May 18 2024 Iron Gate to Golubac Serbia

 Iron Gate to Golubac Serbia

May 18 2024

ctio

Today was a very interesting day.  Most of the day was spent on the ship as we were sailing up the Danube through the Iron Gates. The Iron Gates is this 130 kms section of the river which is a very narrow gorge which has very steep sides.  It is the longest river gorge in all of Europe. Originally the Danube passed through the gorge as a set of rapids which were not navigable to river traffic.  To make this section of the river navigable a dam was built which raised the water level 130 feet flooding the rapids and creating a large lake. To enter the Iron Gates we entered two locks which raised the ship to the lake level.  

The morning was quite cloudy and there was a kind of lite haze over the area.  This gave the passage way kind of a surreal atmosphere.  Never the less most of the passengers were up on the sundeck with cameras at hand to catch shots of the towering cliffs, which were on both sides of the ship.  All along the passageway there were lots of marks of which were left behind by travelers.  Everyone from the early Romans in the 1st century to the Turks to the Ottomans, to present day travelers.  There were lots of speed boats carrying boat loads of tourists through the Iron Gates to get a close look at some of the caves and other makers. Tug boats pushing heavily loaded barges, and of course the river cruise ships.  

The ship's main port of call was a little village in Serbia called Golubac where there is a huge fortress.  This fortress was at the apex of where the Serbian empire met the Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. The first mention of this fortress dates back to 1335 when it was already a well established fortress.  Although the fortress was never conquered it did change hands several times.  A couple of times the conquer simply purchased the fortress for 12,000 gold coins.  Each new owner added towers and more ramparts.  The fortress had fallen into terrible condition and there was even a main road which ran right through the main gates.   Then in 2016 the EU gave Serbia  six million Euros and the road was diverted and the fortress rebuilt.  I think they got a very good deal as it is in excellent condition and tells a very good story of an important fortress which played a very important role in the Balkan history for several hundred years. 

On the ship was Serbian night and all of the crew was dressed in Serbian costume.  Supper was a traditional  meal.  To start there was a toast with a shot of Serbian peach brandy.  Then there was a mushroom soup,  main course consisted of roast pork,  roast chicken and a skewer of lamb served with a yogurt dressing.  Desert consisted of a baked apple with caramel sauce, baklava and Turkish Delight and ice cream.  What a feast.

Tomorrow looks like a full day of touring through Belgrade.  

Terry