NO STAR...

 The other night when Jupiter and Saturn aligned to form the 'star' of Bethlehem, I walked to Kalemegdan Park to have a good look. Unfortunately the cloud cover didn't allow them to appear, so I have to be content with this shot.

What will the New Year bring? I hope for health and happiness for all, and for sure an end to this devastating virus.

HORSES IN FRONT OF FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

 This impressive statue (actually it's a pair on both sides of the stairs) leading up the stairs to the Federal Parliament was created by the well-known Croatian sculptor (remember Yugoslavia...?) Toma Rosandic (1878-1958).

That;s the main post office in the background.

THE FRENCH KNOW GOOD FOOD

 Ah, oui, it is true that the French know good food...and in this case, meat. These two French poodles were waiting patiently for their owner to exit this butcher shop, known for its excellent meat.

BIG CHESS

 This large chess set and board are in Tasmajdan Park. I have yet to see anybody ever use it...  The pieces and board are in a glass-front storeroom and it beats me how the king got a smiley balloon and pink umbrella for the queen.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY---swings in the fog

 Last week it was very foggy in Belgrade, which created some shadows, albeit slight ones.

See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE: RADIO BEOGRAD

 Radio Beograd has quite a history. I wanted to translate just a small part of this article, but the whole thing is worth reading, so please have a look.

See other B and W posts on BLACK AND WHITE WEEKEND.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A COOKIE!

 Time flies, indeed it does, and when I see this photo, I feel very old. It wasn't long ago that I had to roll out the dough and let the kids cut out the cookies. Now this year (although I mixed the dough the day before) my grandchildren here in Belgrade rolled, cut, and decorated the cookies with cinnamon sugar.

Old-fashioned Pennsylvania Dutch Sand Tarts just like my grandmother used to make. On the front of the tray you can see a 'lady' and a 'man,' cut from my family cutters now over 150 years old.

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and good tidings to all.

CHESS PLAYER

 The chess players in Kalemegdan are always there, a few or just two, but they are relentless.

This fellow is waiting for his partner, someone in particular, or perhaps a passer-by who wants to play.

SPARROWS

 Just a picture of some cute, chubby sparrows on a bush. 

Sparrows are a symbol of  Belgrade and you can read why right here.

BEZISTAN PASSAGE

 This passage linking one main city square and another has not changed hardly at all since I came here in 1977.  It  has always been unattractive. It has gained a McDonald's (you to decide to its detriment or attraction) but everything else is frozen in time.

Its name is Bezistan Passage and if you can read Serbian, here is a link.

There's a lot in that article, but I couldn't find anything else in English, so here is what the beginning of the article says:  "Depending on which generation of Belgraders you belong to, remember the passage between the two squares - Terazije and Nikola Pasic, for different things. While the youngest recognize Bezistan by its fast food restaurants and small stalls, generations who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s remember it by the shops that sold T-shirts with the inscription of their choice, pirated discs and badges.Those of a slightly older generation remember Bezistan by the merchants in front of the now closed Kozara cinema, the first "instant" camera (Photomat booth) and the first self-service restaurant at the "Kasina" hotel. And those who still remember pre-war Belgrade, at the "Paris" hotel that used to be here."

MONDAY MURALS -- A KITTY, A BEAR, AND YARN

 Haven't a clue as to the meaning of this mural...but it caught my eye.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS

SKYWATCH It's up....

 Belgrade's New Year's tree is up and has been actually for a couple of weeks. We're all wishing that 2021 will bring an end to this virus and we can get back to our lives...but things will never be the same.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

PANDEMIC PANDA

 Usually there are quite  a few big 'toys' along the pedestrian street for people, kids mainly, to have their photo taken with. I watched this big guy for about 15 minutes, but the poor panda had no takers. I hope he got luckier later.

JAZZY SWEATER...

 It's always a challenge for me to find a present for my son who, like me, seems to have everything he needs.  This year I told him if he didn't drop some hints soon, he'd end up with this sweater. To my surprise, he said he kind of liked it...  Now I wish I'd asked this fellow where he got it...

