Balkan Craftsmen - the last warriors Mystery Cache

This mystery CACHE COORDINATES are hidden behind the letters:

north 44 AB.CDE

east 20 FG.HIJ

The published coordinates (N 44° 48.867 E 20° 27.401) indicate the start point of this tour, which is the bus station “Zeleni venats”, where most of city busses stop. So, let’s start our tour.

A. Brushman (n44 48.816 e20 27.485, Kraljice Natalije Str.5, or former Narodnog fronta Str.) This craft shop was founded in 1938 by Iliya Maric, and was known for its production of art painting brushes made of cattle ear hair. Most artists in former Yugoslavia used exclusively these brushes. Zoran Maric, the present owner, is Iliya’s son.

Question (for A): Opposite the brush shop, across the street lies the green market called "Zeleni venats". You'll se a "tower" which roof is covered with square ceramides (tiles). What is the color of the ceramides:

Answers:

a. green-white (0)

b. red-white (4)

c. black-white (3)

The correct answer will give you the first digit (A) of the cache coordinates.

B. Watchman (n44 48.840 e20 27.349, Jug Bogdanova Str. 3). The owner, Bogolyub Doychinovic, a young man, is one of the few who has not introduced sale of wristwatches in order to preserve the craft. According to him, in the last 30 years in Belgrade was not open any watch manufacture, and in last 15 years have been closed about 25 shops.

Question (for B): Above the shop, on the top of the roof there is a small window. Its shape is:

Answers:

a. square (3)

b. triangle (7)

c. round (8)

The young Watchman

C. Leatherman (n44 48.855 e20 27.290, Jug Bogdanova Str. 18). The leatherman, Tomislav Petrovic, dyes and repairs leather and fur products.

Question (for C): Facing the entrance of the Leather shop, there is a a new building. What is the color of its facade (front wall)?

Answers:

a. red (6)

b. black (7)

c. green (3)

D. Candyman (n44 48.808 e20 27.267, Gavrila Principa Str. 14). In a tiny workshop two brothers Bosilchic produce various kinds of candies and oriental sweets. “Lokum”, a gummy-like sweet, is the most famous product. You can buy Lokum with several ingredients (dry plums, nuts, rose etc.)

The younger of brothers Candymen. Manufacturing "lokum"

Question (for D): facing the entrance of the shop (step on the other side of the street), on the right side there is a low, long house. On the right side of the house, under the roof, there are small square openings (windows). How many openings are there:

Answers:

a. 10 (8)

b. 8 (0)

c. 12 (7)

Now you need to go along the Gavrilo Princip Street toward the next stage. Since the street id quite long, grab te chance to refresh yourself in cafe, taverna or bakery, which in same way also represent a kind of Balkan handicraft . While you rest and refresh yourself, you can try to find out the answer to the next question. Ask the girl or the boy on the next table, if they seem to be Serbian .

E. Since Serbia was many centuries under Ottoman Empire rule, quite a lot of words of Turkish origin

Question (for E): Find out, what is the turkish-serbian word for “kettleman, caldronman”:

Answers:

a. kazandzhiya (7)

b. jorgandzhiya (4)

c. kuyundzhiya (0)

Wow!!! Half of the task is completed, let’s reveal the other five numbers!

F. Saddleman (n44 48.560 e20 27.526, Balkanska Str.36). One of the oldest workshops, originally manufacturing horse saddles. Zhivorad Sharchevic, the owner, today produces mostly small leather items (purses, begs, belts etc.) When I visited his shop and talked with him about old crafts, he showed me a very interesting book about old crafts in Belgrade. I forgot the author, I believe it was cetrain German lady.

Master of saddlecraft

Question (for F):The Saddle workshop is located on the ground floor of the house. How many floors are above this shop?

Answers:

a. 1 (2)

b. 2 (5)

c. 3 (1)

G. Capman (n44 48.562 e20 27.538, Balkanska Str.45). This manufacture is no lack of buyers. The owner, madam Natasha Valdevit, is known for her handcraft of caps and other headgear products. Older gentlemen prefer "Moscow cap", while younger clients choose an English stype" cap. How about you?

Question (for G): Facing the entrance of the shop, on its right side you can see an old building, decorated on its facade with:

Answers:

a. sea shells(9)

b. smiling heads(2)

c. crossed lines(7)

The Queen of caps

H. Hatman (n44 48.593 e20 27.550, Balkanska Str.34) Similarly to the Capman store, the Hatman workshop manufactures hats. If you are lucky, you can see the process, or part of it, which is very interesting.

Question (for H): Step on the other side of the street, and facing the entrance of the Hat shop, look up. On the top of the building, on the roof, there are few protrusions with decorative ornament in shape of:

Answers:

a. cross (9)

b. rooster (cock) (6)

c. fan (or shell) (5)

A hat for every head

I. Bagman (n44 48.663 e20 27.605, Balkanska Str.23). There are several manufactures for bags, purses and similar items production and reparation. This one is one of them.

Question (for I): Above this shop there are several floors with round-shape balcony. How many balconies there are one above other:

Answers:

a. 2 (7)

b. 3 (4)

c. 4 (9)

And, finally: J. Barbequeman (N 44° 48.725 E 020° 27.628, Balkanska Str. 9). For many years, there was an iconic barbeque kiosk on Balkanska Str.5, offering the best grilled meat for hungry bellies. That tiny shop stood there for decades and there was a time when citizens stayed in queue for the famous “plyeskavitsa”. The British newspaper "The Guardian" thinks that plyeskavitsa which can be purchased at kiosks in Belgrade represents the best fast food that exists anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, many good things don't last forever, so that kiosk has lost its battle with - who knows, but it is gone. There is a new small street food restaurant nearby, at Balkanska Str. 9, where you can end this exhausting walk and eat plyeskavitsa or pilav or something else...

Question (for J): The building, where is located the restaurant Pilav has balconies on its facade. How many balconies are on the front side of the building

Answers:

a. 5 (1)

b. 3 (6)

c. 1 (8)

Plyeskavitsa,our daily bread

Now, you are ready to complete the cache coordinates, find it and log! Congratulations!

Cache: micro magnetic, plastic container.

NB: When checking on this cache in June 2023, I was sad to see that some places are changed, some shops were closed. It seems that few warriors left the battlefield... In February 2025 a geocacher Tungmar informed me that the last stop - the barbeque shop is closed too. He provided me with new data and put a new container, so I could updated this listing for which I thank him very much.

Sources: Internet sources. Photos: Original (by Galejnik)