A BIRTHDAY

 

Went to a landmark birthday party yesterday. This cake was spectacular in appearance both inside and out. Didn't get a chance to take a photo of its smooth, pure-white exterior, but when cut it was eben more attractive. Layers of thin, yellow cake, cheeries, nuts, and light pudding. NOT sweet at all! I loved it. 

POET AND LAUNDRY

 Bust of 19th century Montenegrin poet Njegoš Petrović. With laundry. 😆

100 YEARS AGO....

 

This is well worth the read. It is the last page of a Bride's book, given to grandmother on her wedding day, September 10th, 1923. My mother was born nearly a year later on June 21st.

Read through it and tell me what you think.

SOUNDPROOFING? PROBABLY NOT...

 Hmmmm....I have heard of egg cartons being used as an inexpensive way to soundproof walls, but they need to be placed all over and close together. This passage between two buildings has some artsy patterns on the sidewalls, so I am thinking the cartons are just for decoration.

GAZPACHO

 One tends to think more of thick beef or chicken soups, sarma, lots of roast meat, and potato dishes when thinking of food from this part of the world. However, over the last 25 years or so, more international dishes are on the menu. This absolutely delicious gazpacho, spiced just right, and with garnishes of basil, small chunks of feta cheese, and cubes of watermelon really hit the spot on a 95-degree day.

FAN...OR PARASOL?

 There are many impromptu street sellers in this underground passage downtown. Here's one of them. The lady in the pink in the mirror was watching me take this shot... 

FILMS NOIRS

 This long sidewalk that runs along entrances to apartment buildings in New Belgrade reminded me of a scene from a 'film noir'. That said, quite a few crime films are shot in this area.

TO EACH HIS OWN

 One creature alert, one texting, and one, well, just dog-tired.

FRESHLY LAUNDERED

 Seen today in the yard around my building.

MONSOON....

 We have had three days of heavy rains....Belgrade monsoon. Hot, humid. This is a view from my new apartment where I am now living. Unpacking boxes these days... Because the weather made me think of India (I think of India anyway!) I made myself a masala tea.... Still planning to travel to India in October.😊🙏

A BIT OF BEAUTY

 I have been unpacking moving boxes for days, interspersed with dog walks here in a neighborhood where I used to live. It has been overcast and rainy, but I thought the light enhanced these flowers.

WHAT'S THIS?

 

Not a clue what this structure is. It's been at one end of Belgrade's pedestrian street for quite a while. No plaque. To me, the tubes look like some sort of wind chime arrangement, but that is all I can think of.

FOLDED UP

 Šansa, an iconic Belgrade café, has been bought out by a, how should I say this, less than desirable businessman. If it is doomed to be like others that suffered such a fate, gone will be its clientele, décor, and overall atmosphere.

And of course these lovely curtains will go too. They're already folded up, as has the café.

SILHOUETTES

 I'll be leaving this apartment we own tomorrow to move into another one my son bought; it has an elevator!  I will miss many things, including this little kitchen window with a sill.  I rarely feed the birds, but had some leftover  sunflower seeds, so I put them on the window sill. This morning two pigeons appeared.

THE DOG IN THE FLOWER

 I thought this rose on a back street nearby was so lovely. It even had a scent. When I got home and looked more closely, not only does it have a fragrance, but I see a dog's head in the center looking toward the left. Do you see it?

25 YEARS AGO

 A child and his parents stop at a monument to the children who perished during the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia 25 years ago.

COOL PLACE ON A HOT DAY

 Ah, summer....by the calendar not quite yet, but it's hot. One of my favorite places to go is just across the street from me. I enjoy coffee there on colder days and an ice cream when it's hot. Petković Sweet Shop, founded in 1901.

MORDECAI IS LEAVING

 A few years back I went with a friend to Krakow.  Visited places in this beautiful city including the Jewish Quarter. I came across this little hand-carved, wooden rabbi that I bought to accompany my then pocket Serbian traveler,  Radovan, whom you can see RIGHT HERE.

Up until recently they have shared shelf space and Radovan has come along on a couple of other trips.  

But now, because I am downsizing and trying to gift some of my 'stuff' to friends who might give it a good home, a Jewish friend of mine is going to take Mordecai to the BELGRADE SYNAGOGUE where he will be appreciated.

ALL LAID OUT

 Morning is time for a strong Turkish coffee.