WEEKEND REFLECTIONS: REFLECTIONS ON THE SQUARE

 

Like elsewhere, Belgrade is getting ready for New Year's Eve.  Someone had the idea to cover the lower part of Prince Mihailo's statue with reflective foil.....somehow it doesn't make a good impression...but a good reflection for me, yes.

See other reflections on WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

SAVA SUMANOVIC

 Sava Sumanovic (896-1942) was a Serbian painter considered to be one of the most important Serbian painters of the 20th century.  His styles ran from Cubism, Fauvism, and Expressionism. 

I have been to his home and museum in the town of Sid (SHEED), located about an hour and a half from Belgrade. The painting above I recently saw again at a museum exhibit here in Belgrade where I had taken my grandchildren to culture them up more than they already are. :)

Sadly, Sava Sumanovic was executed during the mass genocide of Serbs during WWII in Croatia. He was first tortured, then thrown still alive into a lime pit.

STREET PANDA

 Gotta love those pandas. Seems like this street panda is getting a lot of attention.

THREE IN BLACK

 Title says it all.

INTENTLY

 Went for a cup of coffee with a friend yesterday and was fascinated by this man who was writing with such fervor the entire time we were there, hardly lifting his eyes from the paper. What he was writing, I'll never know....a love letter, an "I'm sorry' letter, a complaint to some company?  Who knows?  He was still at it when we left.

MONDAY MURALS--ZORAN PANIC

 A walk  in a neighborhood where I haven't walked in a long time revealed this mural of Zoran Panic. I had no idea who he was, but a quick Internet search told me he was a producer for RTS (Radio Televizija Serbia) and a 'bheme'.  He apparently liked to fish as well...

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 Merry Christmas today to those who celebrate!  Serbian Orthodox Christmas falls on January 7th, but these two are around for New Year's here when locals usually exchange gifts.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--the red lamp

 Caught this the other night while roaming the streets.

See other reflections on James' WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

TOOT, TOOT

 Keeping warm on the streets in their own way, a friend and I were serenaded the other evening by this orchestra.  My friend and I were keeping warm  in our own way, i.e. having some mulled wine.

DARK WREATH

 A bit stark, but I like the contrast of the dark and light of the wreath and the wrought iron.

THE 'OLD CURIOSITY SHOP'

 A nod to Charles Dickens. This antique shop has been in Belgrade even before I arrived in 1977 and probably before. I have never, ever seen anyone inside, be it the owner or a customer and have often wondered how it stays in business. There's always new stuff though, so I imagine there's some kind of turnover.

IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

 Took a walk the other night in our very cold weather. I went in a bookstore and a gift shop allegedly to browse, but I have to say my main reason was to warm up a bit.  This fellow I glimpsed in a cafe where others were deeply absorbed in the France-Argentina soccer match.  Another fellow wanting to warm up.

THE GIRL IN BLACK

Nothing special about this photo except I liked her pose, her mask....all in  black.  Taken through my bus's window.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

 Is this the shape of things to come for an old European city?  Often passed off as  being modern, these horrors are sprouting up all over, from what I've seen, and not just here. Ugly, I think.

NOMOPHOBIA (not Gnomophobia...)

 When I took this photo the other evening, I was convinced this couple would object to being in it. But no...they are nomophobics.  If you don't know what NOMOPHOBIA, click and find out.

PET FRIENDLY, SO WHY...?

 The title and the sign on the door say it all.

HELPING HAND

 As I get older, I become more and more sympathetic to older people....  I don't need help on an uphill street nor on my five flights of stairs at home...yet. But that day may come. This gentleman was taking a mini-breather with the help of a parked car.

FRIDA KHALO DESATURATED

 Most people, including me, tend to think of FRIDA KAHLO in vivid colors. Here she shown in black and white, since I took this boutique shot from the street at night and the colors would not have done her justice.  

MONDAY MURALS---meaning?

 UPDATE:  I googled the address of this mural. It is dedicated to Gina Ranjicic, a Serbian gypsy poet (1830-1891).  The entire project including several other murals is dedicated to unrecognized women poets.

This is a beautiful mural, I think, but its meaning is lost on me. Two women, a bandaged hand, a striking cover of some sort; what does it mean?  I may have to ask around.

In the meantime, see other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY--my first photo

 I know I have posted this photo a long time ago. It hangs on my dining room wall and is the very first photo I ever took eons ago, in the days of only film, in Paris. 

See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--THE READER....AND I.

 My walking buddy is always used to my calling out in just above a whisper, "Wait!  I see a photo."  This means I've spotted one not so very close to where we currently are. She holds my dog's leash and waits for me while I discreetly walk over to my 'victim'. Makes for a good Reflection Weekend shot.

See other reflections on WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

SKYWATCH--yellow sky

 An eerie yellow sky looms behind a building downtown.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

EASY TO BE KISSED

 Have you ever  been kissed or else kissed someone under the mistletoe? It would be fairly easy to do in this park, where bunches of mistletoe loom over people's heads.

Ever wonder where that tradition came from? I did, so I looked it up for you  RIGHT HERE.

Read the article and learn. I did....

WINDOW AT NIGHT

 A minimalist view...

EARLY A.M.

 Spent the night at my son's the the the other evening.  Slept on their comfy couch (really IS comfy) and this is my morning view.

WATERMELON...?

 It appears this mural was painted in 2019, but I hadn't seen it before. I guess I must have either walked down the street and it was behind me or else I have never walked on that street before at all.

In any case, I don't really understand why she's holding and just staring at the watermelon slices.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY--the red light

 The red light in the window is actually a reflection of the traffic light at the intersection below....

