Novi Sad, Monday, 27 December 1948
Their guide, Adem Čejvan, had suggested that the Baranovs visit the city of Novi Sad before concluding their visit to Yugoslavia, and they had heeded his recommendation. The contrast between Croat Zagreb and Serb Novi Sad highlighted the dichotomy that was Yugoslavia. In Zagreb, the Christmas celebrations were winding down, in Novi Sad, they were still days away from completion, Epiphany being the day of greater importance. Of course, in Sarajevo, which they had visited earlier, Christmas was not of general importance.
Once renowned as the ‘Serbian Athens’ Novi Sad was at once a cultural and industrial centre of northern Yugoslavia, filled with museums, theatres, and, on its outskirts, modern factories which supported the buoyant Yugoslav economy. Newspapers available in street kiosks were filled with reports of royal visits in the southern portion of the country – inspections of troops in Cepotina, the dedication of several new schools, awards to scholars. King Petar, his brother Prince Tomislav, and even young Prince Andrew, were very much in the public eye.
It was surprising then when at the dinner hour Čejvan guided the Baranovs to a restaurant in one of the quieter neighbourhoods of the city – one which almost seemed closed for the evening.
“Petar!” Xenia rushed to embrace her ‘Prince Charming’.
Baranov turned to the equerry. “I don’t want to think what had to be done to permit the king to come here without the press catching wind of it.”
“Officially His Majesty is in route to visit the naval facilities at Kotor…”
Conversation at the small, intimate dinner, revolved around the impressions the Baranovs had formed about Yugoslavia, and what else they might wish to see before their return to France. For Xenia’s part, it seemed as if she had fallen in love with the country.