Ida Prester for HEDONIST: Zagreb Is a City for the Day, and Belgrade for the Night

Considering that the well-known Zagreb native lived and worked in Belgrade for several years, we asked her how she perceives the two cities.

“Zagreb is a city for the day, and Belgrade for the night - that’s how I would divide them. Zagreb is calm, pleasant, and clean, but quite modest when it comes to nightlife. We simply don’t have that madness in us. Belgrade does - it’s incredibly ‘talented’ for entertainment. People in Belgrade love going out and hedonism in all its forms. Nights feel like a movie - wild and unpredictable. However, during the day, Belgrade can be exhausting, neurotic, noisy, and quite polluted. In my opinion, Zagreb is ideal for work and raising children, while Belgrade is perfect for fun and concerts. That’s my hedonistic balance,” she laughs.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Balkan Tourism

As a passionate traveler, what do you see as the shared weaknesses and advantages of the Balkan tourism offer?

“We have a fantastic climate and incredible natural beauty, but we often lack style and taste. We don’t try hard enough. I love traveling and seeing what’s available elsewhere. There are wonderful accommodations and offers, but many are truly substandard - visually unappealing. You must refine spaces in harmony with the surrounding natural environment, rather than ruining the experience with completely inappropriate aesthetics.

Our great advantage - especially in the eastern parts - is this enormous hunger for fun and a natural talent for creating it. You don’t find that in many places. We should fully embrace it. For example, through legalization… well, quite a few segments, in my opinion. With the right policies, Belgrade could surpass Amsterdam in three days. We just need to stop pretending to be overly proper.”

Traveling With Children

Many parents consciously give up long international trips once they have children and slow down a bit. In your case, it was quite the opposite.

“I traveled both before and after giving birth. I don’t see children as a limitation or a reason to abandon personal interests. On the contrary, I think travel is extremely beneficial for them. They grow into healthy, flexible, and curious people. Every journey means losing comfort - you sacrifice it for discovery. That’s a value I want to teach them, instead of raising ‘delicate flowers’ who only play games at home without moving. Go into the world, learn about yourself and others! That’s life - ride it!”

A Family Adventure on Wheels

How did you come up with the idea of renting a camper van, and what impressions did you bring back from that trip? It doesn’t sound like a conventional family vacation.

“We love discovering new things. We had never tried a camper before, so why not? The kids still ask when we’ll do it again. For them, the house on wheels and sleeping above the driver, right next to a lake, was amazing. For us, it was quite exhausting. I think they were still too young. We had to run after them constantly, and we were inexperienced, first-time campers. There was a lot of work - both with the vehicle and the kids. We’ll take a break until they grow a little older.”

What Does Hedonism Mean to You? What does the concept of hedonism evoke for you? Do you see it more as a material or a spiritual category?

“Both. Spiritual peace is the most important thing for everyone, and the absence of stress is the greatest luxury of the 21st century. But very few people are true yogis who can achieve that ascetically, without any money. Enjoying great company, beautiful beaches, healthy food, stunning sunsets, amazing festivals - without deadlines or worrying about tomorrow - that’s the greatest luxury and dream for me. I don’t need yachts or status symbols, just enough to enjoy my moments.”

Your Perfect Way to ‘Kill Time’?

“What killing time? I’d rather give birth to it,” she laughs. “Not even five lifetimes would be enough for everything I want to try and become.”

Addicted to People

Our interviewee says that during the pandemic and lockdown, she realized she is “deeply addicted to people and human touch.”

“Everything I do in life involves contact and shared energy - and I’m not a porn star!” she jokes. “Life without concerts, gatherings, kissing, and hugging… that was extremely hard for me. I’m someone who connects deeply with people, so physical distance was terrible. Some of my friends didn’t experience any change during the epidemic and can’t understand how I felt - I envy them. For me, the world collapsed at that time, both professionally and emotionally.”

In a world of constant speed, Prester reminds us that hedonism is, in fact, closeness.

• Interview by: Savo Drakulić
• Originally published in HEDONIST Magazine, Issue 02, 2020.