See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

NEW HATS

 It's getting nippy, but I don't think these ladies were so concerned about a warm hat, but a stylish one.  

READER IN THE FOG

 Foggy it may be, but the colder weather and fog did not deter this gentleman from reading in the park.

THEME DAY for December: Luxury

 I was thinking and thinking about the theme "Luxury" and wanted to avoid the usual pictures that pop into one's mind when hearing the word. (See other theme day posts at THEME DAY.)

Finally I had a "Eureka!" moment when I found that I am surrounded by luxury. Serbia's inflation is rising and here's what the Internet has to say:  "For 2021, an inflation rate of 4.1% was calculated. During the observation period from 1995 to 2021, the average inflation rate was 22.5% per year. Overall, the price increase was 10,671.01%. An item that cost 100 dinars in 1995 costs 10,771.01 dinars at the beginning of 2022."

So, this supermarket flyer is a good example. Items that used to be within reach for most have now become 'luxuries.' And I am glad I have gone off meat, except for rare occasions.  For your information, the average salary in Serbia is the equivalent of $1,347.00 which may not go far for families. For those on pensions which is inferior to that, it's even more difficult.

NO HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION

 There isn't really any homeowners' association to maintain buildings here inside and out.  Apartment buildings elect a person living in the building or can opt to resort to an outside firm that specializes in upkeep.  Either option requires a small payment (or sometimes significant if repairs are costly) from each apartment owner. Sadly, most people don't consider anything outside their own door as 'theirs,' so you see many such building facades like this.Who knows what the hallways and stairways are like?

LONG RED HAIR

 It was late at  night when I took this photo. I guess many salons stay open, for this is not the first one I have come across. I was attracted by the client's beautiful long, red hair.

IN THE BUS

 Coming back in the bus from the 'Palata Srbije' on Saturday I sneaked a photo of this man in the bus.

THE PALACE OF SERBIA

 Not a real palace in the royal sense, but the PALACE OF SERBIA houses several ministries and cabinet-level agencies. A true 65,000 square meter showplace completed in 1959.  Of course it was first called The Palace of the Federation (i.e. Yugoslavia).  

I had the privileged opportnity yesterday of touring the building, and with  its art and restored furniture from various parts of the former Yugoslavia, it was literally mind-blowing. If the opportunity arises again, I may go  back. 

What you see in the photo here behind those closed doors is Tito's (RIP) office, but we were not allowed in.

THE WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE--STILL ABANDONED

 This eyesore of a building on a street downtown has stood like this literally for years and years. It is assumed the builders/financers ran out of money or perhaps never had a building permit to  begin with.

In any case, it's ugly as it stands now, but perfect for the theme BLACK AND WHITE WEEKEND.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 I confess. I have already used this photo earlier this month, but Thanksgiving snuck up on me. Here in Serbia it isn't a holiday today, so I am celebrating with family this coming Sunday when it's easier for them to come.  That 'forgetting' Thanksgiving is today is a lame excuse, but I wanted to wish you all a happy day of 'thanksgiving,' whether you celebrate the real holiday or not. Every single one of  us has at least one thing to be thankful for. 

All the best to all of you.

GLOOMY...

 The weather's been a bit gray, so this is a fitting photo. Of course Murphy's Law made it turn out sunny today....

URBAN TREE

 Like many city dwellers, I delight in finding pieces of the village or country in town. Here is one example.

FLOWERS FOR SALE

 It's getting a bit nippy. This flower seller beside the National Museum is bundled up, as are others around town.

OLD AND NEW

 This old facade, albeit with a new window, has always attracted me. Now already for a few years there is a Hilton hotel nearby. Contrast f old and new....

WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE--THE CONVERSATION

 It was nearly dark when I took this photo. I think it would be a good story starter, with the couple engaged in conversation and fellow hurrying off to the side.

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

HAND AND CIGARETTE

 Smoking in the shadows.

NOTHING LIKE A BIT OF RED....

 

Nothing like a bit of red to catch your eye on a gloomy day.  That's exactly what this red plastic chair did and I clicked away.

CHECKING HIS PHONE

 People with cell phones make it so much easier for me to do my sneak shots. Pretty soon they won't have to be sneak shots anymore. I can just click away and they're totally oblivious.

RODNEY AND HIS MAN

 Rodney and his devoted owner caught my eye the other day while walking my dog. I watched him from a distance, lovingly cuddling his pet, talking to him, and it made me feel so good.  I moseyed over and struck up a conversation. Standard story:  he lives alone but does have a daughter in Belgrade and little Rodney, 9 months old, keeps him great company.  

WINE BAR BLONDES

 A friend and I had a glass of really good red wine from Portugal the other night in a favorite wine bar. I caught these three blondes enjoying some white wine.  I wonder if they took a photo of the "wine bar silvers' at the table across from them.

PIPAYA

 

Pipaya is often known as Dragon Fruit and in relation to where Serbia is, comes from far, far away. You can read more about them  IF YOU CLICK HERE.  I came across these beauties on my local market, but they were very expensive, so didn't buy any.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS---THE TREE IN THE WINDOW

 Took a dog walk last night and came across this reflection on a dark street. A street light illuminated the tree from behind and then in this window.

See other reflections on James' WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

SAINT MARK'S IN THE FOG--SKYWATCH

 A couple pauses to take a photo of Saint Mark's Cathedral in the fog.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

BOYS HANGING OUT

 Whenever I pass this square where there is an open market and mini-flea market, I see these fellows and several others enjoying life with a beer or two.