HAPPY HALLOWEEN

 Up until about ten or so years ago, nobody here knew very much about Halloween, and didn't celebrate. Now they do, but without the trick-or-treat.  Here it has now become known as Noć veštica (night of the witches), but actually the holiday has little to do with real horror or witches. November 1st in some countries is All Saints' Day. People in those countries visit graveyards where loved ones who have passed on are buried. The day before, October 31st, was believed to  be the day when the dead returned to earth.  Bonfires were lit to keep them at bay. Children eventually would dress up as ghostly figures and go door-to-door 'reciting Trick or Treat,' and be given sweets. Otherwise, they may play pranks on the stingy homeowner.

For a really good read about this originally Celtic 'holiday,' please read this on History Channel's link, THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY--the red-head with a shadow

 And there she st, pink bag, cigarette, flaming red hair, and a shadow.

See other shadoes on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--the furniture store

 This furniture store just down the street from me offers ultra-modern furniture, not much of which you can see here. That red and white ball is some kind of cushion site. Not to my taste, but it made for a good reflection today to see also on WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

SKYWATCH--those who fly at night

 

Just happened to look up and see what at first I thought were plastic bags floating against the nnight sky.  Fortunately, they were not. Birds!

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

SLOWLY BUT SURELY

 You can take the title figuratively or literally, but sooner or later, we'll all get there....

WAITING FOR THE BUS

 

A young Muslim girl, her back to Students' Park, waits for her bus.

SOLDIERS

 I came across this group of kids in the park beside the Federal Parliament Building.  I sneaked a photo, but one saw me and saluted!  I returned the salute, and asked for a posed photo, so here you go.

I like to see engaging in real play outdoors, not with their eyes glued to a screen. I guess I would have kind of liked to see them in something other than war play, but so it goes.

That was the Yugoslav flag.  The Serbian one has no star anymore since 1992.

ART LOVER

 Ab Orthodox priest considers buying a sketch from a street artist.

BETTER IN BLACK AND WHITE

 No special words for this photo. Just liked these trees in black and white better than in color.

Happy Sunday to you all!

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--bottoms up!

 "Bottoms up" it is for these two swans, searching  for food in a lake in Ada Ciganlija, 

Many thanks to my friend Biljana who let me use her photo. 

See other reflections on REFLECTIONS WEEKEND.

HAWTHORN TREE

 While spending some time in the country a short while ago, an Irish friend came to visit me. We took a walk through the forest and fields and pointed out a hawthorn tree. I actually thought hawthorns grew on bushes, but I stand corrected. They are edible; tart, she said, but don't eat the seeds. You can read about them right here.

PLANTING PANSIES

 Here it is going on the end of October. The weather here has been gorgeous, low seventies.

And they're planting pansies in the park.

LOVIN' HIS PIZZA

 This bulldog was really enjoying his sidewalk pizza while his owner was waiting for a cleaner version.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

 My specialty is hip shots, which more often than not go undetected.  This one did not, but the fellow just smiled and I moved on.

SELFIE

 I believe I posted this mural a while back. It is located in the park below the building where I live. Today I found a lady who not only liked it, as do I, but liked it enough to take a selfie in front of it.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

STILL A BIT GREEN

 Don't be fooled by the green. Since I took this photo one morning a few days ago, the green has turned to yellow and deep brown.

Personally, I love fall, but I really hate to see winter coming.

SWEET NOTHINGS OR HANDING HER A LINE?

 I was too far away to hear what he was telling her, so up to  you go guess.  She doesn't look  like it was a 'sweet nothing'.

SKYWATCH -- A SWIRL OF BIRDS

 Yes, when many birds are together, it's a flock, but I couldn't resist calling these a 'swirl,' because that's just what they're doing.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

BLOND

 Fot sure not natural blonds, but they caught my eye  in the crowd.

I NEED THIS

 Gas prices here have skyrocketed; traffic is worse and worse, and parking practically impossible in downtown Belgrade.

If I had a covered area where I could safely keep this cycle, I'd think about it...not sure my dog would like the seating arrangement for her though.

FALL HATS

 There was a time when I wore a hat, but now summers are too hot to wear anything on my head. I just avoid the sun as much as possible. I wear a winter cap when it's very cold, a lighter wool cap in early spring and fall.

I must say these are appealing. I do have though a selection of berets.

THE DINING ROOM, WAITING

The dining room of the inn where I recently spent ten days in the country.  Waiting for guests...but now the season is over.

See other shots on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

URN

 An urn, but purely decorative and way too high up to put anything in anyway.

This is for THE WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE.

CAROB

 There are quite a few carob trees here in Serbia, but I never see anyone collecting the pods and seeds. For that matter, I don't think there's a big carob industry here. It is used elsewhere (and actually sold here in health food stores) as a substitute for chocolate, and even in chocolate-flavored dog treats, because it has no caffeine.

THE BOOKMOBILE

 

Schools and universities are back in session and bookmobiles are on the move. Actually, they're parked, usually along one side street near me. You can see that they are very well-stocked with second-hand books for just about every level of class.  

VOLUNTEER GUARD DOG

 Most apartment buildings have somehow acquired a volunteer guard dog. Usually this was a homeless, hungry, tired, and dirty dog that hung around until some apartment dweller took pity on him. They gave him something to eat, tidied him up, took him to the vet, and if he was lucky, the person built him some kind of shelter outside near the entrance.  He rewards them by barking at any unknown person, but is wise enough not to bark endless in order not to lose his happy home.

Such is the case with this dog. He goes by various names and responds to all.  He's been around quite a while.  When it's his time to leave his post forever, I hope he will be lucky enough to have the dwellers thank him like they did for MEDA. 

MONDAY MURALS; THE WHITE ANGEL

 This mural caught my eye while I was walking home the other day. I usually walk on the same side of the street as the mural, and that's probably why I never noticed it before, since there's a high wall just below.

In any case, this angel is one of the best-known frescoes in Serbian culture.  The fresco is located in a monastery in southwest Serbia. I have not been, but would like to see it.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY--came the rain

 It has  been raining hard on and off these past few weeks. Just when I was getting ready to walk the dog the other night and when I thought it was over, I looked out the window to see this.  

See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

OCTOBER THEME DAY--SLEEP, REST, RELAXATION

 You can probably guess that this photo was not taken in Belgrade, but rather in Jodhpur, India, several trips back.

Nothing more relaxing than having someone groom you....for us, it's a massage or a trip to the hairdresser, but for these monkeys it's getting rid of those annoying six-legged beasts.

See other photos on the theme of Sleep, Rest, or Relaxation on CITY DAILY PHOTO THEME DAY.