Croatia: Serbian tourists are welcome

Personally I would rather go to Croatia then Montenegro as a tourist. Haven't been to Croatia yet but in Montenegro the prices are high and the montenegrins that work in hotels and restaurants are not very pleasant. They think they are Monte Carlo or Monaco! But I use to go because of the connection that used to be between Serbia and Montenegro plus I have some family there. Going to Montenegro now days feels like visiting Albania. Croatia here we come!

Hard days??

Well the tourism will have to face complete black out next years, the rooms will be sold for 5 (five) euros.. The planes will change destination "in the flight" after the short passengers referendum and following the best offer. Hard to believe? It's same hard to believe that Croatia is happy to see us there!

BTW, "the forecast"is real.

They sound desperate. Where are your rich american tourists? Why should they come to croatia and lie on rocks when they can go to the Caribbean and lie on fine sand? HAHAHA.

Well, no thanks.

Yesterday Serbian telly news have stated that average Serbians, for only few hundred euros, can enjoy the vacations in Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Spain... on all inn bases and much cheaper then in Croatia, or God forbid, Montenegro.
The Tito and Communist bully of beauty of Croatian coast is an empty page in book of communist geography for basic schools. It's not in use anymore, sorriez.

So lets give this lovely try and see the World...Schengen is calling too...and Mediteranian is very long and sure welcoming.

Though Croatia is still massively attractive destination for individuals with SM (sado-mazo) preferences: rocky beaches, sea urchins all over and Croatian service "sea urchins style", broken cars and windows, everyday treats and rasistic remarks...

SM-ers of all the World...unite...Croatian coastline is calling and waiting for you!

Oh, I guess they expect another drop in tourists.

Remember last year they talked of Serbian tourists. The numbers weren't as high as they expected.

I guess they want Serbas to replace the Czech tourists that won't be coming this year.

Last year, when they couldn't find Serbs to attack they attacked Czechs. http://www.javno.com/en-croatia/czech-are-welcome-in-croatia_274084.

Expect more attacks on tourists this year, particularly on Serbs.

It's good that this alledged "90,000" Serb tourists is only .9% of tourists their. Expect it to stay that low for years top come.

JohnBoy, they enver catered to Americans they essentially have tried to cater exclusively to Germans (with the odd catering to the Irish, British and French).

There beloved Germans aren't coming.

There's no point going to Croatia, Montenegro or any of the countries that have recognised Kosovo. Visa free travel my friends... go an visit Greece, Cyprus, Romania or Slovakia. All within quick driving distance. Also, cheap flights to Spain so there are plenty of options for now.

Croatia is in trouble now with visa free travel in place.

Who in their right minds would travel to Croatia from Serbia? What, are Serbs going to attend a Thompson concert, or celebrate operation storm with our nazi neighbors?

Barcelona or Dubrovnik? Hmmm tuff call. Car windows smashed along with intimidation and fear for your families safety or partying with Spaniards.

Wow, I see the same old names writing the same old negative remarks about Croatia (when they aren't writing them about Kosovo, Muslims or the West, especially America). Anything to take a stab at Croatia, hey? I hope that you don't actually believe any of the things you say.

Yeah Serbs may be able to travel to "visa friendly" countries that haven't recognised Serbia but don't be fulled, most Serbs can not afford it. But even if Croatia or Montenegro is not where you'd like to holiday, then don't go. Stay in Serbia and enjoy your part of the Med (oh that's right, you don't have a part of it).

Stop your complaining and just enjoy life.

They sound desperate. Where are your rich american tourists?
(JohnBoy, 25 February 2010 15:47)

Good news: I know many Americans who are regular in Croatia and Montenegro. So they are there and they like it!

Bad news: these Americans buy their airplane tickets through JAT consolidator to save 300-400 $ and they have "Country of Birth - Russia" remark in their all-American passport. And they are no less stingy than Serbs.

Others go to Caribbean or Mexico. But certain Americans just go to the country where they can understand the language and is inexpensive enough (by American standard). Maybe it's not what certain Croatian bureaucrats did dream about, but that's the "reality on the ground".

Besides, for these "Americans" in their youth the YU was a forbidden capitalist country where blue jeans, ADIDAS T-shirts and Coca-Cola was the part of everyday life, ruled by "Tito, the chain dog of Wall Street".

Now they, I mean, we have the money to enjoy the forbidden fruit of our youth as long as we like - without being interrogated by you-know-whom after return home.

