDC[124], tap water in Belgrade is perfectly safe. There is a wide range of bottled waters on offer in grocery stores, supermarkets, and kiosks.
Serbs love beer, and it is possible to buy a variety of domestic beers such as Jelen, Lav, MB, Pils... along with a few imported beers, at very cheap prices. The domestic beers are quite decent. Made in Serbia beers also include Heineken, Amstel, Tuborg, Stella Artois, and Beck's. Belgrade holds a Beer Festival annually in August.
For the sober crowd, Belgrade has blueberry, raspberry, tomato, peach, apple, strawberry, and any other kind of juice you can think of.
All cafés serve the usual continental coffees, such as espresso and cappuccino. However, regular coffee comes in the form of Turkish coffee, not filtered coffee. If you want a filtered coffee, you need to specify this when ordering, and not all coffee shops have it. Also very popular is whipped instant coffee, commonly referred to simply as 'Nes' (as in, Nescafé). A cafe called Mali Prag (across from the Hotel Prag) is thought by some to offer the best "Serb Coffee" in the world.
There are a couple of places worth visiting if you are a fan of cafe culture. The street best known for its trendy cafes is definitely Strahinjića Bana. On this street, cafes are full even on weekdays. The best atmosphere is on Friday evenings when the trendy youth of Belgrade descend to enjoy the music and each other. Out of numerous cafes, the best ones are:
The second cafe zone is Obilićev Venac (a street parallel to Knez Mihailova). The best cafes there are:
Third cafe zone (also a going out zone) is quay next to hotel Yugoslavia in Zemun. On the quay are numerous river boats (splavovi), many of them are cafes, restaurants and clubs.
Other places worth visiting:
Adventure sightseeing and tours in Belgrade
"Belgrade adventure" opened by Tourist Organization of Belgrade and Wild Serbia. New active holiday options in the very center of Belgrade. On the Sava and Danube River regular kayak tours "Six Bridges of Save River" and "Kayaking around the War Island - jungle in the heart of Belgrade". The first program is a 3 hour kayak tour during which all participants will sail under the bridges of Belgrade (Ada bridge, Stari zeleznicki bridge, Novi zeleznicki bridge, Gazela, Stari savski bridge and Brankov bridge). There is also a possibility of sightseeing the Belgrade fortress and Old Town. "Kayaking around the War island - a jungle in the heart of Belgrade" is 4 hour kayaking adventure through the protected natural area in the city and sightseeing from the river perspective, which includes a short break in Lido Beach, visit of the Veliki Galijas canal as well as kayaking and stay on the Sava and Danube rivers.
Pubcrawls and sightseeing
Tourism brand Go2 Serbia is part of Travel Agency Eurojet with 20 years of tradition..
Several hotels have opened up in Belgrade recently, mainly in the center of the city. Some are only open in the summer, but a couple function all year round. There are also several hotels right around the train station that are relatively cheap (€30-40) however the quality varies. Just walk around and you should find one with empty rooms without much difficulty.
Budget hotels
Stay safe
Overall, Belgrade is a somewhat safe city, but like anywhere, you should always keep money, mobile phones, travel documents and other valuable personal items in secure places. Pickpockets are known to operate in public transportation, and other crowded places so never wear a backpack or purse on your back and make sure that you have your wallet in one of your front pockets. If you own a car, it is preferable to have a security system. Traffic laws are usually observed although nervous drivers can change lanes suddenly or make dangerous turns when avoiding traffic during rush hour. The taxi drivers are notorious for swerving in and out of lanes. Pay close attention to the traffic signals as a pedestrian.
Also try to avoid getting into conflicts. If you are staying out late in a bar or a club, there is always a small chance that someone will try to pick a fight especially if you are in a group and a single guy is showing hostility. That is a trap by local thugs looking for a brawl. That is not because you are a foreigner: it is just the "law of the streets": anyone can be the target. Just ignore them and walk away no matter what they say or do. The chances that this will happen are very low, but stay alert. Do not try to make fun of the locals in your native language. Almost everyone has at least a basic understanding of English and is familiar with foul words and curses.
In case of an emergency, call 192 (police), 193 (fire) or 194 (ambulance). Always carry the phone number and an address of your embassy with you. In case of injury or illness, the place to go is the Urgentni centar (Emergency center), Pasterova 2 of the Clinical Center of Serbia. Be aware that not all medical facilities have personnel that speak English or other foreign languages. Consult the embassy of your country if possible.
