SPRING

 Like the new green grass around him, this fellow looks like he's growing new hair.  I remember how happy I was to see my own new growth after my chemo in 2005. Not sure that's the reason for his short hair.

SAD NIKOLA TESLA

 Nikola Tesla's statue at Belgrade's  NIKOLA TESLA AIRPORT appears a bit sad here. It may be because my daughter, who was here for a short visit left this morning.

His doleful appearance might also be due to the fact that the airport renovation seems to be taking an awfully long time, but again, it's a big job.

COVERED WELL?

 Not well-covered, but covered well. Or maybe this old, old well is well-covered. In fact, I asked around if people really knew what this is but most did not, and guessed a well. I see now that there is a plaque on the stone wall, so next time I walk by, I'll check it out.

UPDATE I found out that this is a sebil.  Wikipedia says: "A sebil or sabil is a small kiosk in the Islamic architectural tradition where water is freely dispensed to members of the public by an attendant behind a grilled window."

FIRST DAY OF SPRING....

 The first day of spring was yesterday and that's when I snapped this photo of many crows' nests, very visible since there are no leaves on the trees yet. 

When I googled crows' nests, I was surprised to learn this:  Crows return to the same nest territory year after year, often a few weeks before they start building. If a small group of crows remains in a particular area day after day, this may signal that nest building is about to begin. Many larger twigs that form the base of the nest are broken directly off trees."

MONDAY MURALS--MILUTIN MILANKOVIC

 This mural shows Milutin Milankovic, a Serbian astronomer, climatologist, geophysicist, civil engineer,  and popularizer of science. Quite a guy.

If you want to read all about him, just CLICK HERE.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

PARK STRAYS

 These two strays have hung out in Belgrade's Kalemegdan Park for a long time. I love the pose of the white one. They have collars showing they have been spayed/neutered. They also are well fed, since locals look after them.

SKYWATCH--not quite spring yet

 Today as I type at 7:45 a.m.it is -1 degree centigrade. Today it will reach 11 and in the upcoming days will go even higher, to 21 on Thursday. Wacky weather. You can see that the leaves have not started to show this season's green quite yet. 

Oh, and yes, HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER?

 I see these two women nearly every morning in the park. The younger one helps the older one walk. I am only assuming they're mother and daughter, but of course the helper could be just that: a caretaker.

TAKING A BREAK

 This man is taking a break to read his phone and for a cigarette....smoking is alive and well in Belgrade.

ACCESSORIZE!

 Not sure whether this fellow accessorized himself at the shop behind him, but he caught my eye today.

GAVRILO PRINCIP

 Wikipedia says this about Gavrilo Princip, the persona behind this mural on a street of the same name:

"On June 28, 1914, one event changed the world. A Bosnian-Serb youth Gavrilo Princip, aged only 19, shot and killed the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir apparent to the Austrian throne, and his wife Sophie as their motorcade passed by on the streets of Sarajevo."---the shot heard about the world.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

ONWARD AND UPWARD

 There are several underground passages below major streets. It's best to take them instead of trying to dodge traffic. They are however, poorly maintained, but not dangerous. I have always been intrigued by the disabled person mobile chair on the left. Just about every passage has one, but I would never, ever try it out.

HANDSOME

 A handsome Serbian Orthodox priest passed in front of my lens the other day.

HAPPY HOLI

 Happy Holi to all!  It shouldn't be hard to find me in this photo taken in 2019 with my wonderful Indian 'family'.  I was planning another trip early the following year, but COVID stepped in. I hope to go back for next year's Holi.

If you're not sure what the celebration is about, click here AND READ ABOUT HOLI.

STALKED? NO, NOT REALLY....

It would appear as if former statesman NIKOLA PASIC is being stalked by two ladies from the Middle East, but no. Only two folded cafe umbrellas.

MONDAY MURALS--no longer with us.

 Belgrade has quite a few of what I call "Murals of the Deceased".  Most of the time these people are of dubious nature, and who died young. I do not know who "Deni," the person picture here, is.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE--ENVY?