You should see the face of Croatian (or Serbian) border guards opening such passports ;-)

First reaction: "Wow!!! 100% genuine American tourist!!"
Second reaction after looking better INSIDE of passport:
"Hahahaha, OK, brother, have a nice stay, welcome here" (spoken usually in Serbian/Croatian, not in broken English anymore)

Oh, I guess they expect another drop in tourists.

Remember last year they talked of Serbian tourists. The numbers weren't as high as they expected.

I guess they want Serbas to replace the Czech tourists that won't be coming this year.

Last year, when they couldn't find Serbs to attack they attacked Czechs. [link].

Expect more attacks on tourists this year, particularly on Serbs.

It's good that this alledged "90,000" Serb tourists is only .9% of tourists their. Expect it to stay that low for years top come.
(Yaroslav, 25 February 2010 16:57)


Last time I checked croatian tourism rises 30% every year. Prices are going up and everyone(dalmatia) is cashing in on tourism there. I personally as a croatian canadian am not enjoying the rise in prices but i also realize its good for the people there.

Good example Makarska 10 years ago doesnt even look like the same city anymore, its a zoo there in the summer now in and around the brela area. Dubrovnik is just packed all the time.

I went the last two summers and i have never seen that many people there before.

I am not sure HR really cares about the Czech tourism, its the italians and germans that come on mass and lately tons of polish are coming down. Its just sad about all the polish deaths on croatian roads, they drive 10 hours to get to croatia and dont properly rest or switch drivers and people are dying from there on our roads. I think three families last year died... very very sad

Croatia must be desperate to make a statement like that. In fact you have to look closer as to reasons for such a statement. An economist in Croatia said that “if people think 2010 is proving hard to make a living then 2011 and 2012 will be even worse”. Personally I’d rather burn my Euros than spend them in Croatia.
The 90,000 so called tourist are only people making trips back to their old homes to make sure Croats don’t destroy them and not tourists in the real sense. You find that Serbian tourists these days are going on mass to Greece.
The WFC has only begun to bite deeper in European countries and when times are tough the first to go is the holiday away from home.

Dragan,
Don't worry, we enjoy life, and we will not spend a cent in your country.
Bye the way, that's a nice Serbian name you have there :).
Cheers,
The Serbian Dragan

Stop your complaining and just enjoy life.
(Dragan, 25 February 2010 23:12)

Yep, that's the truth...

How many times did I see ex-Soviet citizens of America proudly posing in Dubrovnik or Kotor... For us it's all the same country and these 30 years like not happened. Man, the first time we were in the West, what a feeling it was! Never will forget it.

And the name of the "West" was... Ulcinj.

I recall, for me that was a "sour grape" prize. There was a competition and I did not "made" it to final simply because others were better.

The final of the competition was beyond the Horrible Iron Curtain, in the mystical city called "Belgrád". The lucky ones (not me!!!) got from the State some funny-looking pieces of paper, these where special travel checks, not the "real" money, made exclusively by SFRJ for "eastern brothers", so we, I mean sorry, my lucky peers could get even more fancy thingies with "Dinar" written on it, in real bank and in real "Belgrád", not from Arabs on the black market. There were rumors - later proven to be true - that not just Adidas T-sirts and much better jeans than in Hungary, but even tickets to "explicit" movies can be obtained for "Dinár".

In any case, I was left out of that paradise, so my parents bought an organized tour to have fun for us at last. That tour was very expensive (about 5000 Forint or about 4000 Dinar) for us, but we did. Even paid 200 Dinars for an excursion from Ulcinj to Cetinje and an other 200 for Dubrovnik.

Other members of the group did hunt for local guys (in hope for marriage) and for Adidas T-shirts. I did find a T-shirt of some sort just because I needed one. I did not know much about it or care - but it turned out to be Adidas and I became the king overnight, without even knowing it.

And one family... well... they escaped to Italy. That was embarrassing and the group organizers had some unpleasant talk later with guess-whom. The group was Hungarian, except my mom and me. That (probably because we had "CCCP" on the passport) did save us some funny moments regarding questioning about escapees.

Later, 1980 I ventured into land of endless Adidas happiness with my future wife. That time it was not Ulcinj but Studenica, Gracanica, Prizren, Pristina, Ohrid, Skopje, Staro Nagoricane, Despotovac. We had to obtain the recommendation of local youth communist organization in order for that activity be allowed. They decided, it's not likely we will be swayed by the sweet talk of capitalist pigs in Adidas T-shirts so we could travel. Later it turned out, there are many loopholes in the system, but every effort was made to make it look as intimidating as possible.

