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. 

THE QUESTION MARK CAFE AND RESTAURANT

 Downtown there is a very old restaurant across from the main church in Belgrade. When the restaurant was first established in 1823, it was named Tomina Kafana. Later in 1878, its name was changed to Kod Pastira (At the Shepherd's), and even later on in 1892 when it changed owners, an attempt was made to call iit Kod Saborne Crkve (At the Saborna Church), which infuriated the clergy.  Tired of many name changes, the owner put a large ? on the door, and Znak Pitanja (or Question Mark stayed).  Here is a LINK if you want to read more.

In any case, I visited it recently with a friend and here is one happy waiter.

WHAT'S BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR?

 It's been dreary these past few days, so I needed a splotch of color. I found it with this chartreuse green door.

It cheered me up, as did playing this old 1956 hit WHAT'S BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR?

MONDAY MURALS --HOTEL INDIGO

 Every now and then I pop down one of Belgrade's passageways that link two main streets. Found this pearl created on the wall of the newly-opened HOTEL INDIGO.  Click on that  link if you're planning a trip this way.

On the terrace above the mural is a cafe, which I need to check out since I think it just might have some sort of urban view.

Check out more murals on MONDAY MURALS.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY--Abbey Road in shadows

 Not really Abbey Road, of course, and we'd be missing a Beatle, but this shot reminded me a bit of the iconic Beatles' crossing the road.

See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE - SHIH-TZU AND OWNER

I was also sitting on a bench with my Shorkie, a Shih-Tzu/Yorkie, nearby.  She was getting a discreet eye from the dog across the way.

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

SKYWATCH--SEPIA SKY

 The air quality has been JUST AWFUL here over the past week. The sky is not quite as bad as my rendition of this photo, but close. I'm still wearing a mask when I go ot. So sad for Mother Earth.

See more skies on SKYWATCH.

JUST WOULDN'T MOVE.... THREE WINDOWS AND A MAN

 

I love these shuttered windows. I waited patiently on the other side of the street to photograph them sans homo sapiens, but he stayed. I think he was waiting for a ride.

I could have eliminated me on Photoshop, but after a few days I looked at my photos and realize I had kind of grown attached to him, haha.

PUMPKINS, PEARS, PERSIMMONS, KIWIS....

 An autumnal still life from a local grocer's stand. Halloween is the reason that this type of pumpkin is now seen here. When I came to "Yugoslavia" in 1977, few persimmons and kiwis were not available, let alone heard of.

NOVEMBER THEME DAY: SOFT

 I found this theme rather mundane  until I began to think out of the box.  Here I have chosen 'soft' to mean both the light and colors in the photo above, as well as to impart the soft, warm, fuzzy feeling I have when I look at it.  

The photo is of the courtyard of the old Institut d'Etudes Francaises pour Etudiants Etrangers , rue Gaston de Saporta, in Aix-en-Provence. This institute, affiliated with the University of Aix-Marseille, is no longer located at this address.  From 1968 to 1969 I spent a year studying here in Aix, and developed friendships I have maintained until the present. Wonderful memories, times.

In a previous post from 2011, you can see me (on the right) along with our director and two friends standing in front of the outer street door that led to this courtyard. Our director is now 95 and going strong.

I must thank my friend Layne, who also studied with me, who sent me this photo. 

See other interpretations of 'soft' on CITY DAILY PHOTO THEME DAY.