Beer and Beehives in the Balkans
Honey production throughout the Balkan region has a long tradition. Vibrantly covered beehives are abundant in fields, on the back of trailers, and trucks converted into apiaries. With so many unpolluted meadows, it’s easy to see why.
However, would you spend the night next to a bee yard?
Beehives in a Serbian meadow
A kind farmer invited us. He assured us it was fine. We would be happier there, further from the road, and as it was dusk, the honey bees were tucked up in their hive, fast asleep. He was positive the bees would be okay when we asked about the dogs. They wouldn’t disturb the bees.
He hadn’t met a Rolo or a terrier whose purpose in life was to sniff and flush out anything that moved. Whereas, we had experience from a previous Jack Russel of ours discovering a wasp nest at ground level and coming out wearing a collar of wasps. We had three other dogs at the time, one being Twig, who was a puppy. We all received one or several stings, apart from Charlie, the JRT, whose coat must have been too thick for the wasps to penetrate.
Rolo with his head down a hole
Wildflowers in Serbia
Rolo listening and sniffing, ready to pounce
We weren’t convinced but, so as not to be rude, we went along with the farmer and enjoyed a beer and a coffee. Although I’m not sure how much pleasure Paul and I had, keeping guard over Rolo, hence, just one beer. However, the farmer seemed set for the night, and it’s remarkable how much you can understand each other when neither speak the same language. Charades is an excellent game, and some words are surprisingly similar.
However, as dusk turned dark, Rolo took the opportunity to sneak under the beehives without notice, and he started growling. He came away, wiping his nose, clearly gaining a sting for his efforts.
Wolf’s interior light attracted some of the rudely awakened bees. Much to the farmer’s amusement, we spent the next few minutes ushering them out. A thunderstorm was also closing in, so it was time to call an end to the night. We politely said our goodbyes, thanked the farmer for his offer and trundled back up the track 100 metres to our previous spot.
Beehives everywhere
Beautiful flowers in Serbia
Oh, and to add insult to injury, the farmer asked to borrow a torch, as he had to find his way through the forest back home. As the rain was coming, and it was pitch black, we lent him ours, and he promised to return it the following morning.
Note to self. Trust your instincts and have a cheaper torch on hand to lend to people needing one. Did we see our torch again? Paul spent some time wandering the forest tracks the following morning, looking for houses, to no avail.
We’ve had some stunning park ups on our Balkan road trip
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