After that... For us it's FOREVER the place which we remember as where "xxx" movies, bananas, kiwis and Levi's are allowed, people can say things on the street we are not allowed and some of us even can run away forever if we want (but better not, otherwise the relatives at home could be punished).

I am curious, how many are here who remember all these things precisely and can attest, what I am writing is the truth. What happened later has no logic explanation except that the world (our world) was crazy before, but it went to be completely crazy afterwards and what did seem to be impossible and abnormal became the normality.

Sorry for the long rambling and way to much feelings. In any case we will try to pretend, nothing happened and visit the "land of unlimited Adidas T-shirts" like we used to, regardless how many more pieces it will be cut into by some insane forces. And like before - no piece will be ignored or "boycotted". Of course in some parts we feel more "at home" tough. ;-)

I am not sure HR really cares about the Czech tourism, its the italians and germans that come on mass and lately tons of polish are coming down. Its just sad about all the polish deaths on croatian roads, they drive 10 hours to get to croatia and dont properly rest or switch drivers and people are dying from there on our roads. I think three families last year died... very very sad
(marko, 25 February 2010 22:02)

We need much more of "avtovoz" than. Is cheap, is fast, saves money - and sometimes lives.

That's what I mean and that's the way to go:

http://tinyurl.com/ycydwzw
http://tinyurl.com/y9n5t82

Notice the prices are like in HR - pretty friendly:

http://tinyurl.com/n5t9jk

Not unknown in the States

http://tinyurl.com/ya5q22v

The prices in the States are completely outlandish compared with YU. The only problem - we need much more of that and some service going to Poland would be excellent news. We used a similar service between Hamburg an Vienna: I can tell, MUCH cheaper, than driving all the way.... and much faster, too.

Hi, Ataman, a slow day at the office, it seems.

I remember those days, too - or maybe 10 years earlier? One summer I spent in Czechoslovakia, right at the beginning of "normalization," before it got really bad. For a couple of weeks I went to Yugoslavia, to meet some American friends there on an IREX grant. Ljubljana seemed like paradise, or at least Austria, after hot and dusty Bratislava. I didn't see much of Belgrade, my friends were in Zagreb, but everywhere in the country it was like coming out of a pressure-cooker I hadn't even realized I'd been in. Maybe people in Slovakia were over-cautious when they suggested going for a walk if the talk turned to politics, but you learned quickly what was safe to ask about.

One thing I remember from Belgrade: I wanted to buy postage for postcards to friends in Slovakia, and when the kiosk worker heard "Ceskoslovensko" he looked around and then said, "tell people, we're with you." He was disappointed to learn I was only an American, not a heroic Czech - a good lesson for a young American who had had a summer of being treated like (minor) royalty by "Czechoslovaks" because of an American accent.

Dragan,
Don't worry, we enjoy life, and we will not spend a cent in your country.
Bye the way, that's a nice Serbian name you have there :).
Cheers,
The Serbian Dragan
(Dragan, 26 February 2010 14:35

“nice Serbian name you have there”. In the true Croatian tradition, copy the Serbs then claim it was always Croat.

Ataman, stop it, you are making me all nostalgic!

Of course many people remember those days and of course back then there was such a thing as Jugoslav pride. People knew they had it better than other countries in the region.

Its a pity that so many of those people melted away, surrendered to insular nationalism, or just decided to keep quiet whilst louder voices prevailed.

And as you imply on every corner, in every town there is a memory of a better time. At least looking back, it seems much better than today, certainly much better than the miserable period of the 90's.

More cooperation of this sort would be very welcome, unless we want to continue almost a century of animosity that foreign powers dictated for us. No not Yugoslavia, that didn't work. But there are other options. Think about it.

Yes, Amer - that was it.
In late 70-s and 80-s we were of course over-paranoic in YU, too but later relaxed a bit realizing we may speak openly. We did expect everything is being "bugged" :-(

An other thing you can't get rid of is the "watch the cart!"

Basically, while you buy groceries you watch that they aren't stolen before you pay.
It's not bizarre: people did steal food from carts because it was in shortage.

That funny moment us being a joke happened last time in Gornji Mlanovac in 2007(!!!). Automatically my mom told me "watch the cart!". Of course everyone turned around (it's NOT Hungary, so people understand!) and I did see the Serbs looking pretty funny at us. They probably recalled their memories when THEY did represent the freedom and well-being compared with the Soviet Union. And I did see the sorry they felt...

It's an automatic reaction you never will get rid of. I did "it" at the "Trader's Joe", too.

