"I Don't Speak Serbian"

To date, that one phrase of Serbian has been sufficient to complete every necessary transaction in my new home town. I don't say it well. "Ne govorim srpski." I usually say "no" instead of "ne" and for all I know, the verb isn't even in the right tense. I'm probably saying it like man would say it, not a woman but it gets the point across and elicits one of two responses:

1. A large, toothy grin that, to me, seems the equivalent of a pat on the head. This is usually followed by a lot of Serbian that I don't understand and enough hand gestures to get us through the rest of the conversation.  Or 
2. "That's ok" and English that is as good as mine.

Today, however, I have decided that it is time to add a second phrase. "I don't know". Apparently I have spent enough time wandering the streets now that either I look like I know what I'm doing or I'm starting to blend in. Or, maybe I just look like a nice person. But, twice today I was stopped and asked for directions. My go-to line did seem to do the trick. But I think I could do even better with a good, solid "Sorry, I don't know."

There's always room for improvement.

Anyway, during today's long walk I was quite please with myself  - even in a town that is covered in soot and smells like coal, I was able to sniff out the most beautiful bakery I've seen in quite some time. I spent a while looking in the windows. They had gorgeous looking breads and desserts. If it wasn't 10:30 am and I wasn't going to be walking for another hour and a half I would have gotten something. Luckily, it isn't far from our eventual permanent place.  I will be back.

And, even though I don't speak Serbian, I think I understood the woman sweeping the sidewalk outside the place when she said something along the lines of, "It's nice looking chocolate, isn't it?"  "Da."