Friendly bikers

Saw this fellow first and asked to take his photo, and he said, "Wait for my friend."

So I did.

Under watchful eyes...

Another juxtaposition for you.  Couldn't resist this photo of three travelers asleep in Kalemegdan under the watchful eyes of the French Embassy's Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite.  You might remember them from this shot.

Sunday Bridges--Riverside cafe in Kraljevo

Took a short trip this past weekend to the country to some friends' house located near the city of Kraljevo, located on the Ibar River.The city suffered a major earthquake (5.3)  in November 2010, as a result of which two people were killed and over 100 suffered light injuries. A number of buildings suffered damage, and several hundreds, chiefly older buildings, were rendered unusable.  This river cafe looks a little slanted, though probably not because of the earthquake (!). The fellow on the bridge seems to be keeping his balance.

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

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--cup of coffee?

Ever wondered what to do with those mismatched cups?  This cafe in downtown Belgrade suspended them from fishing line. I guess they don't have as many mismatched cups as I used to (downsize, downsize), since a couple of these are the same.

See other reflections on James'  WEEKEND REFLECTION.

SKYWATCH: Sunset from Kalemegdan....

There's probably no better place to get a Skywatch photo than from Kalemegdan.  Its esplanade is already high, and I climbed a small hill even a bit higher to get this photo.  This of course is looking west toward New Belgrade.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

'tis the season

It's tennis season for sure, and intrepid players still play in Belgrade's heat, opting if they can for early morning or later evening.  This player is getting the court ready for those who follow him.  You had another view of this court in Kalemegdan's (now dry!) moat last May.

ABC WEDNESDAY: "B" is for "Before"....and after

There's been an exhibit of old photos of Belgrade downtown.  Couldn't help but snap the old stairs (taken somewhere in the early 1900s and a new shot taken...just a few days ago.  Foliage is different, but that's about it.  (And yes, those towers on the left are there, but now hidden because of the summer leaves.)

See other B's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

¡Hola!

Do you wear a hat when it's really sunny and hot?  I must admit I don't, but love to see people wearing sun hats.  A wide brim is de rigueur to ward off rays, especially when you're reading like this fellow.  I couldn't help but recall this fellow in a sombrero that I captured a while back.

Photo request" "Stepenice" (Stairs)

Like many of you, I often get photo requests, usually from Serbian ex-pats.  This one is for Ivana in Canada, who asked me to photograph Stepenice, her favorite restaurant in Belgrade. I'd never heard of it, but then Fate intervened when a friend suggested we go for a drink at this restaurant's outdoor terrace.  My friend had forgotten its name, but I was happy to learn it was Stepenice. We went there at night, but I returned the next day to take this shot....and up the stairs again!  :<)

Click on the link above for info about the restaurant.

Any more requests out there?

Blues

Hot, hot in Belgrade.  Took this photo before I left last May. These fountains in Tasmajdan Park change colors and are quite beautiful...and now, refreshing.

WEEKEND REFLECTION--St. Marko's reflected

The dome of Saint Marko's cathedral reflected in the windowed facade of Belgrade's television building.

See other reflections at JAMES' Weekend Reflection.

SKYWATCH==3:29 a.m.

I've recently returned to Belgrade after my visit to Seattle...jet-lagged of course, and keep waking up at hours I haven't seen for a while.  Here's a view from my window at 3:29 a.m......  It's a pulled-back version of this shot taken a while back.

And that sign reads "In the game again," which is true, since I'm back and can seriously visit blogs again.

Check out other skies at all hours at SKYWATCH.

She's the one!

Ah, yes, this lonely statue perhaps wishes 'She's the one', as the advertisement (Ona je ta!) behind her proclaims.  I love accidental juxtapositions, as you saw in yesterday's post.  However, the statue will be disappointed--the 'ona' refers to a credit card.  Since Serbian has genders for their nouns, this 'ona' can also be an 'it', when it refers to a non-living thing like a credit card.

She'll have to be patient...

ABC WEDNESDAY : "A" is for "accidental"

Before I left for the US last May, I made a quick trip to Zrenjanin, an hour or so from Belgrade.  I can't help but wonder if this lady's pose like the statue was accidental, or if subliminally she was influenced by its presence!