They sound desperate. Where are your rich american tourists? Why should they come to croatia and lie on rocks when they can go to the Caribbean and lie on fine sand? HAHAHA.

Personally I would rather go to Croatia then Montenegro as a tourist. Haven't been to Croatia yet but in Montenegro the prices are high and the montenegrins that work in hotels and restaurants are not very pleasant. They think they are Monte Carlo or Monaco! But I use to go because of the connection that used to be between Serbia and Montenegro plus I have some family there. Going to Montenegro now days feels like visiting Albania. Croatia here we come!

Well, no thanks.

Yesterday Serbian telly news have stated that average Serbians, for only few hundred euros, can enjoy the vacations in Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Spain... on all inn bases and much cheaper then in Croatia, or God forbid, Montenegro.
The Tito and Communist bully of beauty of Croatian coast is an empty page in book of communist geography for basic schools. It's not in use anymore, sorriez.

So lets give this lovely try and see the World...Schengen is calling too...and Mediteranian is very long and sure welcoming.

Though Croatia is still massively attractive destination for individuals with SM (sado-mazo) preferences: rocky beaches, sea urchins all over and Croatian service "sea urchins style", broken cars and windows, everyday treats and rasistic remarks...

SM-ers of all the World...unite...Croatian coastline is calling and waiting for you!

Wow, I see the same old names writing the same old negative remarks about Croatia (when they aren't writing them about Kosovo, Muslims or the West, especially America). Anything to take a stab at Croatia, hey? I hope that you don't actually believe any of the things you say.

Yeah Serbs may be able to travel to "visa friendly" countries that haven't recognised Serbia but don't be fulled, most Serbs can not afford it. But even if Croatia or Montenegro is not where you'd like to holiday, then don't go. Stay in Serbia and enjoy your part of the Med (oh that's right, you don't have a part of it).

Stop your complaining and just enjoy life.

Hard days??

Well the tourism will have to face complete black out next years, the rooms will be sold for 5 (five) euros.. The planes will change destination "in the flight" after the short passengers referendum and following the best offer. Hard to believe? It's same hard to believe that Croatia is happy to see us there!

BTW, "the forecast"is real.

Oh, I guess they expect another drop in tourists.

Remember last year they talked of Serbian tourists. The numbers weren't as high as they expected.

I guess they want Serbas to replace the Czech tourists that won't be coming this year.

Last year, when they couldn't find Serbs to attack they attacked Czechs. http://www.javno.com/en-croatia/czech-are-welcome-in-croatia_274084.

Expect more attacks on tourists this year, particularly on Serbs.

It's good that this alledged "90,000" Serb tourists is only .9% of tourists their. Expect it to stay that low for years top come.

JohnBoy, they enver catered to Americans they essentially have tried to cater exclusively to Germans (with the odd catering to the Irish, British and French).

There beloved Germans aren't coming.

Oh, I guess they expect another drop in tourists.

Remember last year they talked of Serbian tourists. The numbers weren't as high as they expected.

I guess they want Serbas to replace the Czech tourists that won't be coming this year.

Last year, when they couldn't find Serbs to attack they attacked Czechs. [link].

Expect more attacks on tourists this year, particularly on Serbs.

It's good that this alledged "90,000" Serb tourists is only .9% of tourists their. Expect it to stay that low for years top come.
(Yaroslav, 25 February 2010 16:57)


Last time I checked croatian tourism rises 30% every year. Prices are going up and everyone(dalmatia) is cashing in on tourism there. I personally as a croatian canadian am not enjoying the rise in prices but i also realize its good for the people there.

Good example Makarska 10 years ago doesnt even look like the same city anymore, its a zoo there in the summer now in and around the brela area. Dubrovnik is just packed all the time.

I went the last two summers and i have never seen that many people there before.

I am not sure HR really cares about the Czech tourism, its the italians and germans that come on mass and lately tons of polish are coming down. Its just sad about all the polish deaths on croatian roads, they drive 10 hours to get to croatia and dont properly rest or switch drivers and people are dying from there on our roads. I think three families last year died... very very sad

Who in their right minds would travel to Croatia from Serbia? What, are Serbs going to attend a Thompson concert, or celebrate operation storm with our nazi neighbors?

Barcelona or Dubrovnik? Hmmm tuff call. Car windows smashed along with intimidation and fear for your families safety or partying with Spaniards.