 Envy was my first thought on seeing the older woman's expression, but perhaps she is just thinking that the girl looks nice and is recalling her own youth.

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

BIRDS OF A FEATHER....

 ...flock together. A host of sparrows, Belgrade's official bird, gathers in a downtown park. And yes, a 'bunch' of sparrows is called a host. I didn't know that either, but you can impress your friends with this IMPRESSVE LIST OF TERMS OF VENERY. Click, read, and learn!

I LIKE LICHENS.

 I really do like lichens (pronounced LIKE-nz).  I came across this arrangement by Mother Nature yesterday in the park.

I had to look up lichens to learn more, and here is what I found:  Lichens are a complex life form that is a symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms, a fungus and an alga. The dominant partner is the fungus, which gives the lichen the majority of its characteristics, from its thallus shape to its fruiting bodies."

They come  in many colors, too!

THEME DAY--MARCH--COMFORT FOOD--Which one(s)?

 When your birthdays are at the far end of the double-digits, you probably have tried many foods that could classify as your comfort food. This is even more true, perhaps regardless of your age, if you have lived for any extent of time in another country.

Such is my case. Here in Serbia my comfort food has become grapevine leaves with meat and rice (sarma).  When I spent time in India, I sought out hot, crusty samosas and accompanying sauces whenever I could.  Those or momos. And of course when elsewhere and 'tired of' local food spaghetti Bolognese does the trick.

However, if all of the above were placed side by side with the macaroni and cheese in the photo, the mac and cheese would win hands-down.  Nowadays, I enhance it with hot sauce of some sort.

Waiting to see your comfort food/s.  

See more on THEME DAY.

SUMMER'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER....

 Summer will be here before you know it and for some of us, before you can lose those extra winter pounds. I figure I'll look something like these ladies.

RED-HAIRED DOG WALKER

 I have seen women sport this color of hair since I arrived in Belgrade 46 (gasp!) years ago. Never goes out of style, it seems.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY==BELTING IT OUT

 This lady was belting it out just outside a local market. She had a good voice.

See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE--a reader's hands

 This is a major crop, thus the blur, but I liked these hands.

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

SKYWATCH--JUPITER, MOON, AND VENUS

 Just what the title says. Seen two nights ago here in Belgrade. I only had my 50mm lens with me, so this is a big crop.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

SPRING IS ABOUT TO SPRING

 St. Mark's cathedral looms behind just one little courageous blossom. Given the warmish weather we've been having, more blossoms can't be far away.

LEMONADE

 Too early for white wine or any wine for that matter, so this lady is enjoying a lemonade.

WAITING FOR SPRING

 Waiting to take someone fishing or just for a little cruise, this little boat is moored on the Tamis River in Pancevo, about 15 kilometers from Belgrade.

WHERE I'D LIKE TO LIVE....MAYBE...

 Took a day trip last Saturday to nearby Pancevo. This building  that I have posted before IN COLOR and actually gave nearly the same title to the post, is one I've often admired. It is no longer someone's stately home, at least the entirety is not, but I'd really like to live there. 

ANOTHER BIG HOLE

 Once again I wandered down a street where I have not been for a while, and lo and behold, another excavation. This is now happening all over the city.To be fair, the buildings on this lot were in major disrepair, so such an 'improvement' (I hope) will be welcomed.

ORANGE

 These two bright orange windosw brightened up my dog walk last night.

STILL LIFE WITH DOGS AND COW

 All are literally still, but that is hardly ever the case for my dog in the foreground and her 'cousin' on the pillow.  They wear each other out when they visit each other.

DRESSED FOR THE SEASON

 This lady, about to enjoy The Pause That Refreshes, is indeed dressed for the season/winter, but it actually hasn't been that cold in the past few days. 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Find your love...

 A bit of Valentine serendipity was sent to me yesterday.  I made a collage of these two people who seem to have not known each other to begin with. 

Ah, l'amour....

WONDERING....

 ...if I took his photo. I did.

ICY-COLD

 I love this shade of blue along with the purple. It was really freezing last night, and these colors made it feel even colder.

