A Yankee-in-Belgrade
Impressions of Belgrade and Serbia and maybe photos from an in-country trip by a long-term ex-pat.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
"JE SÈME À TOUT VENT"
Since 1876, "JE SÈME À TOUT VENT" (I sow to all winds) is the motto of the French Larousse dictionary. My blog is from Serbia, not France, but the dry weather here has made dandelions fade and be ready for a good wind to disperse their seeds.
Monday, June 16, 2025
FANCY
When I moved here from Paris in 1977, you couldn't find any 'fancy' food. The most foreign food was pizza and you had to really hint for a pizzeria. Just 'good old Serbian food' back then, and of course there's nothing wrong with that. Times change, tastes change. Above is a turkey breast stuffed with a prune set on mashed potatoes with a delicious gravy. Years ago a turkey and a prune would never have met on the same plate. No flowers either, even if they are these edible kinds.
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Saturday, June 14, 2025
DAY IS DONE
Friday, June 13, 2025
KINDERGARTEN
This is a freshy repainted wall of a local kindergarten. You can't see the whole structure here, but it is fairly large since it also includes a facility for children from age one to four, a kitchen, a spacious, well-equipped play yard, and a gymnasium. Maternity leave here in Serbia is for one year, so if parents don't have anyone else to care for a child, they may place the little one in this area. My grandchildren attended this kindergarten. The entire building is in the shape of a daisy. Cost is calculated according to a family's means. My family and I were very happy with the teachers and caregivers.
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
NOT A COLORING BOOK
Although this may look like a page from a kid's coloring book, it's actually the interior of a local café cleverly painted to look like one! I'd have to resist the urge to go there with my crayons.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
L'art à Belgrade
The posts are painted with a particular design often seen here on locally-made rugs.
I am referring to the lovely mosaic on the sidewalk which, a passer-by told me, was done by a French artist who does these here and there in countries he visits.
Monday, June 9, 2025
YELLOW
I am not good with tree names, at least those that I don't see often. The yellow blossoms on this tree in a neighborhood kindergarten yard struck me, pleasantly complementing the part-yellow fence and the grass that is a bit yellow because of lack of rain.
Sunday, June 8, 2025
SUNSET
Years ago, I had a photography teacher who advised our class never to take sunset photos because they're 'too easy'. But they are beautiful, so here is one from last night!
Saturday, June 7, 2025
HOLLYHOCKS
I always like to think of hollyhocks as one of the flowers of my youth in Pennsylvania and they are. When I looked them up online today, I learned that my hollyhocks belong to a different genus than the European ones above "A rose by any other name" is still a rose, and both versions are beautiful.
"JE SÈME À TOUT VENT"
Since 1876, "JE SÈME À TOUT VENT" (I sow to all winds) is the motto of the French Larousse dictionary. My blog is from Serbia, n...