Croatia must be desperate to make a statement like that. In fact you have to look closer as to reasons for such a statement. An economist in Croatia said that “if people think 2010 is proving hard to make a living then 2011 and 2012 will be even worse”. Personally I’d rather burn my Euros than spend them in Croatia.
The 90,000 so called tourist are only people making trips back to their old homes to make sure Croats don’t destroy them and not tourists in the real sense. You find that Serbian tourists these days are going on mass to Greece.
The WFC has only begun to bite deeper in European countries and when times are tough the first to go is the holiday away from home.

There's no point going to Croatia, Montenegro or any of the countries that have recognised Kosovo. Visa free travel my friends... go an visit Greece, Cyprus, Romania or Slovakia. All within quick driving distance. Also, cheap flights to Spain so there are plenty of options for now.

Croatia is in trouble now with visa free travel in place.

Stop your complaining and just enjoy life.
(Dragan, 25 February 2010 23:12)

Yep, that's the truth...

How many times did I see ex-Soviet citizens of America proudly posing in Dubrovnik or Kotor... For us it's all the same country and these 30 years like not happened. Man, the first time we were in the West, what a feeling it was! Never will forget it.

And the name of the "West" was... Ulcinj.

I recall, for me that was a "sour grape" prize. There was a competition and I did not "made" it to final simply because others were better.

The final of the competition was beyond the Horrible Iron Curtain, in the mystical city called "Belgrád". The lucky ones (not me!!!) got from the State some funny-looking pieces of paper, these where special travel checks, not the "real" money, made exclusively by SFRJ for "eastern brothers", so we, I mean sorry, my lucky peers could get even more fancy thingies with "Dinar" written on it, in real bank and in real "Belgrád", not from Arabs on the black market. There were rumors - later proven to be true - that not just Adidas T-sirts and much better jeans than in Hungary, but even tickets to "explicit" movies can be obtained for "Dinár".

In any case, I was left out of that paradise, so my parents bought an organized tour to have fun for us at last. That tour was very expensive (about 5000 Forint or about 4000 Dinar) for us, but we did. Even paid 200 Dinars for an excursion from Ulcinj to Cetinje and an other 200 for Dubrovnik.

Other members of the group did hunt for local guys (in hope for marriage) and for Adidas T-shirts. I did find a T-shirt of some sort just because I needed one. I did not know much about it or care - but it turned out to be Adidas and I became the king overnight, without even knowing it.

And one family... well... they escaped to Italy. That was embarrassing and the group organizers had some unpleasant talk later with guess-whom. The group was Hungarian, except my mom and me. That (probably because we had "CCCP" on the passport) did save us some funny moments regarding questioning about escapees.

Later, 1980 I ventured into land of endless Adidas happiness with my future wife. That time it was not Ulcinj but Studenica, Gracanica, Prizren, Pristina, Ohrid, Skopje, Staro Nagoricane, Despotovac. We had to obtain the recommendation of local youth communist organization in order for that activity be allowed. They decided, it's not likely we will be swayed by the sweet talk of capitalist pigs in Adidas T-shirts so we could travel. Later it turned out, there are many loopholes in the system, but every effort was made to make it look as intimidating as possible.

After that... For us it's FOREVER the place which we remember as where "xxx" movies, bananas, kiwis and Levi's are allowed, people can say things on the street we are not allowed and some of us even can run away forever if we want (but better not, otherwise the relatives at home could be punished).

I am curious, how many are here who remember all these things precisely and can attest, what I am writing is the truth. What happened later has no logic explanation except that the world (our world) was crazy before, but it went to be completely crazy afterwards and what did seem to be impossible and abnormal became the normality.

Sorry for the long rambling and way to much feelings. In any case we will try to pretend, nothing happened and visit the "land of unlimited Adidas T-shirts" like we used to, regardless how many more pieces it will be cut into by some insane forces. And like before - no piece will be ignored or "boycotted". Of course in some parts we feel more "at home" tough. ;-)

They sound desperate. Where are your rich american tourists?
(JohnBoy, 25 February 2010 15:47)

Good news: I know many Americans who are regular in Croatia and Montenegro. So they are there and they like it!

Bad news: these Americans buy their airplane tickets through JAT consolidator to save 300-400 $ and they have "Country of Birth - Russia" remark in their all-American passport. And they are no less stingy than Serbs.

Others go to Caribbean or Mexico. But certain Americans just go to the country where they can understand the language and is inexpensive enough (by American standard). Maybe it's not what certain Croatian bureaucrats did dream about, but that's the "reality on the ground".