Pharmacies on duty 24/7:
Gay and lesbian travelers
In Serbia, including Belgrade, violence against gays and lesbians can occur. Gay and lesbian travelers should be discreet. As a rule, public displays of affection between two people of the same sex are likely to be met with verbal abuse and/or physical violence. There are several gay bars and clubs all around the city and they tend to get quite full. Be cautious when arriving at or leaving such clubs. Often there are security personnel guarding the immediate entrance. There are quite a few LGBT parties organized periodically by various organizations and at different locations, such as Loud and Queer events. Avoid football fan crowds at all costs if you think you may be a target because of your appearance which tend to be extremely violent and homophobic. There are several LGBT organisations at your disposal in Belgrade. Find them on sites such as Queeria, Gay-Serbia.com, Labris, etc. Chatting to the LGBT community on Gayromeo.com will help to identify the main hotspots. Search on Facebook and FourSquare.com information on current venues including (LGBT bars) Fenix, Mystic, Smiley; (gay-friendly bars) Cafe Downtown; (gay-friendly restaurants) Supermarket and Zaplet; and (gay clubs) Apartman and Pleasure.
Fenix, Patrijarha Varnave 13 (Vracar / Slavija), close to Sveti Sava Temple, Belgrade, Tel +381 (0)64 824 6873
Mystik, Cumiceva 2, first floor, off ramp from Nusiceva Street (near Terazije) (Stari Grad, Belgrade)
Smiley, in alley off Terazije 5 (Stari Grad, Belgrade) (open 15-01h) opposite Palata Albanija
My Way, Gospodar Jevremova 50, Upper Dorcol, Stari Grad (Open: Mon - Thu: 17-01h, Fri - Sat: 17-04h)
Egal, Obilićev venac 3a, Stari Grad
Cafe Downtown, Cika Ljubina 7 close to Republic Square (Stari Grad, Belgrade) (open 09-00h), Tel +381 (0) 11 621 614
KC Grad, Braće Krsmanović 4, Savamala, near the Brankov most Brigde
Supermarket, Visnjiceva 10, Upper Dorcol (Stari Grad), 11000 Belgrade, Tel +381 (0)11 291 0941
Zaplet, Kajmakcalanska 2, Vracar, 11000 Belgrade, Tel +381 (0)11 240 4142 (closed Mondays)
GAY CLUBS - Friday/Saturday nights only
Apartman, Karadjordjeva 43 (third floor) next to Branko Bridge, (Stari Grad) 11000 Belgrade, Tel +381 (0)63 198 1606
Pleasure, Kneza Milosa 9 (in courtyard next to Turkish Embassy), (Stari Grad) 11000 Belgrade
Heaven Parties, Bulevar Vojvode Misica 12 (situated at the BIGZ building)
International telephone code for Serbia is 381. Most cities in Serbia and mobile operators have 2-digit area code. There is only one area code for Belgrade and that is 11. Typical land-line phone number in Belgrade +381-11/xxx-xxxx. Typical mobile phone number is +381-6x/xxx-xxxx. From Serbian land line phone, use 00 prefix for international calls (e.g. 0041-20/xxx-xxxx for Amsterdam, Netherlands), and prefix 0 for calls inside Serbia but outside your area (e.g. 021/xxx-xxxx for Novi Sad, Serbia or 06x/xxx-xxxx for Serbian mobile). If you dial inside the same area, there is no need to use the prefix (just dial xxx-xxxx).
Basically, the whole city is covered with mobile networks of all three Serbian operators. It is easy to buy and charge cheap pre-paid numbers at the kiosks around the city. If you use 064 pre-paid number, use *100# to check the credit, for 063, use *121#, for 061, use *123#.
There is a number of red-colored payphones across the city, operated by telephone cards available at the kiosks.
Free wireless access is available at Student park in Belgrade center. Mobile operators offers pre- and post-paid wireless Internet packages.
Local Media
Belgrade's most popular radio station, Radio S (94.9), features music from the former Yugoslav countries, while Index (88.9), Antena Beograd (107.9), Gradski (102.2), B92 (92.5) and Studio B (105.4) play mostly English-language pop/rock music. Radio S, Radio Index and B92 cover all of Serbia and offer occasional traffic reports.
Television is exclusively in Serbian, but foreign films and series are broadcast with original audio and Serbian subtitles. Some hotels offer channels from other European countries.
Belgrade Insight [135] is the only English-language local newspaper.
Stay healthy
When it snows in winter, the streets are covered in sleet the next day, so be careful when walking. The Košava, a notorious Belgrade wind, may give you a cold more quickly than you would expect, particularly in winter - take care and dress appropriately.
