SKYWATCH--a splash of color

Dark and gloomy, but it's winter. And a splash of color  here and there stands out all the more.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

Daily Haiku

The mist on my face

The wind pushing me onward

Nature lives in me 

Les reveries du promeneur solitaire

Who knows what thoughts run through this old man's mind as he makes his way up Belgrade's Bohemian street, Skadarlija?  Perhaps he's read Jean-Jacques Rousseau's work in the title, or perhaps not.  He may be simply thinking about what's for lunch.

Daily Haiku

Clear your monkey mind

Concentrate on the moment

And live your life now 

ABC WEDNESDAY: "C" is for "colorful"

Colorful and not always so healthy, at least as far as the popcorn is concerned.  Those colors are almost surreal.

Coke's not good for you either, but beer has vitamin B!  My doctor even once told me to drink beer .  And the color in the cans won't hurt you.

Name your poison.

See other Cs on Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC WEDNESDAY.

Daily Haiku

 Colors caught my eye

I was tempted to sample

But thought of my health

And spring is when?

This forsythia was probably surprised by our snowstorm last week, but seems undaunted. 

Daily Haiku

Your beauty warms me

Insensitive to the cold

I reach out to you 

Who peed on the sign?

Three guesses who did.

I have my photo buddy friend and dog Pasha (especially) to thank for this photo.

Daily Haiku

Brave mountaineers climb

A mountain because it's there

Same for dog and sign....

 

SUNDAY BRIDGES--look what's under the bridge....

While walking in the sleet and snow to a wine and cheese exhibit (I didn't live in France for a long time for nothing!), I came across this cafe/beer garden tucked into a wall of Branko's Bridge. I'll go in another time....

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

Daily Haiku

Slosh, slosh, slip, slip, slide

Through wet, icy city streets  

Picking my way home

Note:  a commenter wanted to see more of the bridge, but it was impossible; cars parked behind me, 50mm lens, and no room to back up. Here's a link where you can see Branko's bridge that this cafe, called Under the Bridge, is under!  Here's the bridge. It's on the far side.....

SKYWATCH--the birds on the tree in the sand

Little birds on bare branches on a tree in the Deliblato Sands, about an hour's drive from Belgrade.  You can read a short explanation of the Sands and see some more photos on my Flickr link.

See more skies at  SKYWATCH.

Daily Haiku

Sky before sunset

Chill winds blow across the sands

Silencing the birds

  

How many do you have?

 

How many keys do you have on your keychain?  I have four. My car keys are on a separate chain.

This impressive fistful belongs to my photo buddy. 

Daily Haiku

When grandma was young

No one had to lock their doors

When did fear creep in? 

ABC WEDNESDAY''"B" is for "Belka and Boyana"

This is Belka and Bojana (pronounced BOY-ana), whom I see occasionally in the park. I'd been struck by how much they look alike....at least their hair.

See other B's on Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC WEDNESDAY.

Daily Haiku

Run your fingers through

My long, blond, soft, shaggy hair  

Human or canine

Three benches...or maybe four

 Three or four?  The one in the background looks like two small ones shoved together.

No matter the number, it was a foggy day, and no one sat on any of them.

But I took a photo.

Daily Haiku

In the rain or snow

No one wants to sit on benches

In the public park

  

Dashing and dapper

I see this man almost every day on Knez Mihailova street. He cuts a dashing figure, with his hat, leather jacket, and well-trimmed beard.  Not sure the poodle fits with him, but maybe he's the family dog.
Here's what the pyramid means.

Daily Haiku

Tall, slim, and handsome

You pass by me silently

My camera caught you

SUNDAY BRIDGES--same bridge, different view

The Bridge on Ada, seen from one end of Kalemegdan Park....

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

Daily Haiku

No motivation

For a good haiku today

Wait for tomorrow

 

WEEKEND REFLECTION--Smederevo Fortress and moat

Here is a view of the 15th century castle and moat located in the town of Smederevo, a mere 45 kms from Belgrade.

See other reflections on James'WEEKEND REFLECTION.

Daily Haiku

Impenetrable

Was once the mighty castle

That lies in ruin  

SKYWATCH: Pour la France

A very foggy version of the statue in Kalemegdan Park "Pour la France," dedicated to the friendship between Yugoslavia/Serbia during WW I.

See the statue on a much clearer day from its opposite side here.

See other skies right here on  SKYWATCH.

Rain and fog

Rain and fog, what more to say?

Daily Haiku

Fog, gray and silent

Makes ordinary magic

Then it disappears 

ABC WEDNESDAY-- "A" is for "app"

I've seen these whatever-you-call-them all over town.  Are they called apps? I really don't know what an app is...  I imagine you're supposed to scan this with your phone and it will tell you then where you are.

I've googled all kinds of combinations to see if this comes up, but nothing does.

I don't have a fancy phone, so can't scan it...

Anyone know?

NOTE:  If you look at the comments, you'll see that Dejan from Holland wrote that he scanned the app and it came up as an advertisement for a theater performance here downtown. I actually also found that there is a play called Lost in Serbia, but didn't make the connection. Duh.... and I have an ancient phone.  Thank you, Dejan!  :)

Linking to ABC WEDNESDAY.

