Riding into the New Year

Like yesterday's post, another photo snapped from the bus on the way back to Belgrade.

Where will you be this New Year's Eve?  Me, I'll be at home, noshing on some goodies with my family.

Happy New Year to you all!

Sunday Bridges....somewhere...dunno where...

Leaving Kopaonik ski resort, traveling by bus with my son-in-law while the other members of my family returned to Belgrade by car.  No idea where this bridge is. I snapped it from the bus.

See other bridges on Louis La Vache's SUNDAY BRIDGES.

Weekend Reflections--Cockta's still here.

Cockta is a soft drink created in the early 1950s by chemical engineer Emerik Zelinka, an employee of the Slovenijavino research labs. He and his team wanted to create a refreshing drink using local herbs, while at the same time making it original rather than trying to copy similar foreign drinks.  Its main ingredient is rose hip, which probably is why I don't care for it, since I don't like rose hip tea either.

And please note that ironically it's served here in a Coke glass!  My grandson Luka is enjoying a bottle of formula in the background. He can try Cockta later on.

See more reflections at James' WEEKEND REFLECTION.

SKYWATCH--Idyllic

Saying farewell soon to Kopaonik, where I've spent several days with my kids and their families.

See other skies on SKYWATCH FRIDAY.

Cousins meet....

My granddaughter Mila, who lives in Belgrade, has had the opportunity this Christmas to meet her cousin Luka, my daughter's son.  Luka lives in Seattle and was visiting Serbia for the first time. Mila is now 17 months and he is 7 months old.  Such fun to have them all here!

ABC WEDNESDAY--"X" is for "eXceptional foods"

Here on Serbia's highest mountain, Kopaonik, you can find all kinds of ethnic crafts, goods, brandies....  Have a look!

See other X's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

Christmas breakfast

Actually I had this breakfast on Sunday, not today, but will for sure have it again. Those Serbs reading this will recognize this dish as 'kachamak', a cornmeal dish similar to palenta.  It's served piping hot with 'kajmak', a rich, creamy spread, and some salted white cheese.  Yum.

SNOW TIME!

We've had snow time in Belgrade (all gone for the moment now), and since last Saturday, my son, daughter-in-law, their daughter Mila, my daughter, son-in-law, and their baby Luka (visiting from the US) have come to Serbia's highest mountain, Kopaonik, about a four-hour drive from Belgrade.

Lots of snow and not too cold.

Wishing all of those who celebrate it a very Merry Christmas tomorrow.

Sunday Bridges--faking it.

Remember the knaves in Alice in Wonderland who were painting the roses red?  Somehow this fellow reminded me of them. He's creating a fake stone wall off on one of Kalemegdan Fortress's bridges...why I do not know.  I took this photo before our big snow and haven't been back yet....

See other bridges, real or fake, at Louis La Vache's SUNDAY BRIDGES.

No end of the world--let's play ball!

Aren't you happy it wasn't the end of the world yesterday?  ;<)

Burned....

Two of my gingerbread cookies that stayed too long in the oven are enjoying a view of a clear evening sky and the passing traffic below.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

Candles

At this time of year we see many candles.  Here in Serbia winter is the time when most 'slavas' or saints' days take place; the candle in the photograph has been lit to celebrate Saint Nikola, my son's and late husband's slava, which was yesterday.

ABC WEDNESDAY-"W" is for "wet cement"

A dog passed this way....ever immortalized in wet cement.

See other W's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

Flight

The title says it all!

Deep in conversation

Two men inside Belgrade's Hotel Moskva, deep into conversation....what are they talking about?

SUNDAY BRIDGES--before the snow

Last week Belgrade was hit by major snow...a real mess.  Glad I got out to get this bridge beforehand.

See other  bridges at Louis La Vache's SUNDAY BRIDGES.

WEEKEND REFLECTION--and the other choice is...?

The top sign reads, 'We don't accept advertising material."  That's fine.

The bottom sign reads, "The door is locked. Please use your key or the intercom!"

And the other choice is...break down the door?  Oh....

See other reflections on James' WEEKEND REFLECTION.

SKYWATCH--graceful

Graceful tree in Kalemegdan Park...before our snow.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

He's back....in black....

Remember this fellow whom I showed you a few weeks back?  He was dressed in a white suit before, but now he's a Man in Black. He drives a taxi....with style.

ABC WEDNESDAY--"V" is for "violinist"

One of Knez Mihailova's street musicians.

See more V's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

Felt sorry for poochie

I felt so sorry for this little Pekinese (disguised as a lion, apparently, with mistress-matching coat to boot).  He didn't want to move and was dragged along several meters and then just stopped.  Too embarrassed, I imagine, to parade himself along Belgrade's pedestrian street, Knez Mihailova.

Unlike his mistress, who was urging him along in not so pleasant terms, oblivious to those around her, he caught my attention.  I sneaked a  hip shot of her and her unhappy companion.

Up we go

A week or so ago I attended a photo exhibit at the Artget Gallery just off of Republic Square downtown.  Would you believe I didn't have my camera with me to snap these workers putting up holiday lights? Hard to believe, I know and I was kicking myself for almost missing this shot, but then I remembered I have a cell  phone!

So saved by the bell, or rather, cell.

