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....

FROMAGES FRANCAIS...."Made in Serbia"

 This fellow has had a French cheese shop in Belgrade already for a number of years. I've tried quite a few of them, and they are truly top-notch. Having lived quite a while in France, I think I'm a pretty good judge. Superb. And all made here from Serbian cows, sheep.... Yummy. He is French, by the way, so has cheese in his genes.

In this photo he is selling his cheeses on Belgrade's pedestrian street where he has set up a stand for the holidays.

MONDAY MURALS -- COQUETTE

 A coquettish smile on this young woman. A bit nippy these days too to be dressed like that.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY--a crisp walk in the park

 A dog and his human enjoying a crisp walk in the park.

See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--the red lamp

 Just what the title says; nothing more.

See other reflections on James' WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

SKYWATCH--Lookng from Zemun toward Belgrade.

 Last week the weather was so beautiful a friend and I took a walk through part of the riverside (Danube) part of Zemun, just next to Belgrade and part of the city itself. This view is from just behind THIS TOWER that I posted a while back.

Check other skies, partially smoggy or not, at SKYWATCH.

COLORFUL MAILBOX

 Indeed colorful.  I seem to remember as a kid in the US people weren't allowed to paint their mailboxes as they like, but that apparently has changed.  I googled and found this: "There are currently no restrictions regarding the color of curbside mailboxes in the United States. While the USPS doesn't require homeowners or property developers to use a specific color for their mailboxes, it does require the use of specific carrier flag colors."

ACROSS THE DANUBE

 Taken last Sunday. Weather was clear, good wind, pleasant chill....so why did my air quality app show poor air quality? 

That's a river island across the way with summer houses...or not summer; any time.

ZEMUN GULL AND SWANS

 It was such a gorgeous day after several days of rain that a friend and I took another walk in ZEMUN along the Danube. Lots and lots of swans, but here only two since I cropped the others out to emphasize this seagull.

MONDAY MURALS---SORT OF....

 This probably doesn't fit into the mural category, but it is art painted on a wall, so....  I just thought it was cute how the artist incorporated the pipe as the elephant's trunk.

See other (real) murals on MONDAY MURALS.

WHEN CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS ARE OVER....

 

When Christmas and holidays are over, it's back to work. I wonder if this is the real Santa and if he really plays the accordion in some cafe.  I didn't ask him. This is a hip shot but I think he suspected something.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--abstract

 I like one-way window where you can't see inside. They make for wonderful reflections, as you see here. Protruding windows distort some of what is reflected.

See other reflections on James'  WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

SKYWATCH --decorations still up

 A bright sunny day today over Belgrade's pedestrian street. You see a small Christmas/New Year's tree here and some stands that sell food and drink after 5.  There's a huge and very unattractive decorated tree a bit father on. 

Why are the decorations still up?  Two reasons: some are rented and the City wants to get its money's worth and also tonight is Serbian New Year's Eve according to the Julian calendar. Tomorrow it's New Year's Day again.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

ALONG THE DANUBE

 This photo, originally in color, is exemplary for our current weather. Rain, gloom, no sun. But good for photos if you're well-protected.

BLUE DOOR WITH ANCHOR

 Another from my Zemun walk. Zemun is right next to the Danube and of course many people have boats there. In the older days, I imagine there was a fishing industry of sorts.  Whether this door bears an anchor in remembrance of those days or is just 'in' now, who knows?

IVY

    
 This 'arrangement in green' caught my eye the other day while walking in ZEMUN, a suburb of Belgrade.

MONDAY MURALS--Mexican influence?

 Knowing that I usually post a mural on Mondays, a friend here sent me this photo for MONDAY MURALS.

Neither she nor I could find out exactly who made this or what it actually represents, but it does look like there is some 'south-of-the-US-border' influence.  Then again, it does seem to have some influences from Pirot in southeastern Serbia. Have a look RIGHT HERE.

PATIENCE PERSONIFIED....

 This trio was waiting both patiently and politely in front of a local market, ignoring barking taunts by canine passers-by.  My own dog is pretty quiet and patient if and when I ever do leave her for a moment outside a store, but would bark should another dog pass by.

SKYWATCH--LOOKING UP MY STREET

If I am lucky and exit my building just at the right moment, I catch part of a beautiful sunset. Case in point here.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

BARE AND UNCMFORTABLE

 Every now and then I look up at facades and notice one I have not seen before. This one is a good example. Those little naked children look awfully cold and are going to suffer backaches for the rest of their lives...if they were alive.

TAKING A BREATHER

 A street orchestra taking a breather on Skadarlija, Beograd's Bohemian street, before playing up and down at various restaurants there.

WHEN'S THE BUS COMING?

 A couple and another texter wait patiently for a bus. New Year's holiday schedules have been altered a bit. I walked  home.

TOO TIRED TO TOOT

 Part of a group of street musicians taking a break on  Knez Mihailova, Belgrade's pedestrian street.

Too tired to toot.

TEXTING....NOW AND FOREVER

 I know today is Theme Day and we are encouraged to post our best shot from 2022....I find that really hard to do and it is time-consuming, too.  Instead I am posting a recent photo of two texters. I really must  make it a point to count how many texting couples I see in cafes, bars, just sitting, totally disinterested so it seems by the person with them.  I find this very sad, but it's not going to go away.