Also be mindful of the high number of stray animals roaming streets, particularly dogs, even in the city center. Whilst it is very rare that they demonstrate outward signs of illness or aggression, err on the side of caution and avoid coming in physical contact.
Pharmacies – called 'apoteka' – are found throughout the city center. Look for lit green crosses on building façades. Some, such as the one in Kralja Milana Str, are open twenty-four hours. These will carry a range of prescription medicines, as well as over-the-counter products like pain killers and vitamin supplements.
There are dozens of Gyms around the city, every neighborhood has at least one. Prices range (so as quality) €20–50 per month, or a bit less for 12/16 visits.
In case you need to fix your umbrella you may do that in the last remaining umbrella service in town in Visnjiceva 4.
Embassies and High Commissions
Get out
Travel between cities in Serbia, and the whole former Yugoslavia, is mainly done by bus. There is a route planner for bus travel inside the whole of Serbia (including Kosovo): polazak.com [136]. Belgrade is also connected by train with most major cities in Serbia. The timetable for trains can be found on the website of Serbian Railways [137]. One can also take the commuter/regional train to destinations near Belgrade, such as Pančevo. Some commuter trains are run by the Serbian Railways, while others are run by the public transit corporation of Belgrade. The timetables for these commuter/regional can also be found on the website of the Serbian Railways [138].
Sites of interest


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Pecans roasting on an open fire… and toasted to perfection! These roasted nuts have a festive twist and provide plenty of nourishment. Nuts are packed with omega 3s which reduce inflammation and keep our hearts healthy. Specifically, one study found that pecans may help lower levels of LDL cholesterol enough to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease by as much as 25%. These spiced pecans are free of refined sugars and make a great snack on their own, or are lovely sprinkled on oatmeal or granola. Warning: may cause kitchen to smell like a bakery.
- 1 cup pecans
- 1/2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 1 tspn cinnamon
- 1/4 tspn ginger
- 1/4 tspn all spice
- 1/4 tspn nutmeg
- pinch of salt
- splash of pure maple syrup
How to:
- Preheat oven to 250 deg F (cooking nuts above 250 deg F can produce harmful toxins).
- Stir oil, spices, and syrup in a small bowl.
- Drizzle over pecans in a larger bowl and toss to coat them.
- Spread out pecans in one layer on a baking sheet (I lined mine with parchment paper) and cook for 40-50 minutes.
PCOS Powers:
- pecans = high in ellagic and oleic acids which may help lower LDL cholesterol, protect against cardiovascular disease and lower breast cancer risk, high in magnesium which is anti-inflammatory and lowers blood pressure
- cinnamon = may help balance glucose levels, lower cholesterol, and decrease triglycerides in blood
- ginger = anti-inflammatory, may help decrease LDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose and HbA1c
- coconut oil = anti-inflammatory, may positively impact thyroid function, may improve cholesterol profiles by increasing HDL cholesterol, use is controversial in the scientific community due to high saturated fat content so I use in moderation
- S. Rajaram, K. Burke, B. Connell, T. Myint and Joan Sabate'. 2001. A Monounsaturated Fatty Acid-Rich- Enriched Diet Favorably Alters the Serum Lipid Profile of Healthy Man and Women. Journal of Nutrition 131:2275-2279.
- Sherman L. Cinnamon improves blood pressure and blood sugar in diabetics. The Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2011:76.
- Najarzadeh A, Mahammadi M, Jalali B, Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Talaei B, Fallahzadeh H. The Effect of Ginger on Blood Glucose, Lipid and Lipoproteins in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Controlled Trial. Journal of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. 2012;20:383-395.
- Grzanna R, Lindmark L, Frondoza C. Ginger-an herbal medicinal product with broad anti-inflammatory action. J Med Food. 2005;8:125-132.
- Assunção ML, Ferreira HS, dos Santos AF, Cabral J, Cyro R, Florêncio, Telma M M T. Effects of dietary coconut oil on the biochemical and anthropometric profiles of women presenting abdominal obesity. Lipids. 2009;44:593-601.
- Yeap SK, Beh BK, Ali NM, et al. Antistress and antioxidant effects of virgin coconut oil in vivo. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. 2015;9:39-42.


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Which Is the Best Bottled Cold Brew Coffee?
Do I detect a bead of sweat trickling from your brow? Why then it's time to take a look at what cold-brewed coffees await summer in the fridge, each year heralding another season of boldly packaged, pret-a-pour iced coffees to take the edge off that summer swelter. We examined 5 commercially available bottled cold-brew coffees and tasted them looking for not just taste, but technique, suitability in milk, and their ability to transcend those terrible typical qualities of flat, dull, stale flavor so often found in cold brew methods. Here are our refreshing findings.
