Josip Broz Tito was a towering figure in Yugoslav politics for more than 30 years and even after his death his legacy is still felt in each of the former Yugoslav republics. He is largely credited, and rightfully so, for keeping Yugoslavia together for so long, for better or for worse. Tito is also famous for his policy of non-alignment during the Cold War. There's a museum in Belgrade called The House of Flowers, where Tito was laid to rest. I had never gone, but a friend and I dropped by not long ago. I was pleasantly surprised at how interesting it was---you can see his famous blue suit and white suits, massive desk and bookcases that stood in his office, his Mercedes, over 200 batons, each more elaborate than the next, carried by runners during various celebrations, and hundreds of presents received from local and foreign dignitaries. Above is a stationery set received from John F. Kennedy. Well worth the visit should you be in Belgrade...and so far, the museum is free!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
A present from JFK
Josip Broz Tito was a towering figure in Yugoslav politics for more than 30 years and even after his death his legacy is still felt in each of the former Yugoslav republics. He is largely credited, and rightfully so, for keeping Yugoslavia together for so long, for better or for worse. Tito is also famous for his policy of non-alignment during the Cold War. There's a museum in Belgrade called The House of Flowers, where Tito was laid to rest. I had never gone, but a friend and I dropped by not long ago. I was pleasantly surprised at how interesting it was---you can see his famous blue suit and white suits, massive desk and bookcases that stood in his office, his Mercedes, over 200 batons, each more elaborate than the next, carried by runners during various celebrations, and hundreds of presents received from local and foreign dignitaries. Above is a stationery set received from John F. Kennedy. Well worth the visit should you be in Belgrade...and so far, the museum is free!
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SUNSET
A beautiful urban sunset over New Belgrade. The 'smoke' from the stacks on the left is actually just steam from the heating plant....
9 comments:
Hello Bibi !
Thank You for this lesson of history...
I'll go to Belgrad perhaps in 2009...
See You later !
Nice composition on this one Bibi. I like the snoring gypsy below as well. that was a gutsy shot! I'll try it in Paris and maybe get slapped-heee!
V
cool... :O
I love history, and would love to see the museum.
An Arkie's Musings
good one but give me the gypsy too.
Fascinating stuff:)
The set is so elegant! Very nicely captured indeed. I bet it was selected by Jackie (I wonder if she was Jackie as a 1st lady? Nowdays is automatically Jackie O.)
I'm going off down memory lane now so bear with me... I remember getting dresses up ('u paradu') & going to Yugo film festival in Pula for opening night with fireworks and "fire-falls" coming down the arena walls. There were several times that I saw Tito & Jovanka there - he in his white splendor. Last time was the summer of '74 when I went back for a visit. In '69, I thought the film being shown was inappropriate for the president but OK for a 10 yr-old!
Now this is really historic. A name I grew up knowing well.
I like the tale very much. For some reason, I've had the Cold War on my mind of late!
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