TOADSTOOL

 It\s been wet. I came across this toadstool today.  I used to think that toadstools should not be eaten at all, but that certain mushrooms can be eaten, so I\ve always used the former for those you'd only eat once...  Since |I am not sure if this one is poisonous or not, it's a toadstool for me!

PLUS ÇA CHANGE, PLUS C'EST LA MÊME CHOSE

I came to Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1977 and now it is Belgrade, Serbia. I knew virtually no Serbian, but had had a half a year of Russian at UCLA. There are some similarities, which helped me with Serbian.

As the French say, PLUS ÇA CHANGE, PLUS C'EST LA MÊME CHOSE and it is true for many things here, including the Institute for Foreign Languages, still at the same address when I  attended classes here. I didn't stay long though, since at that time the teaching method was so uninspiring, so I just hung out with friends, got a good grammar book, and here I am now fluent.  I imaagine now though, despite the still antiquated appearance of the entrance, that they must be doing something right to have lasted all these years.

MINOX AND ME

 Yes, I know it should read 'Minox and I, but I felt the need for alliteration. Once again I was downtown with my tiny camera. I've been really under the weather the past few days, so don't have much to offer today.

THEME DAY APRIL 2025---STRIPES

 Stripes it is for our April City Daily Photo Theme Day and this yummy cake is my contribution. Here is a piece of my grandson's layered chocolate cake for you...actually for me.

See what others have done with stripes by clicking RIGHT HERE.

FOGGY

 A view of two tall buildings in New Belgrade, taken across the river in Old Belgrade. I love fog.

MORE CHEERFUL

 My post yesterday was so dark, both figuratively and in reality. Here's one more from my baby Minox DCC 5.1, which is more cheerful.

FOREBODING

 Maybe it's the state of the world that affects me now, particularly in my home country. Everything seems dark and ominous. Clearer skies come soon, but I am not so sure.

(Another shot from my baby Minox DCC 5.1).

NEAR THE MARKET

 I have seen this woman frequently in different seasons, seated in the same place near a large open market. She doesn't seem to be asking for anything; just sitting.

TEXTURE

 The feathery texture on this tree bark caught my eye.

THE BUDDHA IN THE BATHROOM

 I was greeted in a unisex bathroom by Buddha, or at least his head. Quite unexpected!

ANYBODY....?

 Anybody know what kind of 'blossom' this is?

MONDAY MURALS--JELISAVETA NACIC

Jelisavetu Načić (YEL-lee-sa-veh-ta NA-cheech) was Serbia's first woman architect,having received her diploma in 1900.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

THE STRAWBERRY SELLER

 No business now, so time for a newspaper  break. This fellow sells fresh fruit as it comes in season....it's a bit early for strawberries though, so I imagine they're from the hothouse...somewhere.

THE CHANDELIER

 Quite an impressive chandelier in a restaurant where I had lunch the other day. It wouldn't fit in my living room, but if I did, I kind of like it....

Taken with my tiny Minox DCC 5.1 camera.

MINOX AND I

 Last Minox photo for a while. Self-portrait with antiques!

DRESSED FOR THE COLD

Yesterday I showed you a young model for a bridal photo shoot, who was sooooo cold. Jus after I left her, I came across this quartet waiting for their owner outside a shop. Mother Nature dressed them warmly, but just in case, their 'mother' (or father!) gave them another layer.
 

MINOX AGAIN

I took my little Minox DCC 5.1 for a walk yesterday. If you get lucky, this little camera (see yesterday's post) will get sharp, albeit very low pixel, photos. This model was on a bridal photo shoot and it was really, really cold, hence the heavy jacket she donned between shots.
 

CONSTRUCTION WORKER BREAK

 Dug out my old MINOX MINI 5.1 camera, which always attracts a lot of comments. I have posted before photos taken with it, like THIS ONE. If you manage to get everything just right, it really takes good photos with its (gasp) 5.1 pixel capacity.

I think I bought mine in 2010 or 2012. Just checked Amazon and it is no longer available. Even when and if mine dies, I'll keep it as a conversation piece.

MONDAY MURALS-BLUE KITTY

 This blue kitty appears on the Faculty of Dramatic Arts wall *that's what those letters stand for*, just across the street from me.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

BALKANOPOLY

 Various international versions of Monopoly have been around for quite a while, but I hadn't ever played any until yesterday. The game with my granddaughter was a ruthless, Trump-like property grab, no holds barred! I managed to buy all the former Yugoslavia airports and the pricey properties. Seems like all's fair in love and war....and ss Donald would say, in real estate.

PALACE OF SERBIA

 The PALACE OF SERBIA,whose official name is the Palace of the Exdcutive Council, is a sprawling building in New Belgrade, and once represented all of Yugoslavia. It is surrounded by a huge green area with trees and bushes. I often cut through that area with my dog either going toward the Danube or returning from.

Today, much to my surprise, I stumbled accoss a makeshift bee yard, surrounded by a crudely-made fence of fallen branches. I think it may be some sort of unofficial cooperative of local apiculturists. I could only get one shot at one hive where I saw bees coming in and out, but I think the other hives should  be active very soon.

SKYWATCH--EVENING BEAUTY

 Looking west from my window. Sometimes sunsets are just blah, but thisone was a stunner.

See other skies onSKYWATCH.

A SCENT OF THE RIVIERA

 GORGEOUS day here in Belgrade. Waiting for some friends on a psrk bench. Gardeners are tending the lavender that grows here and its scent for me is Proustian. Palm tree is fake , but the building in the background reminds me of those on La Promenade des Anglais in Cannes.

FLASHBACK

 Two summer ago I went with my family to  Barcelona. Gorgeous weather, not too hot, but very sunny. Couldn't resist photographing this lady who was probably in pain that evening...ow.

ANACHRONISM?

This phone 'booth' has been in this place for ages. I may just pass at the wrong time, but I have never seen anyone using it.

I think it will be soon headed for a museum of anachronisms, like big, fat phone books. The latter were never here, but I haven't seen one in the US for a long time either. I remember as a child hearing the heavy 'thud' on our porch when a new one was delivered.
 

MY DOG'S ADMIRER

 I have to admit that my dog gets a lot of smiles and pats, which she just loves....  This sweet lady obliged her and even gave her a little treat.

PIGEON AND POPPY SEED CAKE

 This pigeon was stuffing itself with a piece of poppyseed cake, a very popular cake here. I had heard that if humans consume an adequate amount, it can lead to a false positive on a drug test. I googled for birds, but apparently they're not affected. Not that they take drug tests anyway.

LESSER-KNOWN

 My husband and I collected many naive paintings from now deceased Serbian painters. One could call them, without being presumptuous, the Grand Masters of Naive Art, mainly from the village of Kovacica and its surroundings.

The above one was not painted by a 'