Inn, tavern, or just simply kafana

People like taking pictures in different occasions. Some years ago, while the camera was a rarity, and we did not have many photographers, the pictures were most frequently taken for the purpose of having kept the memories from the military. The ones who could afford themselves going to a spa took pictures in the spa’s park, or next to a photographer’s tools.

Many photographs  are related to a special place in our lives- Inn, tavern, or just simply kafana..[1]  People would put on their finest clothes when going to kafana , because it made no sense at all to be clad in bad clothes, surrounded by others, who were beautifully dressed, all having the same desires, needs and habits. They all were mostly the same and equal. Probably, that was the main reason for taking the pictures with eagerness, so relaxed and light-hearted. They would keep those photographs as dear memories. The atmosphere and good company would make the person smile, and we should not underestimate a good drink.

In the report of County Valjevo in 1858, it was stated that there were 27 kafanas in Ub. Anyway, our devotion to kafanas is still present. And the young have accepted the reasons for going to kafanas with ease.

The photo was taken in May, in the 50’s of the last century, in front of the restaurant’’Promaja’’. Visitors were sitting in the garden. Nowadays, the garden is a hotel terrace ‘’Tamnava.’’The garden was paved with pebbles, which was considered to be very luxurious at that time. The stadium ‘’Jedinstvo’’ had not yet been planned, and at  the place of today’s  pool was a meadow.

  

In front of ''Beges''kafana in the 60's

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[1]Lepa Varos Ub, Divni ljudi,Milutin Jovanovic,  strana 119.  I have used Serbian word for tavern, people are familiar with it.