"AT GRANDPA'S"

 Walked down a street I haven't taken in ages and don't know how I did not see this before, but it appears as if this restaurant has been here for quite a while. Good ol' home-cooked Serbian cooking, and I imagine it is Grandma, not Grandpa, who does the cooking. But maybe I'm wrong....and yes, you can smoke there...

WATCHING THE WORLD GO BY

 Watching the world go by....and puffing away.

BAD HABIT

 I am probably going to offend some readers who are smokers, but I believe that even they know smoking does you no good.

BACK TO MY LITTLE MINOX DCC 5.1

 

During a trip to the US in 2012, I bought a tiny camera, a Mnox DCC 5.1, in the airplane. It intrigued me, and when all conditions are just right, it takes a fairly decent photo, sometimes with a retro look.  Rain over the last few days here, so I dug it out and shot a few photos at home. I've posted some before, and if you go to the search box here n my blog and type in 'Minox,' posts will come up.  The external features are purely for show,  Focuses at .5 meter, 1 meter, and  infinity.

You can read about this little camera RIGHT HERE, but at least on B&H Photo, it isn't available anymore.

APRIL BAR

 Photo of a texter at April Bar here in Belgrade. April seems far away....

ANOTHER TRIP AROUND THE SUN

Today's my birthday, and I share it and my native state with PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL, the Pennsylvania groundhog who according to legend and a bit of kindly forceful extraction, I imagine, emerges from his hibernation to see or not to see his shadow. If he sees it, six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see it, spring is on the way sooner than later. Not sure if that's valid for just Punxsutawney or elsewhere, but today here in Belgrade it's raining...and cloudy...no shadow!  Woo! 

THEME DAY FOR FEBRUARY--VIRTUE

 I believe I took this photo in Sarnath, India, but honestly I am not sure. In any case, it gives the Buddha's advice, and he was indeed virtuous.

See other interpretations of Virtue on THEME DAY.

DELIVERY BOY

 Here home delivery of food and other necessities really took off when COVID hit. COVID is still around, but quite a number of people still use home delivery service. This fellow literally cuts corners across an intersection to reach his destination. Some ride their bikes on sidewalks, which is really dangerous. One side-step or a quick change of direction from a pedestrian could leave the unfortunate walker flattened. I've seen it happen.

NEW FAMILY IN THE 'HOOD

 A new family in the neighborhood....they may not be around long though...

MASHA AND THE BEAR

 When my granddaughter was not much bigger than the balloon you see here, she adored MASHA AND THE BEAR, and so did I. You can find Masha's cartoons on YOUTUBE.  Beautiful graphics and animation.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS-CHESS ANYONE?

 I don't play chess often, but I have often wanted an ISLE OF LEWIS CHESS SET. You can find reproductions at rather reasonable prices.  I purchased one figure years ago and a whopping 13 years ago, I posted it for you RIGHT HERE.

In any case, while downtown I stumbled across this Slavic Mythological figures chess set. Huge. It was beyond my budget, i.e. around 350 euros....

See other reflections on WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

SKYWATCH--HOTEL MOSKVA

 I've posted a number of photos of this classic hotel before. Recently, now in the dead of winter, the skies are often gloomy, but the sign for the hotel stands out.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

TOO COLD FOR FLOWERS

 I have shown this park many time and usually there are roses, lavender, pansies growing here and there. It''s too cold now, so they've gone. Most of the time now it's dog walkers, but this fellow is alone.

ZOOMING IN

 In addition to my DSLR that I use pretty much on a daily basis, I have a Nikon bridge camera (Coolpix P510) that I bought quite some time ago for its tremendous zoom capabilities (approx up to 1000 mm). The quality is very, very good, and from time to time I take it for a walk.

In this photo, the subjects were at least 50 yards from me, perhaps more.  The windows you see in the background and the bust on the lower right were way far across the rest of the park from the woman and her dogs, and across another small park.

Downside of the Coolpix P510 is its relatively short battery life, but I carry a spare....