If there's one thing that harmonizes with the oft-flat flavors of cold brewed coffee it's chicory, and Grady's New Orleans-style will suit those who prefer to swing that way. Cold-brewed using beans from New York City roaster Porto Rico, Grady's subtle, cool brew tastes best with a little milk. (The manufacturer also suggests milk substitutes, like soy or almond milk, which would probably taste just fine with this already flavor-tweaked profile of chicory and spices.)
Comes in a resealable 32 ounce bottle, to use over a few glasses or share with friends.
Available for $15 from Grady's.
La Colombe Pure Black Coffee
As much of a thrill as it can be to purchase this longneck cold coffee out of a retro vending machine, having undissolved coffee grounds spat out of the bottle upon opening was a disagreeable start. On further inspection, there are a LOT of chunky coffee grounds in here—the bottle says it's filtered twice, but perhaps they might want to take a third pass?
This flavor is "Corsica Blend", made from a 16-hour wine cask steeping of La Colombe's own Philly-roasted beans. It's strong all right, but bitter and unbalanced, lacking in subtlety or any flavor other than very roasty coffee. Might be kind of awesome with a ton of cream and sugar, or mixed into an ice cream float, but I can't get past the giant chunk of coffee sludge that's wedged itself into the mouth of the bottle as I pour. Mind the stray particles, and keep a hand towel nearby.
Available for $3 from La Colombe.
Austin, Texas startup Chameleon specializes only in cold brew concentrate (enjoy imagining yourself drinking it with your cool-looking friends on your front porch, like their website suggests) made from Fair Trade Organic beans. The bottle touts the high caffeine content, too, but reminds you to dilute their concentrate with equal parts water or milk.
Though the brew is subtly smoky on the nose, there's almost no nuance of flavor here. It is totally pleasant and coffee-like without tasting flat or stale, but lacks any particular flavors that might represent anything about the actual coffee that's gone into it.
Available from $11 from Chameleon.
Gorilla Black Coffee
This diminutive, boldly designed TetraPak of cold brewed coffee weighs in at $4 for 11 ounces. Lack of breakable glass makes this an easy go-to iced coffee for travel (assuming you're traveling somewhere with ice). Gorilla cold brews this for over 12 hours in "a little town called Brooklyn", but the intense coffee, with aggressive flavors of molasses and winey, tart fruit, is displeasurable, even when diluted. We'll pass.
Available for $4 from Gorilla Coffee.
Stumptown Stubby
We've tried this one before, and this season's cutely-bottled Stumptown batch of cold brew is just as reliable and flavorful. Expect a tiny bit of fruit, a tiny bit of funk, but all of this proves to be brightening in the glass and tastes good over ice.
Comes in bottlecapped brown glass bottle, brewed with their own beans roasted here in Brooklyn and ready to drink straight. Doesn't have that flat, sad, stale flavor usually present in cold brews, and uses beans with enough subtlety to provide actual nuance. We have a winner!
Available for $3.50 from Stumptown cafes and specialty markets.
Coffee samples provided for review consideration.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Nobbies boardwalk
Spectacular cliff top scenery from a boardwalk leading to a blowhole. You may even spot a seal or migrating whale. 500m: easy.
Pyramid Rock lookout
Two viewing platforms, the first wheelchair accessible. 10 minutes return: easy.
Pyramid Rock to Berrys Beach
Take the cliff top track to a secluded beach. Start at Pyramid Rock car park. 5 kms, 2 hrs return: moderate.
Kitty Miller Bay shipwreck walk
Walk to the wreck of the SS Speke – low tide only. Start at Kitty Miller Bay car park and walk east (left) along the beach and rock platform. 2 kms, 1.5 hours return: moderate.
Check tide times


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Inland Truck Parts is an independent parts and service operation, but it says the quality of its technicians rival that of OE dealers. Its latest commitment to that is a new 15,000-square-foot training facility in Olathe, Kan., a Kansas City suburb.
The facility houses everything from traditional classrooms to 12 remanufacturing stations (six for manual transmissions and six for Allison automatics). The layout mimics actual shop environments in Inland's 27 locations.
A pair of medium-duty trucks and a late-model Class 8 tractor were also purchased to use in training on everything from preventive maintenance and tune-ups to electronic diagnostics and troubleshooting. The Class 8 rig includes a sleeper, which can be particularly challenging when it comes to air conditioning work.
