Our two brightly colored umbrellas, one polka dotted, one a large Gerber daisy, bobbed through the crowd headed for the Trg Republike in search of a friend. We found Vlada under the statue of Prince Mihailo, eager to take us to the Museum of Yugoslav History.
A quick ride on the tram took us out to the museum, a shrine to Yugoslavia’s former dictator, Comrad Josip Broz Tito. We entered the museum to see the special exhibition linking Yoko Ono, John Lennon, and Josip Tito to giving peace a chance. The exhibit told the story of John and Yoko’s attempt to spur world peace by sending two acorns to leaders all over the world; they sent one to Tito, who ceremoniously planted it in Belgrade sixty years ago. The echoes of “Give Peace a Chance,” trailed us as we entered the pathway to Tito’s mausoleum.
Identical Tito statues lined the path to the House of Flowers which Tito chose as his final resting place. Gifts to Tito from all over the world graced every wall, yet the elaborate yearly torches given to Tito in his honor didn’t impress Taylor. “Tito coulda had one huluva bar with very impressive bar taps!” She said. “He could have an amazing tap with all these torches! What?!”
Vlada shot me a look and murmured, “Taylor’s not impressed with Tito.”
“I mean, look at these statues. Why is he always looking down? It’s creepy! Looks like you should flash him for a photo and he’d ogle you!”
“Taylor’s really not impressed with Tito.”
Comments
It was too bad he ignored the bitter divisions inside his own country. Yugoslavia was eventually destroyed as a result.
What a great history lesson you are living!
Mat Adams