See more A's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

Happy First Birthday

Another indication of how time flies...it's little Mila's first birthday and how she's changed from this photo of one year ago. Mila loves to ride on Daddy's shoulders...  He loves it too, and is holding her hands so she doesn't grab on to his hair.

Happy Birthday to Mila!

Bye-bye...for a while....

Leaving Seattle for Belgrade in time to arrive for my granddaughter Mila's first birthday.  Leaving little Luka here in Seattle and will miss him.  He's scheduled to make his first trip to Serbia this Christmas.  How he'll be different then!

He's waving good-bye to me here....  :<(

SUNDAY BRIDGES--Bridge to Nordstrom's

 I love to see and to cross over bridges like this one in downtown Seattle.

See other bridges at Louis La Vache's Sunday Bridges.

WEEKEND REFLECTION--the waiting room

Snapped this photo (see me?) while my daughter and baby Luka were waiting for his check-up.  Luka has gained 2 1/2 pounds in three weeks.

See other reflections at James' WEEKEND REFLECTION.

Happy Bastille Day to all my French readers!

SKYWATCH--Seattle's Great Wheel

This is Seattle's new Great Wheel, which you can read about right here. I didn't have time to take a ride (only $13- for an adult), but will definitely do so next time.

I took this shot from Pike Place Market's Soundview Cafe.  I waited over a hummus plate for quite a while until that seagull flew by to enhance my shot.

See other skies at SKYWATCH.

A face in the crowd....

See anyone you know?  You should!  These little famous figures were in a store window at the Pike Place Market.  I didn't go in to ask how much they were, since I'd be tempted to buy one...or many.

Which one would you choose?

ABC Wednesday "Z" is for "zoomed in"

Like I said yesterday, I'm never bored with my camera, and so, while waiting for the never-to-arrive bus yesterday, I zoomed in on this lady across the street from me.

Her bus came.

See other Z's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

Waiting at the bus stop....

I waited over an hour and a half for the Number 4 bus the other day....never came; no other bus drivers knew anything about it. Nothing posted. So I walked back to my daughter's place, a good walk, and I managed to dodge the rain. She told me most people check if there's transit disruption on their Iphones....which I do not have....

Anyway, I'm never bored with my camera.

Surreal

A bit surreal anyway.  These sculptures (and they're either standing or sitting) at Seattle's Westlake plaza are just begging for a photo, and so....  Love the blue trees, too.

Sunday Bridges--Bridging two buildings

A member of Seattle's mounted police crosses the street, with a bridge linking two buildings in the background.

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

WEEKEND REFLECTION--Don't be 'koi'.

The word 'coy' is defined as 'tending to avoid people or social situations; reserved,' but these Japanese koi fish are anything but reserved. They, along with a number of their friends, were rushing the little wooden bridge I passed over at Seattle's Japanese Garden, hoping I'd purchased some fish food at the ticket booth.  Sorry to say I hadn't, but will next time....

See other reflections at James' WEEKEND REFLECTION.

SKYWATCH--the high horse

I've often admired this horse head on a wall facing west along the highway toward the viaduct in Belltown here in Seattle. I researched it, and the best explanation I found was on a post by Chuck Pefley back in 2009.  

See other skies at SKYWATCH.

Quelle Bouffe?

You choose...do you want to eat at La Grande Bouffe or at La Petite Bouffe?  Actually, you can't do either, since they're not there anymore. Just the sign.  However, you can still probably rent the 1973 French film La Grande Bouffe, in which a group of friends gather together with the sole purpose of eating themselves to death. Eating French food wouldn't be a bad way to go, if you had to.

ABC Wednesday - "Y" is for "You like it-- it likes you"

I'm showing my age, but I remember 7-Up's slogan "You like it-it likes you" from when I was a child. It's not in use anymore.  Looking up the slogan, I came across this informative site where you can read about 7-Up's slogans through its history.

What's your favorite soft drink?  And Happy Fourth of July to all Americans.

See other Y's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

Lace leggings!

Couldn't resist snapping this girl as she crossed the street in downtown Seattle.  Perhaps you remember these Belgrade legs from last November?

Ready for a wedding

Not quite his wedding yet, but my daughter's son, Luka, now six weeks old, attended a wedding and got all spruced up for the occasion.

THEME DAY-Chimneys

 

I always think Santa must be awfully frustrated with these little covers....

Seems like the portal is down again, but this post was for July 1st Theme Day, which is chimneys!!