LYUBISHA AND LUKA

 I started carrying my biggie camera again and several of the people I see when I walk my dog in the morning asked me for photos, so I happily obliged.

MONDAY MURALS--Kissy, kissy

'tis the season to be kissing. I found this amorous mural in Dorcol (DOR-chol) a neighborhood of Belgrade near Kalemegdan park.  I had never seen it before, but wonder if it hadn't been partially hidden by a building that has  been knocked down.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

 

WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE===coffee

 An unusual presentation. Espresso coffee on the bottom with a tiny pitcher of milk on top. Easier for the waiter to carry?

Participating in THE WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE.

SKYWATCH--clear skies over the National Museum

 Thanks to heavy winds over the past few days, today's skies were clear over Belgrade and the National Museum. Visible are Serbian flags, the one on the left bearing the city's coat of arms.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

Kiosk kitty

'twas a chilly evening and kitty has in some way protected itself from the wind....not sure if he snacked on anything.

 

MONDAY MURALS--another trompe l'oeil

 Another trompe l'oeil mujral for you. Ii is a shame it has been defaced.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY--the blind gusle (GOOSE-leh) player

The Blind Gusle Player has a history, and I will copy and paste what I found right here:

It has recently found a home in Kalemegdan Park, and even a seeing eye dog....

"The Commission also adopted an initiative of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of the City of Belgrade to install the sculpture "The Blind Gusle Player" in Veliki Kalemegdan Park.

The bronze sculpture, the work of sculptor Paskija Pasko Vucetic, was a part of the Monument to Karadjordje composition erected on August 13, 1913 in Kalemegdan, and demolished in 1916 by the Austro-Hungarian occupation forces. After the end of the First World War, in 1930, a monument of gratitude to France was erected on the site of the dismantled Karadjordje Monument. This sculpture is the only remaining part of the intricate monument composition of the Karadjordje Monument."

MANY THANKS TO LISA, who asked for more info on the player, Filip Visnjic. Please see  this link for a lot of info!

I have already shown you another Blind Gusle Player ten (wow) years ago....see it here.

 See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

SKYWATCH---six swans

 I took a much overdue walk around the lake beside Belgrade's river island, Ada Ciganlja. Seven kilometers around, and it felt great.

I think the swans had it eassy, albeit cold, by paddling.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

ALWAYS LOOK YOUR BEST

 Maybe that is this woman's motto, since she's carrying her ironing board (and who know, perhaps an iron) with her just in case she has to look 'her very best.'

Or maybe she's into EXTREME IRONING.

Many thanks to Rob Siemann of STRASBOURG DAILY PHOTO for alerting me to Extreme Ironing.

ORTHODOX PRIEST

 Holiday times are upon us, and also here in Serbian many families have a special saint's day sometime during the year. One of the largest is Saint Nikola's, falling on December 19th.  The joke goes that half of Belgrade celebrates that slava (saint's day) and the other half comes as guests. Not far off, really.

This priest may be headed to Saint Mark's cathedral, just a couple hundred meters away.

THEME DAY -- COMFORT FOOD

When I am feeling a cold coming on, I make plain spaghetti with LOTS of garlic and black pepper. Honestly, so soon after Thanksgiving I don't feel like making spaghetti now for this theme day, so I'm going with my second favorite.

I love alphabet soup with added corn, accompanied by a toasted cheese sandwhich. Where I am in the world determines the kind of bread and cheese, but it tastes really good no matter where I am.

See other comfort foods on THEME DAY.

MONDAY MURALS--your guess is as good as mine

 I have my friend Marianne to thank for this mural. Your guess is as good as mine. What do you think it represents?

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS --HOTEL METROPOL

 I walk my dog every morning in the park near Hotel Metropol, which underwent renovation a few years back. Here you see a reflection of part of the hotel reflected in yet another part.

