There is almost no place
in Vojvodina in which the tavern with name 'Bela Ladja' doesn't exist
or didn't exist. In vojvodinian Serbs past, especially in the history
of citizens of Novi Sad, near three centuries old gymnasioum, theaters
and patriotic poems of Vasa Zivkovic from the end of 19-th century,
tavern of Bela Ladja ( eng. White Boat ) had great social importance.
The tavern is located accros from house of Mileva Maric Einstain, in
whom Albert Einstain was living at the time.
Existence of tavern dates back in 1852 year, when three fishermen left
their boat at Danubes bank, which was then floating some 300 meters
from the tavern. In the morning when fishermans where about to left
the tavern back to their boat, the level of water was so low that boat
left aground on the bank, and so the tavern got its name.
Appearance of such tavern like Bela Ladja, is significant and also remarkable.
In the middle of plain, far from the river, Bela Ladja suddenly arised.
Moored at the ground, the tavern never sails. It stands, waits, welcomes
and sees out its guests. Travelers come dry, leave wet, and the tavern
stayes; it misses its river.
In 1860 the political party of Svetozar Miletic, was unformaly moved
to this tavern. On routs, lately in the night, in special room far away
from police and other informers, beside Miletic, regular guests were
Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj and Vojislav Ilic, serb leaders from Srem, Backa
and Baranja regions ( in that period these regions were under Austrian
rule, but majority population were Serbs ) . Decisions, which refered
to Serbian polity and outlandish Serbs premisses toward their motherland
Serbia, were made in Bela Ladja. Afore Balkan war with Turks, russian
ambassador in Carigrad, count Trubejski, arrived in Bela Ladja to meet
the situation within outlandish Serbs.
Bela Ladja' has always taken care about quality of portions, bigger
cutlet then plate, vine and schnapps have been poured from barrels.
Songs,especially patriotic ones, were played by tamburitza players,
until guests were left out of their money.
Today, 'Bele 'Ladja' continues the tradition of our forefathers, so
it offers unique and uncommon collection of wines, across regions of
former Yugoslavia. It is the winery that contains 2000 bottles of wine,
placed on a two walls in restaurant. Speciall bottles called 'buteljka'
are taken down with ladders from 15 meters long, and 5 meters high shelfs.
The greatest significants of this restaurant is its kitchen, in which
are prepared all kinds of meat soups, chowders, continuing with warm
and cold, national and international meals, lamb and goat meat and veal
roasted under earthen pan, coal barbicue, ending with all kinds of desserts,
which are real offer of this restaurant. All of this is spruced with
the best gipsy tamburitza orchestra.
' THE LIFE IN WHICH, AT LEAST IN IMAGINATION, EVEN IN A TINIEST MOMENT,
YOU DON'T SAIL TOWARD SOMETHING PURE AND WHITE - ON A WHITE BOAT - IS
NOT WORTH LIVING '
Location of the restaurant is very favorable, situated 500 meters from
town center, 1 km from bus and rail station, at the entrance of Novi
Sad. On the way to Danube river, which is 1.5 km far from the restaurant,
there are town museums, 'Matica Srpska', Bishop Palace, cathedral '
St. Maria' and famous pedestrian street, with many shops, which ends
with park 'Dunavski'. The whole site is under protection because of
its historical and cultural importance, which presents the past of 250
years old town.
Traditional way of welcoming guests is with serbian schnaps, bread and
salt.
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