Besides, for these "Americans" in their youth the YU was a forbidden capitalist country where blue jeans, ADIDAS T-shirts and Coca-Cola was the part of everyday life, ruled by "Tito, the chain dog of Wall Street".

Now they, I mean, we have the money to enjoy the forbidden fruit of our youth as long as we like - without being interrogated by you-know-whom after return home.

You should see the face of Croatian (or Serbian) border guards opening such passports ;-)

First reaction: "Wow!!! 100% genuine American tourist!!"
Second reaction after looking better INSIDE of passport:
"Hahahaha, OK, brother, have a nice stay, welcome here" (spoken usually in Serbian/Croatian, not in broken English anymore)

I am not sure HR really cares about the Czech tourism, its the italians and germans that come on mass and lately tons of polish are coming down. Its just sad about all the polish deaths on croatian roads, they drive 10 hours to get to croatia and dont properly rest or switch drivers and people are dying from there on our roads. I think three families last year died... very very sad
(marko, 25 February 2010 22:02)

We need much more of "avtovoz" than. Is cheap, is fast, saves money - and sometimes lives.

That's what I mean and that's the way to go:

http://tinyurl.com/ycydwzw
http://tinyurl.com/y9n5t82

Notice the prices are like in HR - pretty friendly:

http://tinyurl.com/n5t9jk

Not unknown in the States

http://tinyurl.com/ya5q22v

The prices in the States are completely outlandish compared with YU. The only problem - we need much more of that and some service going to Poland would be excellent news. We used a similar service between Hamburg an Vienna: I can tell, MUCH cheaper, than driving all the way.... and much faster, too.

Dragan,
Don't worry, we enjoy life, and we will not spend a cent in your country.
Bye the way, that's a nice Serbian name you have there :).
Cheers,
The Serbian Dragan

Ataman, stop it, you are making me all nostalgic!

Of course many people remember those days and of course back then there was such a thing as Jugoslav pride. People knew they had it better than other countries in the region.

Its a pity that so many of those people melted away, surrendered to insular nationalism, or just decided to keep quiet whilst louder voices prevailed.

And as you imply on every corner, in every town there is a memory of a better time. At least looking back, it seems much better than today, certainly much better than the miserable period of the 90's.

Hi, Ataman, a slow day at the office, it seems.

I remember those days, too - or maybe 10 years earlier? One summer I spent in Czechoslovakia, right at the beginning of "normalization," before it got really bad. For a couple of weeks I went to Yugoslavia, to meet some American friends there on an IREX grant. Ljubljana seemed like paradise, or at least Austria, after hot and dusty Bratislava. I didn't see much of Belgrade, my friends were in Zagreb, but everywhere in the country it was like coming out of a pressure-cooker I hadn't even realized I'd been in. Maybe people in Slovakia were over-cautious when they suggested going for a walk if the talk turned to politics, but you learned quickly what was safe to ask about.

One thing I remember from Belgrade: I wanted to buy postage for postcards to friends in Slovakia, and when the kiosk worker heard "Ceskoslovensko" he looked around and then said, "tell people, we're with you." He was disappointed to learn I was only an American, not a heroic Czech - a good lesson for a young American who had had a summer of being treated like (minor) royalty by "Czechoslovaks" because of an American accent.

Yes, Amer - that was it.
In late 70-s and 80-s we were of course over-paranoic in YU, too but later relaxed a bit realizing we may speak openly. We did expect everything is being "bugged" :-(

An other thing you can't get rid of is the "watch the cart!"

Basically, while you buy groceries you watch that they aren't stolen before you pay.
It's not bizarre: people did steal food from carts because it was in shortage.

That funny moment us being a joke happened last time in Gornji Mlanovac in 2007(!!!). Automatically my mom told me "watch the cart!". Of course everyone turned around (it's NOT Hungary, so people understand!) and I did see the Serbs looking pretty funny at us. They probably recalled their memories when THEY did represent the freedom and well-being compared with the Soviet Union. And I did see the sorry they felt...

It's an automatic reaction you never will get rid of. I did "it" at the "Trader's Joe", too.

More cooperation of this sort would be very welcome, unless we want to continue almost a century of animosity that foreign powers dictated for us. No not Yugoslavia, that didn't work. But there are other options. Think about it.

Dragan,
Don't worry, we enjoy life, and we will not spend a cent in your country.
Bye the way, that's a nice Serbian name you have there :).
Cheers,
The Serbian Dragan
(Dragan, 26 February 2010 14:35

“nice Serbian name you have there”. In the true Croatian tradition, copy the Serbs then claim it was always Croat.