It's Friday morning, but this is no ordinary Friday. This is the Friday of the so-called general strike.
Today, some companies, the media, restaurateurs, almost the entire cultural scene of Serbia, some bookstores and boutiques provide support to students and teachers who are on strike in schools and students who have been blocking colleges and streets for more than two months, demanding responsibility for the fall of the canopy at the Railway Station. but also the IT sector.
In the previous days, social networks circulated calls not to go to stores, cafes, and restaurants on Friday. There were announcements about who will not work, but also announcements of those who do and offer free coffee, tea, and even a whole lunch.
Dorćol is not on strike?
It's just past nine in the morning, it's raining and it seems that Dorcol, one of the central Belgrade neighborhoods, is still sleeping.
The streets are full of passers-by and cars. I wonder if it is because of the weather or the strike.
I think I'm getting an answer quickly - Dorcol doesn't seem to be on strike this morning.
Although many Belgrade bars have announced that they will not be open on Friday, it seems that there is not much change of work in Dorćol, at least in Skadarlija, Despota Stefana Boulevard, around Politika and in the surrounding streets.
Only a few bars indicated on their windows that they are closed today (Friday, January 24).
There are also kiosks, shops, bakeries, and flower shops.
Among the few who decided to lock their front doors today are a bakery of homemade rolls and a grocery store of Greek origin.
"On Friday, we are with the youth! Thank you for your understanding", it is written on the front door of a cafe.
Among those who decided not to open their shops today are the owners of a pozamanteria.
By the way, around the Politika building, everything is usual - banks, restaurants, cafeterias are open, and some of them today also offer free coffee, breakfast and squeezed fruit juices.
It is similar in the famous Skadarska Street. There are no people, but most of the bars whose working hours have started already have guests.
I don't see a notification about a non-working day on any of them.
Weather/Katarina StevanovićOne of the stores that is not working
Market barometer
The picture is different at the market of the same name.
Better known as Bailoni, the market is a lot emptier than usual this morning.
The stalls are devastated, but not because of the large sales, but because nobody has even brought out the goods at most of them today.
When asked why it is so empty today, the woman behind the stall selling fruit and vegetables replies that it is probably because of the rain.
"Yesterday was completely different, I guess people didn't come because of this weather," the saleswoman tells me.
Weather/Katarina StevanovićDid the rain, strike or something else prevent vendors from coming to the market?
The woman who sells the goods a little further has a different opinion.
"What a strike. "People did not come because they are afraid of roadblocks and how they will return home," said another.
There are no flower sellers in front of the market, who are usually there every day.
