Crossing to Serbia
Today’s border crossing was much smoother than I’d anticipated.
Let me elaborate: The border crossings between Romania and Serbia lack a particularly useful element for a solo, carless traveler; public transport options to cross with. Additionally, some border crossings don’t permit pedestrians and it just so happened that the one I was next to “The Iron Gates” was one such crossing.
How then was I going to cross? Information online suggested that I might find a taxi but that seemed unlikely, the other suggestion; hitchiking. So I prepared myself for doing exactly that.
Since hitchhiking over the border risked missing the bus to Belgrade, I booked a hotel in Kladovo, the main town near the Serbian side of the crossing.
This morning, I planned a quick stop at an exchange office to trade lei for dinar, followed by a taxi to the border where I’d hitchhike across. This plan went out the window very quickly as there just so happened to be 2 Germans staying at my hotel in Romania who were also looking to cross the border on their way to Novi Sad.
These Germans kindly offered to drive me to the border and upon learning that I couldn’t cross on foot happily allowed me to remain in the car. If I’m quite honest they were probably going to let me ride all the way to Belgrade or Novi Sad, and perhaps I should have taken that opportunity but alas here I am still in Kladovo.
The crossing itself went quite smoothly, passport swiftly stamped by the Romanian control, a quick drive across the dam, and the passport again stamped by Serbian control. I’m not sure about you but its always a great sigh of relief when I see the stamp hit the page, I’m not likely to have many issue at a border (a privilege of being a New Zealander for sure) but it does still add some stress.
Romania sign on the Iron Gates Bridge. Romanian-Serbian Border- View from on the Iron Gates Bridge. Romanian-Serbian Border
We exited border control and arrived at an intersection; I would be heading left while the Germans went right. We parted ways and I waited for cars to come my way to attempt some more hitchhiking. After several unsuccessful attempts (and a distinct lack of cars), I tried a call to my hotel.
A successful connection, a brief discussion and a taxi was on its way to pick me up. Half an hour later I’m at my hotel waiting for the receptionist to pay my taxi. I have no dinar yet and euro was not accepted by the driver, all ended well though.
And here I am, a new country to explore, a new language to try, and a new conversion rate to remember. I’m looking forward to the adventures here, I don’t think it will be a long one and we’ll move on to another country soon enough.
Until then I’ll enjoy Serbia.
Your border crossing writer, Cohen