A Yankee-in-Belgrade
Impressions of Belgrade and Serbia and maybe photos from an in-country trip by a long-term ex-pat.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
STARKNESS
I thought it was more recent, but apparently Belgrade's BRUTALIST ARCHITURE (sorry, 'ARCHITECTURE'; can't fix the spelling) dates as far back as 1948 (actually, I date that far back, too...) although the apartment buildings in the above photo date from the 1960s. They look pretty grim here facing a couryard that no one ever uses and plants have never seen, but the apartments were built to last and have withstood the test of time.
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
PEACEFUL--kind of
A utility boat of some sort floats carefree on the Danube...ignoring the fact that about 200 meters downstream (60s era hotel) Hotel Yugoslavia is fast being demolished. No one is paying any attention to the fact that no demolishers have taken any care to do this safely. Asbestos is being released in the air and it does not go away.
Monday, November 18, 2024
IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN
It is cabbage and pickling season! Time to buy a huge plastic barrel, set it up on your terrace, fill it with 20+ heads of cabbage, cover in brine, and wait (not so very long) for it to pickle. Then you're set for a variety of dishes from cabbage rolls to sauerkraut.
Sunday, November 17, 2024
MISTAKENLY BOMBED??
This beautiful (my opinion) building is the Chinese Cultural Center in New Belgrade. It stands on the site of the former Chinese Embassy that was bombed a US bomber in the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999.
NATO sources said it was an 'accident'and that they had intended to strike a suspected arms-supply facility. Where that is/ was is unclear to me.
Their excuse was that they were using outdated maps. Oh, please...all that high-tech precision bombing and they had old maps? Oh, please....
Saturday, November 16, 2024
END OF AN ERA
Another Belgrade landmark bites the dust, joining some iconic cafés, a bridge, and a couple other places cherished by locals.
Monday, November 11, 2024
IRIŠKI TELEVISION TOWER
The Iriški television tower stands on a forest area called Fruška Gora near Novi Sad. Yesterday my son's family and I went on a short hike through the forest, then for lunch at a nearby hotel/restaurant.
You can see that although the tower still serves its purpose, it has been damaged. Here's why: "The tower was built in 1975 and its lower basket was partly destroyed during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. Sources estimate that the tower was hit by over 50 missiles.The damage was estimated to be at 11.5 million dollars."
Saturday, November 9, 2024
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
It had to happen, I guess. Way too early, especially when Serbian Christmas doesn't take place until January 7th, as per Orthodox church calendar. Santa comes here on New Year's Eve.
Friday, November 8, 2024
Monday, October 14, 2024
CROSS-CULTURE BREAKFAST
Have been in India one week. I brought my hostess some ajvar, which she found goes very well on a chapati.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
URBAN GOAT
Perhaps not a sight you'd come acroos within city limits, but a family of Roma live in the woods on this lot with chickens, geese, and a nanny goat. The latter is tethered here.
Monday, September 30, 2024
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
It was my daughter-in-law's birthday yesterday and her mother had this absolutely scrumptious cake made. Nuts, bananas, chocolate, whipped cream... Not light by any means, but hey, birthdays come but once a year.
STARKNESS
I thought it was more recent, but apparently Belgrade's BRUTALIST ARCHITURE (sorry, 'ARCHITECTURE'; can't fix the spellin...