Daily Haiku

A puzzle unsolved

Scratches and scratches our brain

'til we see the light

 

Best Wishes for a Happy New Year....again....

Very blurry, sorry. A crop from a photo taken across the street with a short lens...

Today Serbs celebrate Serbian New Year (like Serbian Orthodox Christmas, it falls two weeks later, according to the Julian calendar.)

This fellow is sitting in front of an advertisement for Best Wishes (Najlepse Zelje) chocolate.  So best wishes to you!

Daily Haiku

Tired of sitting?

Good things come to those who wait

Finally a bus

It's alive....

And it walks....  Couldn't resist this shot of a walking balloon bouquet.

Daily Haiku

Walking down the street

In company of your friends

More fun than alone 

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY---silver and black....

I don't know what these fronds are, but I was struck by how much they looked like they were made out of metal.

Linking to Shadow Shot Sunday.

Daily Haiku

 Cutting through darkness

Razor-edged fronds slice shadows

Oh so silently

WEEKEND REFLECTION--tiny trees

Took this the other day in the morning of what must have been a very foggy night, and then another foggy day.

Linking to James' WEEKEND REFLECTION.

Daily Haiku

Nature's paradox

Tiny raindrops have power

To make big trees small

SKYWATCH---crumbs, anyone?

In Cyrillic this sign reads Aca's Bakery (Atsa, phonetically written, is a nickname for Alexander.)  This bakery has been around for years and is extremely popular, serving high-quality cakes, cookies, breads, quiches, small pizzas, and sandwiches.

If you come to Belgrade, it's located on 25 Svetogorska Street, right downtown, not far from Saint Marko's church.  Well-worth the stop.

Linking to SKYWATCH.  

Daily Haiku

Savory and sweet

Delights await you inside

Don't just walk on by 

La Dame en Bleu

I was shopping with a friend the other day when I spotted this woman in blue through the shop window.

Not quite my style, but I admire women who have the guts to dress like this.

And you?

The title is a reference to Michel Delville's 1973 film with Michel Piccoli and Lea Massari, which you can read about here.   It's a story about obsession....  Nothing good on Youtube!

Daily Haiku

  Knight on a white horse

Elusive woman in blue

Vanish like rainbows

ABC WEDNESDAY "Z" is for "zaroon"

Bibi is never at a loss for admirers, so it wasn't a surprise when these two fellow from Dubai called for her to come over.  Being the attention seeker she is, she obliged.

Both fellow were visiting Belgrade for a few days, and were surprised to learn I'd just passed through Dubai.

I was at a loss for a Z today, so I googled 'Arabic words that begin with Z' and came up with 'zaroon', which means 'visitor'.  I love Google...


Linking to
ABC WEDNESDAY.

Daily Haiku

Faraway places
Can be closer than we think
If we look around

Mindfulness....

Mindfulness means fully living in the present; concentrating and focusing your attention on what is around you.

While making a salad the other day, I became aware how beautiful this red bell pepper was, plopped amidst the cucumber peelings in my sink.  I watched the water flow over it, creating little splashes.

Do you ever take time to appreciate what some might feel are insignificant things?

Daily Haiku

Red, juicy, and proud

Amidst green discarded peels

Waiting for my knife 

Christmas is coming....

It's time for Christmas Round Two. Serbs celebrate Christmas on January 7th, according to the Julian calender, and so tonight is Christmas Eve.  Oak branches as above are being sold all over, since on Christmas morning they are burned (sort of like a Yule log), and while they do, people say, "As many sparks, as much money." (Toliko žara, toliko para.)

Merry Christmas or Srećan Božić to all of you who celebrate tonight and tomorrow.

Daily Haiku

Christmas morning dawns

Crackling burning oak branches

Each spark is a coin

 

Shadow Shot Sunday and Sunday Bridges!

A double-header.

Am linking to Louis La Vache's SUNDAY BRIDGES and to SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

Daily Haiku

Two silhouettes cross

Silently over a shadow

Of a wooden bridge

 

SKYWATCH

An early morning shot of the Victor statue in Kalemegdan and the Bridge On Ada.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

Daily Haiku

Always gazing west

Not able to turn around

And see what's behind  

Do Blondes Have More Fun?

Some of you are old enough to remember Clairol's advertising slogans "Do Blondes Have More Fun?" or "Only her hairdresser knows for sure."

I guess this girl figured purple-haired girls have more fun.

(A quick shot from across the street....)

Daily Haiku

Hair of this color

Nature never intended

It's fun for New Year's

ABC WEDNESDAY "Y" is for "Yams"

Maybe not an exciting post, but it is for me. Yams had never been available here until fairly recently.  Many Chinese immigrants in Serbia now grow them, along with a whole slew of other 'exotic' vegetables.

Yum and Yay for Yams.

See other Ys on Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC WEDNESDAY.

Daily Haiku

Nothing tastes better

Than something you haven't had

In quite a while