"It's just like it is out in the store," says Inland President and CEO Dave Scheer, "so the student gets a full hands-on experience and then can take that knowledge and transfer it right to his main job. We even have two drive-in service bays to simulate the real work experience."
While Inland already employed two dedicated full-time trainers, they previously have conducted training inside the stores, which can disrupt business as well as distract students. The separate training facility provides an environment that promotes uninterrupted attention for better results.
Hands-on technician training is done in small groups – generally no more than six – so every attendee gets ample opportunity to participate.
"We have full capabilities to train technicians hands-on versus 'let's watch everyone else work on it while we stand around,'" Scheer says. "As we remanufacture components they can touch it and feel it and do it."
Classes span no more than two or three days.
"If you go too long, you have a stamina issue that can affect the ability to absorb information," Scheer explains.
With classroom space for up to 100 students, the Olathe training center also offers classes in "soft skills" such as communication and conflict resolution.
The curriculum at the training center is based on feedback from an Inland training advisory council made up of store, service and shop managers. For instance, some of the 2013 classes include ones on Allison transmissions, Eaton automated transmission electronics, aluminum drivelines, failure analysis, mobile air conditioning and intermediate electronics.
Once a list of topics is established, the course outline is posted on the company's Intranet. Employees then consult with their supervisors and sign up for classes according to individual interests and needs.
Inland relies on suppliers for only about 20% of its technician training, a fact that Inland believes gives it a competitive advantage against shops who rely heavily on outside sources.
For a photo gallery of Inland's new training facility, click here.


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Residents untrusting of latest wind siting investigation
Credit: By Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff | Tuesday, January 28, 2014 | www.iberkshires.com ~~
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – After five years of questioning attempts to pass a Wind Energy Siting Reform Act, there is little wonder anti-wind activists don't trust the newest state investigation into the issue.
The Department of Public Utilities held a hearing on Monday on the latest try at developing a wind siting policies. This study is an interagency look at developing guidelines and suggestions for how to permit land-based wind power facilities.
"I want to emphasize that the task at hand for the DPU is to develop a voluntary guidance document on the siting of wind energy facilities. The department is not developing enforceable standards, requirements or regulations," said James Buckley, the hearing officer presiding on Monday. "The guidance document when issued will not alter existing state or local permitting authority or responsibilities."
The document is being crafted by the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, the Green Energy Center, the state Department of Environmental Protection, state Department of Energy Resource and the DPU. The goal, Buckley said, is to craft a document that could be of assistance to local and state permitting authorities.
The goal is to find the best practices of wind energy, which includes research into socioeconomics, health, environment, safety, decommissioning, construction impacts and design. Those best practices are expected to be shared with communities to help guide them.
However, the move comes on the heels of five consecutive attempts by the Patrick administration to pass the Wind Siting Reform Act, which could have eliminated local control of the permitting process and instead appointed a granting authority for all projects statewide.
In the Berkshires, the act was fiercely opposed because of the perceived lack of local control and the predominance of identified sites. With higher elevations and open space, residents fears industrial wind turbines would be placed in their back yards without their input.
On Monday, they tore into Department of Public Works officials, claiming this latest investigation is just another attempt to push wind-siting laws. But, this time, by going through the DPU it would bypass the Legislature.
"WESRA, or pseudonyms for it and in this case is DPU Order 13-165, is Gov. Patrick's zombie legislation. It's been killed over and over and over again and it should stay dead. But it keeps stalking our communities with renewed malcontent in spite of strong opposition from the public," Lenox resident Cynthia Wick said.
Wick, who led off the hearing, believes this investigation is just another attempt to remove local control. She feels the push for industrial wind energy isn't about reducing carbon emissions or combating global warming, but instead trying to help big businesses reap profits off of the Berkshire ridge line.
"It is an outrage and citizens of Massachusetts looking for smart energy policy [are] going to step up to fight it every time it rises from the dead," Wick said.
And she isn't alone. John DiTomaso of Peru said while this investigation may not create laws and processes to remove local control, it will be the basis for the next attempt.
"It will resurrect the Wind Energy Reform Act," he said, adding that with uncertainties of the impacts on communities, "now is the time to strengthen local control."
Outspoken wind-power critic Eleanor Tillinghast questioned why residents should trust the DPU's investigation under the request of Patrick because of past efforts.
The administration has spent five years "trying to push turbines into our communities" so why would this be different, she asked.
"The guidance will be nothing more than a boon for the winding industry," she said. "The Patrick administration has earned our distrust."
