On the way to Belgrade, students from Niš walk along the Danube. They spent the second night in Smederevska Palanka, which welcomed them with smiles, tears, scones and salt. The locals tell them: "See you in Belgrade on March 15"
"500 Niš students set off for Belgrade, no one is tired, we don't know about fatigue."
These newly created verses are plowing through central Serbia these days, doc student and one "tamić" are cruising the country on the way to Belgrade.
They headed out from Niche, the largest city in the south of Serbia and the third largest city in the country, pedestrians on protest which will be held in the capital on Saturday, March 15.
Niš students started from the Manasija monastery, in the vicinity of Despotovac, and in two days, they covered about a third of the 160-kilometer route.
Their goal on the second day was Smederevska Palanka, a place in the Danube District, about 80 kilometers south of Belgrade.
Students take detours, so their remaining journey is longer than that.
From Palanka, they continue through the villages towards Požarevac, Smederevo, Pančevo, to the final destination.
It's "pumped up" in Palanka
Until a few years ago, Smederevo Palanka was one of the few places where the Democratic Party ruled and where the local government differed from the coalition at the national level.
Meanwhile, the national coalition remained similar, led by the Serbian Progressive Party, and the government in Smederevska Palanka is today led by progressives.
"We have never had a welcome like this anywhere. There are people everywhere, but here were the most. I've never been to Smederevska Palanka and I'm really glad that I came, the town is very beautiful, and the people are wonderful," said the student of the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš, originally from Leskovčan, for "Vreme".
She spent the night in one of the gymnasiums of three of the four elementary schools in this place, where beds were prepared for the guests.
"I could have taken a shower." To be honest, that was a condition for me to go on this journey", she adds as she walks on Tuesday morning towards the gathering place from where the group is moving on.
Jelena Kuzmanović/private archiveSchools welcome students
Schools received improvised boilers to prepare students for their stay. The preparations lasted the whole day. The gymnasiums were occupied by beds and sheets, which were donated by locals and companies.
Both a lean and a fatty meal
The people of Palanca didn't want to bother with the food either - there were cakes, pies, pancakes, soups, meat dishes...
With tears, applause, torches, a fast and greasy meal, a traditional welcome with bread and salt, a choir that performed the hymn "God's Justice", as well as the songs "Tamo daleko", "Ovo je Srbije" and "Vostani Serbia", several hundred residents of Palanjan welcomed the pedestrians from Nis on the main city street on Monday evening.
Weather/Katarina StevanovićWelcome in Smederevska Palanka
And they waited, since they came at six in the afternoon to prepare everything. According to the original plan, the group was supposed to arrive in this place in the afternoon, but their route was several hours longer.
Questions were heard in Palanka several times during the evening on Monday - "How far are they?", "Are they in sight?", "When will they be?".
Although no one had a precise answer, everyone waited patiently behind the yellow tapes strung along the main street to greet Nišlije.
Weather/Katarina StevanovićEntrance of students to the main street in Smederevska Palanka
They are hindered by the welcome of caring people
The blisters and wounds they received were not to blame for their delay, but the people who welcomed them, a student of the Nis Faculty of Electronics told "Vreme" upon his arrival in Palanka.
"Plans are one thing, unpredictable situations are another. The thing that hinders us the most is the people themselves, who are so kind, caring, hospitable, and we have to stay longer with them, because their warmth is incredible," explains the boy in the yellow vest, who wants to remain anonymous, because that is the agreement of the students.
"We have covered about a third of the way and we are looking forward to these parts of Serbia that we will see." People welcome us with warm hearts, they can't wait to see us and everyone is happy when they see those famous students walking around", he adds.
There was also "pumping" on several occasions, and after snacks and rest, the students went to school to sleep.
Students were transported from the main city square to schools for free by local taxi drivers.
Weather/Katarina StevanovićAlong with bread and salt, the students also received an icon
"My city has risen"
And if you ask the people of Palanca, with undisguised happiness on Tuesday morning as they follow the students who are preparing for the long journey, they will say that they are delighted with how the city welcomed them.
"I was afraid of how it would be here." It's a small place, people are still afraid here", says a resident of Palanka for "Vreme".
"The feeling is indescribable. I finally see that people here are ready to come out. My heart is full that my city has risen. See you on the 15th in Belgrade", adds another.
Weather/Katarina StevanovićStudents spent the night in the gymnasiums of elementary schools
Looking for hanzaplast more
Ready for the further journey, with the pouring rain, students gathered in raincoats, shoes wrapped in bags or real protection for sneakers from the rain, in the city center to move on.
"I'm not tired, but I barely slept for three hours," says one student as she walks into a pharmacy looking for hanzaplasties for blisters.
Blisters are their biggest problem, and local pharmacies are in short supply of those specially designed for blisters.
"Everything was bought yesterday and this morning," says a pharmacist in a pharmacy.
Photo: Vreme/Katarina StevanovićThe group continued from Smederevska Palanka towards Požarevac
The students have 40 kilometers ahead of them on Tuesday. A tiring journey awaits them with a lot of uphills to Požarevac, where they will spend the next night.
The rain stopped, the temperature rose, the police stopped the traffic so the students could move on.
In the first row are the guards in yellow vests, followed by several hundred students rushing up the hill.
They are led by a police vehicle, followed by a Niš "tamić" loaded with things.
Weather/Katarina StevanovićTamić on the way to Belgrade
From the surrounding courtyards you can hear: "Have a good trip, children!". The children answer: "Thank you for your support" and slowly rush up the hill towards the next point.
Ahead of them is a four-day journey, and behind them is Smederevska Palanka, which is slowly waking up.
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