Far Left : Palace in Budapest
Left : Wine Cellar dating back to 1940 ’ s
Below Left : Face of Dacian ruler carved into rocky cliffs along the Danube
Below : Plum Brandies , stored in exquisite handpainted bottles in shapes of musical instruments .
protection from invading troops during World War II . Winery owners showed us vintages dating back to the 1940s .” Travelling through Iiok , Croatia , Jennifer said everyone marveled at the pastoral landscape . “ There were vineyards and fields of sunflowers in every direction , literally as far as the eye could see .”
Serbia
While in Serbia , the Tates visited the capital city of Belgrade . They strolled through the Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park , located high on cliffs above the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers . The park is dotted with fountains and the famous national monument , Pobednik “ the victor ,” which commemorates Serbian victory in the Balkan Wars and World War I .
They also saw the Cathedral of Saint Sava , one of the world ’ s largest church buildings . “ You don ’ t see many churches in parts of Europe that were once under Communist control ,” Jennifer said . “ The marble and granite exterior of this domed cathedral is a lovely landmark on the Belgrade skyline .”
The riverboat AmaPrima cruised quietly through the Iron Gate , or Gate of Trajan , which is actually a series of gorges in the Danube that stretch for about 80 miles along the border between Serbia and Romania . Along the shore of Romania , known in ancient times as Dacia , the face of a Dacian ruler and hero named Decebalus is carved into the rocky cliffs above the river . Decebalus stubbornly resisted Roman Emperor Trajan in the 1st Century AD , but it wasn ’ t until the 1990s that the carving was made .
The Tates also got their first taste a traditional Serbian libation , “ sljivovica ,” or plum brandy . Ripe plums are stored in barrels for a couple of months , and when autumn rolls around , the fermenting fruit is boiled in a still . The condensed vapor is captured in oak barrels and aged anywhere from six months to several years .
“ Every family makes plum brandy according to their own family recipe ,” Jennifer said . “ When Serbs get together and someone brings out the plum brandy , plan on staying for four or five hours and enjoying good food , good conversation and good brandy . It is potent !”
“ To refuse a shot of homemade brandy would be unforgiveable . Instead , you smile , raise your glass and say “ Zivili ,” sharing a toast to life . Serbian families are known to bury a keg of plum brandy on a couple ’ s wedding day , and dig it up on the day their firstborn child arrives .”
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 gmhtoday . com