Janet Sinclair, of Buckland, pointed to the DPU's previous rulings including one where the regulatory authority provided an exception from local zoning bylaws for a biomass company. There have been wind turbine proposals in her area and they were stopped only because of local laws.
But now that DPU is involved in wind siting, she is worried that they would make a similar ruling allowing it to go forward.
Notably, none of the Berkshire's elected officials testified at the hearing.
Reached on Monday night, state Sen. Benjamin Downing, who sits on the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, said the DPU does not have the authority to regulate or permit such wind projects and can only create voluntary guidelines.
Nonetheless, residents are on their toes watching for any indication that the state will somehow override their input on these projects.
Buckley said residents can continue to submit written comments to the DPU and another round of hearings will be held when the draft is issued. Monday's hearing was the third the department held.
"We're here to listen," Buckley said.
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe "fair use" as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar "fair dealing" provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
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Jenni Rivera's remains identified after plane crash
A state official says Jenni Rivera's family has identified the remains of the Mexican-American music star killed in plane crash.
Nuevo Leon state security spokesman Jorge Domene said DNA tests are still pending. The singer's remains will be given to the family once the tests are completed in coming days.
Officials said earlier that two state police officers had been arrested on suspicion of stealing unspecified items from the scene of the plane crash that killed Rivera.
The Nuevo Leon state government says authorities found images of the scene on the smartphone of one of the officers, who is 23, while trying to determine now the Mexican media got photographs of the secured site, including images of body parts and personal documents.


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- Home
- About Me
- About this Blog
- Recipe Index
- Reflections and Reviews
- Kitchen Notes
- Blogroll
Saturday, 27 September 2008
Fridge Door Confessions
Our fridge is so crowded that it is even filling up on the sides. Both E and I seem to accumulate clutter – don't ask me how! And our fridge door is not immune. I have included a picture of the fridge (right) which shows that there is not much unused space on our fridge door. Apart from magnets, the door is filled with the likes of our shopping list, bills, dentist reminders, postcards, newspaper clippings, photos, business cards and takeaway menus.
I have done a little shuffling and photographed a close-up (top) for Wendy with some choice pieces. There will be no surprise to see a few giraffes there and I have left in a few freebie magnets that find their way here.
The DJ cat postcard was found on our last trip to Edinburgh – still makes us laugh! Quite a few of the magnets come from Scotland. The bagpiping angel from the Thistle Chapel at St Giles Cathedral reminds me of my time volunteering there.
Quite a few magnets are souvenirs of trips we have made. The tiki magnet I bought in New Zealand had to be included because E is going through a tiki phase. I quite like the New York magnet which was bought in 1999 and has the Twin Towers in the background. We love checking the thermometer on the Darwin fridge magnet (with the crocodile) when it gets hot.
Finally one of my very favourite magnets has to be the one that says, 'if it's a man's world, let him clean it'. Always gives me a smile.
7 comments:
Ooo I love being nosey and looking at other peoples kitchens, fridge doors and well....whatever else they take photos of :PReplyDelete
Mine is surprisingly clean at the moment, I cleared it off 2 days ago :( but with 3 kids at school you can imagine what it usually looks like! Eek! Certainly not suitable for public viewing!
PS. I love your giraffes!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous28 September 2008 at 02:47
What fun! Love the giraffes, of course. And that thermometer, too! We have a (non-magnet) Eiffel Tower thermometer that a friend brought back from France in the 90's. . . always check it out when the weather changes.ReplyDelete
Would love to participate in this one. . .if I can tidy it up a bit beforehand!
Our fridge is hidden behind a wooden so it 'blends' into the rest of the kitchen, is it sad that I am feeling jealous of everyones fridge magnets?ReplyDelete
Thanks Vegetation - this is a good event for the curious such as you and me!ReplyDelete
thanks Ricki - I can recommend the close-up rather than the tidy-up :-) Love the sound of your thermometer
thanks Flower - I think I would be sad not to have a fridge to adorn with magnets and the like - but your kitchen is probably much less cluttered than mine
I love the giraffes (and the Kiss me I'm Scottish magnet!). Our magnets extend round the side of our fridge as well - in fact that's where the bits of paper and lists live as my other half got too fed up with picking them up off the floor every time he opened the fridge!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous29 September 2008 at 11:10
Lovely. Such a fun blogging idea - and I am very nosey around other people's fridge doors, too!ReplyDelete
Thanks for dropping by. I love hearing from you. Please share your thoughts and questions. Annoyingly the spammers are bombarding me so I have turned on the pesky captcha code (refresh to find an easy one if you don't like the first one)


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6 Common Money Mistakes Made by Celebrities
by JS
Sure, they might be famous and they might have made a lot of money, but that doesn't mean they don't run into financial troubles just like all the rest of us. That's right, celebrities make money mistakes too. In fact, they make even more money than most of us so their mistakes are bigger too.
