WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--the street below in a raindrop

Just over a week ago it rained for several days. Undeterred, I put my camera to work through my window, and caught this raindrop on my railing. 

Part of the street below is in the reflection.

See other reflections on James'  WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

SKYWATCH--SILHOUETTE OF SAINT MARKO'S CATHEDRAL

 Just what the title says, nothing more, nothing less.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

STEFAN "THE TALL" LAZAREVIC

Belgrade has a thing for erecting statues, gigantic ones sometimes, like shown in THIS RECENT POST.

 Today's photo is of DESPOT STEFAN LAZAREVIC, also known as Stefan the Tall.  Note that his title of despot did not carry the same connotation it does today, but simply meant 'lord.'

I wonder if he'd be angry that he isn't nearly as tall as the statue in the other link.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Snapped this photo the other day while stranded at a cafe restaurant between cloudbursts. Judging by his baseball cap, t-shirt, and suspenders, I'd bet this gentleman lived in the US for years, then retired at home here in Serbia.

 

Whadja say, Grandpa?

 Judging by the box next to his backpack, my guess is that this kid just received a spiffy new tablet from his Grandpa and is totally absorbed in it, so much so that he didn't pay any attention at all when Gramps asked him something just before I took this pic.

MONDAY MURALS--the poodle's revenge

 While walking my non-poodle, I came across this clever mural beside a dog grooming salon.

I love the poodle's expression....and the woman's haircut.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY---big girl as little girl

 Spotted at a bus stop the other night. I think she didn't pull the 'big girl as little girl' look off too well.

See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--Nikolai Krasnov

 This shot is a double exposure,  showing the statue of Nikolai Krasnov, architect of the Belgrade Archives building,  also shows a bit of reflection from Hotel Metropol behind it.

See other reflections on James'  WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

SKYWATCH! Heads up!

 During one of our sweltering days not so long ago, I was sitting in the shade in a nearby park. I looked up and here's what I saw.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

VESPAS AROUND TOWN!

 I wish I had a garage where I could keep a Vespa. They're so colorful and chic, but on the other hand, traffic has become so bad I am not sure I would really enjoy one.

In any case, this post goes out to my friend Chuck Pefley, who used to have a daily photo blog from Seattle. I see Chuck and his lovely wife Penny every time I visit my daughter and family in the same city.

Here's to you, Chuck! A plethora of Vespas!

LUCKY GUY!

 Heavy rain the past few days. On Sunday I forgot my umbrella when out walking the dog and nearly got caught in this downpour, which lasted 45 minutes....there was no way I could get home without being soaked to the bone, so I took refuge on the terrace of a cafe.

I think this fellow really was lucky. He was 'appropriately dressed' so that it didn't matter if he got soaked. He for sure got home before I did.

WRITER IN ABSENTIA

 I walk my dog in this park nearly every day, at least for sure in the morning since it's been so hot.

Sometimes we sit and have a cup of coffee or a lemonade (for me, of course; she gets water) and I read the newspaper.

The other day I noticed that someone had gone off somewhere and left glasses, a book, and a notebook, along with his/her water. I thought at first the 'writer' had gone to use the restroom, but he/she never returned in the 45 minutes I sat there.

MONDAY MURALS--Little Red Riding Hood

 Not surprisingly, this splendid mural graces the wall of an apartment building at # 22 Braca Grim (Brothers Grimm) street.  Waaaay back in 2008 I posted something about why the street was named for them, so have a look RIGHT HERE.

Thanks to my friend, Alex Tomic, who alerted me to this and sent along her photo. So much rain over the last two days I did not have time to go by for a photo of my own.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY--something old, something NOT so new

 The sugar container is a common sight, and although I guess the hand sanitizer is not so new either, alas.

See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--HOW DID SHE GET SO BIG?

My oldest granddaughter, Mila, celebrates her tenth birthday today....how did she get so big so 'fast'?