See other reflections on James' WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

ALL ALONE AM I

 Here it is Thanksgiving in the United States...and in expat homes abroad like mine. However, this year for a reason we all know too well, I am  not having my son and his family over. I feel horrible about this as do they, but we all agree celebrating in a closed space just doesn't seem like a good idea this  year. They are all seemingly healthy and I think I am, too, but they do have two small children who have been in school...and COVID is insidious; children could  be silent carriers.

So, in order that we can all be together next year (I certainly hope so!) we'll pass on our celebration, at least together. I still plan on making a Thanksgiving dinner, but my son will come and pick it up.

The lady on the bench could be me, minus a few years and the crutches, and the statues could represent my family holding their heads and saying, "Oh, woe!"

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU WHO CELEBRATE, TOGETHER OR SEPARATELY.

Last one from Arandjelovac

I think these wall decorations, Secessonist style, I think, are so beautiful.  Fortunately both in Arandjelovac and in Belgrade, the cities do too, and they are being protected.

 

MONDAY MURALS--perception

 Sadly, I think this is how some people view the US.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY -alone with his thoughts

 He wasn't exactly alone. I was just down the same pedestrian street on another bench.

See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--big, big

 In New Belgrade I spotted two BIG reflections above a new Mexican restaurant. The name of the restaurant as you can see is Buena Vida. Not sure what customers see on the inside, but you certainly get a 'buena vista' from outside.

See more reflections on James' WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

Prince Mihailo's Plane Tree

This magnificent and majestic plane tree was planted in 1867 by Prince Mihailo Obrenovic.  I've posted about him before, and if you like, click here to read about him.  This tree is in Arandjelovac, where I recently made a day trip.

 

Some Sculptures from Arandjelovac

Part of a sculpture Man and Dog, both creatures being embedded deep in the stone 

with only parts visible.

Untitled.

Statue of 19th century Montenegrin poet Petar II Petrović-Njegoš.

Mother and child.

Untitled

Nandi the Bull by an Indian sculptor, 1979

If you can see a bull here, let me know. I see something else. Or maybe that's the point.

 

RENOVATION A'COMIN'

 This is a beautiful old-world hotel in a gorgeous park  in Arandjelovac, a little over an hour from Belgrade. It is currently empty, but signs say renovation, or rather restoration will be soon underway.

Lie down!

"Lie down!" is a basic doggie command.  These two hounds don't need much encouragement. The top one is one of the many statues in the city park in Arandjelovac, just a little over an hour from Belgrade.

The bottom one adorns a gateway near the Greek Embassy in Belgrade and you can see that post right here.

 

MONDAY MURALS--Sax on the roof?

 I am very poor at recognizing musical instruments, if indeed this is a realistically represented one.  I think it may be a saxophone, but please correct me if I am wrong.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY---longing to travel

 Not Belgrade---Warsaw, where I was a year or two ago visiting a good friend.

I know I'm not alone, but I wish I could travel somewhere...

See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--the antique shop

 I often pass this antique shop and admire what is displayed. I'm not a collector and I don't know much about antiques, but I do l ike that lamp on the right. Had a blue one once just like it. Bought in Prague years ago.

See other reflections on WEEKEND REFLECTIONS

SKYWATCH--watch your step

 Just some fellow working on the roof...

See other skies on SKYWATCH

LOOKING UP

 I've been looking up recently, both literally and figuratively.  Doing the former, I glimpsed these heads (the upper ones). The one on the left is looking at the one on the right as if to say, "Hey, she's going to take our photo. It's about time."

BLOW IN MY ARMPIT AND I'LL....

 Many of you, at least of my generation, may remember Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in, which ran from 1968 to 1973.  I think I may have never missed an episode. Non-stop laughter.

Phrases like "Beautiful downtown Burbank," "Sock it to me," and my favorite, "Blow in my ear and I'll follow you anywhere" are still around.

I thought of the latter immediately when I was this bas-relief of Pan blowing into a very androgenous woman's armpit. 

What would I do if someone blew into my armpit?  Giggle, I guess.

Also, while researching the phrase, I came across Robert Crowe's post from April 2019.