Here's a look at 6 huge money mistakes celebrities have made over the past couple of years.
He Get's Half of What?
That just might be what Madonna is saying in a few weeks. Reports are that she and husband Guy Richie are on the verge of calling it quits.
And you know what? There was no pre-nuptial agreement. So that means Mr. Richie will get half of everything Madonna has.
Just ask Paul McCartney how that feels. He paid his ex-wife, Heather Mills, nearly 49 million dollars.
This is Too Sad
The early death of Heath Ledger was bad enough.
But to make matters even worse, he hadn't updated his will in nearly 5 years. So his daughter and his girlfriend Michelle Williams, who is also the mother of his child, received no money from him.
Ledger failed to update his will to include these loved ones whom he didn't even know when his last will was written.
I Don't Make Enough Money to Save Anything
Recently Britney Spears' father had to take over control of her finances. Apparently Brittany loves to spend money. In fact, it must burn a hole in her Louis Vuitton because she has not saved one cent of her earnings.
That's right. She makes roughly $738,000 a month, but she spends every last penny of that money, every single month.
Say what you want, but that takes a lot of work.
The Tax Man Cometh
But Wesley Snipes must not have remembered his taxes or the tax man.
Because he failed to pay an estimated 15 million dollars in taxes.
Now he's doing three years in prison for his lack of good judgment.
Stars Get Scammed Too
Hopefully you haven't been taken by the Nigerian email scam or the phone call scam that asks for your bank account number.
If you have fallen for such a scam then you have something in common with Larry King.
Recently King lost millions of dollars on a complex insurance investing scam.
It's horrible how these scam artists prey on the elderly.
I Bet You Can't Lose More Money then These Guys
An estimated 9,000,000 people have an addiction to gambling. Ex-sports stars make up a portion of that 9,000,000.
The best basketball player ever, Michael Jordan, reportedly lost a cool $1,000,000 on just one game of golf. Another basketball player, Charles Barkley, admits he's lost about $10,000,000 to gambling in the past year. Golfer John Daly claims to have lost between $50 and $60 million.
Wow. Perhaps these guys should join some type of softball league or something.


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Canada VMap1, Library 17: Political Boundary Lines
- Description:
- VMap1 is a vector digital topographic reference product developed by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and The Department of National Defence (DND). VMap1 complies with international military specifications vector map, level 1. There are 24 VMap1 libraries covering the Canadian territory. The National Topographic Data Base (NTDB) at scale of 1:250 000 is the main source used to populate the Canadian VMap1 Libraries. Administrative Boundaries from Statistics Canada are used to add international borders, provincial and Indian reserve limits. NRCan paper maps at scale of 1:250 000 and the information in the Canadian Geographical Names Data Base (CGNDB) are used to capture the names. The JOG (Joint Operations Graphic) paper maps were used by DND for the production of libraries 37, 38 and 66. Topographic features mainly from the NTDB have not been updated. VMap1 is published once and no product revision is planned.
- Publisher:
- Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation
- Collection:
- VMap 1 and Canada VMap1, Library 17
- Place(s):
- Canada, Northwest Territories, Canada, and Alberta, Canada
- Subject(s):
- Boundaries and Administrative and political divisions
- Format(s):
- Shapefile
- Year(s):
- 1945 and 1996
- Held by:
- Preservation record:
- http://hdl.handle.net/2451/35108
|Click on map to inspect values


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Shouts, updates or news items from this month are shown below in descending date order.
Thank you once again to all our Rafters! Rain failed to dampen your spirits and we had a record turnout of 83 Rafts!! Which was amazing! The day got off to a great start with the Junior Raft Race: Results below...
Orange hand built craft - Kellie, Rachel, Derek and Shane
Rafts from as far afield as Newtownards, Belfast, and even Portglenone arrived in not so sunny Portrush to take part in the 28th Raft Race sponsored by SPAR Retail.
83 Rafts registered this year to take part. This is one of the highest entries so far. In pouring rain the keen rafters took to the sea with gusto! But as usual the Hawthorne inn from Portglenone took the honours. These guys really know how to raft.
The Raft Race Committee are overwhelmed at the number of rafts and enthusiasm deployed this year especially in light of the economic downturn.
