{"id":2983,"date":"2026-03-29T19:21:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T17:21:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/?p=2313"},"modified":"2026-05-11T15:09:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T13:09:14","slug":"van-monopolygeld-tot-maisveld-eerlijkheid-en-ongemak-in-servie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/van-monopolygeld-tot-maisveld-eerlijkheid-en-ongemak-in-servie\/","title":{"rendered":"From Monopoly money to cornfield: honesty and discomfort in Serbia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Day 8: The Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia<\/h2>\n\n

#flashback September 12, 2025<\/p>\n\n

Honest people and an overly expensive taxi<\/h2>\n\n

The rest day does me good. I even run short on time. From Smederevo<\/a>, I will skip a part of the route. According to a special international taxi website, the price seems reasonable for the 60 km I need to cover. However, when I verify the price with a taxi driver, it turns out to be much higher. I consider the alternative by public transport again, but that’s not an option.<\/p>\n\n

Frustrated and before I reluctantly take the taxi, I enjoy a coffee on a terrace. The coffee costs 120 Dinar, but I accidentally leave 1,020 Dinar on the saucer and walk away. I’m left with a headache from all those bills, my pockets are bulging, it feels like Monopoly money.<\/p>\n\n

Not long after, I hear shouting behind me. I pay no attention, shouting is common here. Then I hear “Sir, sir”. I think I\u2019m the only tourist in the vicinity, am I being called? The waitress returns my overpaid money… wow, how honest, she could have thought, “stupid tourist!”<\/p>\n\n

Bird poop<\/h2>\n\n

With the taxi, I arrive in less than an hour in Svilajnac<\/a>, from where I continue. I walk comfortably and the route is easy in terms of terrain (only asphalt) and elevation (none). After a while, I find a bench under some trees, the ideal spot to have lunch in the shade. At least… until I’m pooped on by a bird above me in the tree. An abrupt and filthy end to a peaceful lunch.<\/p>\n\n

Argument in the kitchen<\/h2>\n\n

A few hours later, I suddenly hear a man calling from his balcony, ‘Do you speak German?’ It turns out Zoran works in Switzerland and is here on vacation with his mother. He says I can stay for dinner and that my tent can be in his garden. Why not? These are often the nice encounters, although his Swiss wife is not interested; she has family problems and doesn’t want anyone in the house right now. Although I can’t understand them, I can hear them discussing in the kitchen.<\/p>\n\n

With his tail between his legs, Zoran returns; he is terribly embarrassed, but he has to retract his invitation. I say I completely understand and that it’s no problem. Indeed, not long after, I find a nice camping spot hidden behind a cornfield.<\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>
\"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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En daar voel ik me thuis.","sameAs":["https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/marnix_footsteps_of_freedom\/"],"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/author\/cheersmarnix\/"}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-29-at-17.51.22-e1774799682460.jpeg?fit=1600%2C1200&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2623,"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/","url_meta":{"origin":2983,"position":0},"title":"Setting off on a new adventure: the Sultans Trail","author":"Marnix van der Lijn","date":"22 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Departing for Belgrade from Amsterdam via Vienna and Budapest to hike the Sultans Trail long-distance path from Belgrade to Sofia.","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs ENG"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs ENG","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/category\/blogs-en\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2603,"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/from-wage-slave-to-nomad-my-path-to-ultimate-freedom\/","url_meta":{"origin":2983,"position":1},"title":"From wage slave to nomad: my path to ultimate freedom","author":"Marnix van der Lijn","date":"12 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Footsteps of Freedom: the path to a writing and hiking life Resignation and cold feet It's been quiet on this blog for a while, but that's about to change. The time is almost here: I've handed in my notice. March 31 is my last day at work, and I hope\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs ENG"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs ENG","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/category\/blogs-en\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-09-at-19.29.57.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-09-at-19.29.57.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-09-at-19.29.57.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-09-at-19.29.57.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2767,"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/coffee-church-and-cocooning-the-art-of-idling-in-smederevo\/","url_meta":{"origin":2983,"position":2},"title":"Coffee, church, and cocooning: the art of idling in Smederevo","author":"Marnix van der Lijn","date":"28 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Day 7: The Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia #flashback September 11, 2025 Rest A rest day today! 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