{"id":2989,"date":"2026-04-01T20:53:57","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T18:53:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/?p=2337"},"modified":"2026-05-11T15:05:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T13:05:31","slug":"sultans-trail-servie-biggetjes-boze-ober","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/sultans-trail-servie-biggetjes-boze-ober\/","title":{"rendered":"Between piglets and an angry waiter: from rooster crowing to the Great Morava."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Day 10: The Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia<\/h2>\n\n

#reflection September 14, 2025<\/p>\n\n

A record start among the roosters<\/h2>\n\n

Today I break my personal record for getting up early. Yes, I can do it! By a quarter to seven, all my gear is already in my cart<\/a>. If the heat doesn’t defeat me, I’ll conquer it.<\/p>\n\n

There\u2019s not a soul in sight yet, only a few roosters that are as awake as I am and they are happily crowing. I’m not, although I do feel good again, but it\u2019s still early. Just like during the entire night, it’s blowing hard. That feels nice and refreshes me a bit, even though it’s already 21\u00b0.<\/p>\n\n

The Serbian mentality: different…<\/h2>\n\n

The route enchants me. Actually, for the first time an attractive path with beautiful views, clean (!) villages, and friendly-looking people along the way. I’m really getting used to the Serbian mentality. Yesterday at the camping spot it was a completely different story, but people are generally grumpy; they hardly greet anyone – not even the cashier at the supermarket – and a smile is rarely seen, not even when you give a tip. It’s a different way of doing things. Not worse or better, just different.<\/p>\n\n

Animals on my way to Cuprija<\/h2>\n\n

It\u2019s quite amusing when I walk through the villages with the piglets several times. They roam freely in the streets. Awake animals have little to do here. Unfortunately, with dogs it\u2019s often a different story; they are often tied up all day on too short chains in a yard.<\/p>\n\n

I am surprised when a flock of sheep walks behind me at one point. There are two dogs to keep the sheep in line, but the shepherd is leisurely following behind in a little car. His shoe soles won\u2019t wear out quickly.<\/p>\n\n

Football: please do not disturb.<\/h2>\n\n

The walking is going well, but the route is longer than expected and quite exhausting. After 33 km, I arrive in Cuprija,<\/a> located by the Great Morava,<\/a> a beautifully green river. I have booked a room and need to pick up the key at the restaurant below. There is a huge television screen, and the waiter is watching Liverpool\/Manchester City. He is clearly not amused that his football match is interrupted by my arrival. He quickly leads me to my room, and just as quickly, I am under a cool shower. What luxury.<\/p>\n\n

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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\/04\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-01-at-20.27.59-e1775068282351.jpeg?fit=769%2C813&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":2989,"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":2989,"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":2983,"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/van-monopolygeld-tot-maisveld-eerlijkheid-en-ongemak-in-servie\/","url_meta":{"origin":2989,"position":2},"title":"From Monopoly money to cornfield: honesty and discomfort in Serbia","author":"Marnix van der Lijn","date":"29 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Day 8: The Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia #flashback September 12, 2025 Honest people and an overly expensive taxi The rest day does me good. 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According to a special international taxi website, the\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-2026-03-29-at-17.51.22-e1774799682460.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-29-at-17.51.22-e1774799682460.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-29-at-17.51.22-e1774799682460.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-29-at-17.51.22-e1774799682460.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-29-at-17.51.22-e1774799682460.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2747,"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/a-night-of-horror-blood-and-thorns-my-difficult-departure-from-belgrade\/","url_meta":{"origin":2989,"position":3},"title":"A night of horror, blood, and thorns: my difficult departure from Belgrade","author":"Marnix van der Lijn","date":"25 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Day 4: The Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia #throwback September 8, 2025 Horror night in the hostel Listen and shudder\u2014the life of a hiker isn't always a bed of roses. 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