Under the arch

A group of people passes under a bridge of Kalemegdan fortress.

See other bridges at Louis La Vache's SUNDAY BRIDGES.

Weekend Reflections: The walker

Handsome fellow, I think, walking along a street parallel to Belgrade's pedestrian street, Knez Mihailova.

See other reflections at James'  WEEKEND REFLECTION.

Pigeons in flight

The title says it all!  See more skies on SKYWATCH.

Priest goes for a walk

A Serbian Orthodox priest begins to descend stairs in Kalemegdan Park, overlooking New Belgrade.

Forgive my absence from commenting this past week. I may be a bit longer in returning; a death in the family requires my attention. 

ABC WEDNESDAY--"U" is for "Upper part cut..."

Those of you who regularly read my blog know that I am fairly good at hip shots, taken on the sly from just below waist level.  Sometimes I get nervous....and miss part of the photo, as I did here, but I thought the rest of it was too good to pass up.

I really need to learn in Photoshop how to touch up a photo like this. I am usually averse to such touching up, but this lady is missing part of her 'coiffure'....

See other U's on   ABC WEDNESDAY.

Slice of life street shot

Just liked the light, the street, the two no-entry signs, and the two walkers.

Yarn-bombed

I think this is called yarn bombing....was a trend in the US a while back, and now it seems like it might catch on here.

SUNDAY BRIDGES--the one that stands out

The newest addition to Belgrade's bridges, the Bridge on Ada, stands out from nearly wherever you are in the city.

See other bridges on Louis La Vache's SUNDAY BRIDGES.

THEME DAY-My Street--now and back then...

 This is my street in downtown Belgrade as it appears today.  The building on the left is the main post office.  Though there are not many cars in this photo, there is usually quite a bit of traffic.

 During WWII, the Germans built a reservoir on this very part of my street.  After the Liberation, the reservoir was used as a swimming pool for competitions for a short while.  I'll bet not even many Belgraders know this, but now you do....

See other posts right here.  

SKYWATCH-three and three

Three trees, or maybe one or two more, and three 'silhouettes', or maybe a couple more. But that's what it looked like to me at first!

Our skies are now gray...how about yours?

See more skies of many colors on SKYWATCH.

Breaking Bad....?

 Any of you readers watch the incredibly good series BREAKING BAD? I think this man, walking through one of Kalemegdan Parks tunnels looks like the series' protagonist Walter White, portrayed by Bryan Cranston. You can see his photo below, with his trademark hat.

Belgrade seems to be quite a hang-out for celebrity look-alikes, such as tennis champ Novak Djokovic and former U.S. president Bill Clinton.

ABC WEDNESDAY: "T" is for "thorns"

These long and sharp thorns are Mother Nature's way of saying, "Don't climb me...."

See other T's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

Nowadays probably not...

I'm fairly certain this must be some saint blessing or protecting a young boy, but I can't help but think that nowadays no one would dare put this on a facade.  Anyone know who the man in question is?

What lies within....

These young men appeared amused by the poster for the exhibit Bodies Revealed, which is making its debut here in  Belgrade this month.

SUNDAY BRIDGES--Woody Allen quote

"I'm not afraid of death. I just don't want to be there when it happens," is a quote credited to Woody Allen.

Someone wrote just that under Branko's Bridge here in Belgrade.

See other bridges, and who knows, maybe a quote, at Louis La Vache's SUNDAY BRIDGES.

WEEKEND REFLECTION--brandy glasses

Brandy glasses and a waiter at the AVALA TOWER that I visited a while back.

See other reflections on James' WEEKEND REFLECTION.

SKYWATCH--burning leaves in Bela Crkva

 On a recent trip to Bela Crkva (White Church), about an hour and a half from Belgrade, I climbed a hill to get a view of the town.  The smoke is from burning leaves.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

Heavy...

These are pumpkins, though not the jack o-lantern type.   Inside their flesh is bright orange and about three inches thick.  Too hard to carve for Halloween, but they make excellent pumpkin pies. I have made mine from pumpkins like this for years, ever since I came here.

Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers. I'm doing Thanksgiving on Sunday, since of course it isn't a holiday here....easier.

ABC WEDNESDAY--"S" is for "stacked"

These boxes are filled with chips and other similar products and aren't heavy, but still.....a balancing act.

See other S's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

There's always someone...or something...

Usually this happens in group portraits, but there's always someone or something, in this case, that his his eyes closed.

Colorful

Hey, fellows!  Would you wear this sweater? I don't dislike it, just that my husband or son wouldn't choose such a bright one.  I love how the colors and shapes echo the icon on the right.

Sunday Bridges--Riding High

Over and around we go.

See other bridges on Louis La Vache's SUNDAY BRIDGES.

Weekend Reflection: vinjak in a puddle

Vinjak (VEEN-yak) is a brandy-type drink.  Very strong, and it used to  be quite popular when I first came here, but seems to have lost popularity.  However, these little bottles are sold in kiosks and quite often workers around market places will buy some and have a drink....and drop the bottles; not nice.

See other reflections on James' Weekend Reflection.

SKYWATCH--photo-bombed

I'm happy this pigeon photo-bombed my photo of the confluence of the Danube and the Sava.  Wouldn't be the same photo without it.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.