See other reflections on James'  WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

SKYWATCH--cloudy, sort of...

 Not a  bright blue, sunny sky like we've been having. They say it will rain soon, and I hope it does. It's just been too darn hot. This white sky may be announcing rain...

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

WORKING ON THAT TAN

A bad phone shot from afar, but my camera in this heat is just one more thing to carry.

This fellow looks like he's been working on his tan.

 

ROMEO

 It was close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit yesterday and it is supposed to top that today and tomorrow.

The heat did not stop this aspiring Romeo from looking spiffy for his damsel, to whom he is bringing roses.

THE SAGGY BAGGY ELEPHANT

 The Saggy Baggy Elephant by Kathryn Bowman was one of my favorite early childhood books. I made my mother read it to me over and over again. I ran across my copy the other day, scribbling inside, and a torn page or two.

Kathryn was from New Jersey, and along with her husband, Byron H. Jaxkson Jr., formed a writing couple. She passed away in 1985, but will be remembered by me through the Saggy Baggy Elephant.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS---two for those who have passed on

 The beeswax candles that are  not burning, along with those that still are, stand in the lower level of a raised 'sandbox' that stands inside a Serbian Orthodox church. There is an upper level and it is there that candles are lit for those who are still living. These on the lower level are in remembrance for those who have passed on.

See other reflections on James' WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

SKYWATCH---on top of Divcibare Mountain

 I left Divcibare mountain yesterday and am now back in sweltering Belgrade. To be honest, it wasn't much cooler in Divcibare as you can probably guess from the state of the grass in this photo.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

THE SCOOTER FROM HELL

 How would you like to see this bearing down on you on a dark street, 'eyes' ablaze?

Looks peaceful enough here. I posted a similar scooter's shadow last May and you can see it RIGHT HERE.

THE OLD MULBERRY TREE

 This very old mulberry tree spreads its shade over the park next to where I live. I would love to hear the stories it has to tell. It is supported by two pillars that you can see on the right and just behind it.

From what I found on the Internet, the tree is around 200 years old.

THE LITTLE RED ITALIAN FIAT

 This is an old, but still spiffy, Italian Fiat, affectionately referred to as the "Fica" (FEE-cha).

I want one....and it has to be red.

MONDAY MURALS--Miticeva Rupa

This park and mural are located in the very heart of Belgrade, an oasis surrounded by apartment and business offices.

The area was/is commonly referred to as Miticeva Rupa (MEE-tee-cheh-va Roo-pa) or Mitic's Hole.  The land was purchased before WWII by Vlada Mitic, a wealthy businessman, and since 1946 has been the site of over 26 various projects, none of which ever seemed to take hold.  For this reason, the area was said to be cursed, since nothing succeeded there. Then, in 2000 it was turned into a park for children and anyone else who wanted to sit on a bench.

Now it's back to being cursed again....the city wants to 'develop it, which, in business lingo, means get rid of the trees and park and build apartment buildings. There's been an uproar, but I am not optimistic.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

 

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY==ONE RED, ONE WHITE

 Both of these strawberries are now history. My friend Jasmina grows them on her rooftop terrace, along with an assortment of lovely flowers.

See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE--Old Man with a Fiddle and a Boy

 This relief stands above the door to the STANKOVIC SCHOOL OF MUSIC not far from where I live.

Honestly, it looks like both the fiddler and his pupil have fallen asleep.

See other black and white photos on WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE.

SKYWATCH--4:35 A.M.

 Hot, hot, and sometimes hard to sleep.  Got up to get a drink of water at 4:35 and here's what I saw out my window.

Made me almost feel good about getting up.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

THEME DAY--TOOLS

 July's Theme Day is Tools.  The dictionary defines tool as "a device or implement, especially one held in the hand, used to carry out a particular function."

These are only a few of the tools I use every day, though of course there are many more....

See other theme day photos on THEME DAY.