Rosemary Bell, Chair of the Raft Race Committee said: 'We are indebted to all our rafters for their enthusiasm in raising funds for Portrush Lifeboat Station, especially in such inclement weather. Everyone entered the spirit of the event, which is great fun for the rafters and the organisers. We are especially indebted top SPAR retail for their generous sponsorship'
Sunday stayed dry for the Church Service on the quay, which was well attended. The Portrush Lifeboat Chaplain conducted the service for 2009 Rev Peter McDowell, assisted by Pastor Todd, Rev Robert Simpson, and Deaconess Julie Peake. Ballywillan Band as usual provided the music.
The Waiters Race made a welcome return this year organised by Rodney Byrne and Alan McFadden. There was a great turn out from the local hostelries. However, Royal Portrush Golf Club won the day returning the most fluids to the finishing line. Sharman Crawford and Holly Williams lifted the trophy for collecting the most money, £850.
In total the amount raised by the Waiters Race was £1800
The Raft Race Committee would really love your comments on the day and how we can improve it. Please send all suggestions to email@example.com
The SPAR RNLI Charity Raft Race takes place on Saturday 23rd May 2009 at the Harbour area in Portrush.
The fun kicks off at 11.30am with the Junior Raft Race down at the pontoon, rafts and paddles are provided for the Junior Rafters
There will be the usual spring fair stalls and other attractions including old fashioned stocks were people can have a go throwing wet sponges at willing volunteers!
The two Portrush Lifeboats will be on display, showing why the Raft Race is so important in the fundraising calendar for Portrush Lifeboat Station. Mark Mitchell, 2nd Deputy Cox will be the commentator for the display by the crew members.
Plug and Dominic will be playing throughout the day with Brian Moore the 'Man with the Mike!'
The WILD GEESE parachute team will be flying in at 3.00pm prior to the big event at 3.30pm when all the volunteer rafters take to the sea in their homemade rafts, hoping to be first past the post.
On Sunday the Traditional Church service on the Quay (weather permitting) will be at 2pm followed by the return of the popular Waiters Race.
The Long Mountain Gallery will be holding an art exhibition on Friday night and Saturday showing popular Irish artists, with part of the proceeds going to the RNLI.
The Raft Race Committee would like to thank SPAR and the Local Causeway SPAR retailers for their support and sponsorship for Raft Race 2009 and it goes without saying that the sun will shine!
Judy Barr
Press Officer
Portrush Lifeboat Station


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Parque Nacional Sangay
The Parque Nacional Sangay is Ecuador's largest highland reserve, a sprawling wilderness – and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – covering more than 5000 square kilometres of the eastern Andean cordillera, spilling down into the Amazon basin. The park's stunning sierra scenery takes in three volcanoes (Tungurahua, El Altar and Sangay), over three hundred lakes, pristine páramo and native cloudforest, providing a habitat for spectacled bears, Andean condors, pumas and deer, among other mammals, while jaguars, monkeys and ocelots inhabit the lower, tropical areas. There's very little infrastructure for tourists and no marked trail system. Apart from the Guamote–Macas road, slicing through the park from the sierra to the Oriente, access to Parque Nacional Sangay is via a number of remote, potholed dirt roads leading to the various guarderías, or ranger stations, serving the different areas of the park, often situated near local communities that can be reached by bus. The entrance fee for foreigners is $10; the ticket is valid for two weeks in all the park's various sectors.
Starting at the northern end of the park, the main attractions begin with Volcán Tungurahua (5023m), a snowcapped volcano normally approached via the Guardería Pondoa, south of Baños, but currently off-limits due to renewed volcanic activity. To the south, El Altar is the highest point in the park and the fifth-highest mountain in Ecuador. Once a volcano, an ancient eruption blew it asunder, leaving a jagged skeleton of rock, now a spectacular semicircle of nine summits teetering over a dazzling crater lake and a popular target for trekkers. Irascible Volcán Sangay (5230m), one of the world's most active volcanoes, is the third great peak in the park, a difficult-to-reach and hazardous climbing proposition. Both it and El Placer hot springs are approached from the Guardería Alao, in the village of Alao, reachable by bus from Riobamba. Further south, there's wonderful trekking around the Lagunas de Atillo and the Lagunas de Ozogoche, clutches of beautiful páramo lakes set in rugged scenery.
The best months to hike in these highland areas of Sangay are November to February, when the weather is at its driest and sunniest, though downpours can occur at any moment, so come prepared. Outside these months the area is prone to cold, wet, windy and sometimes foggy conditions.
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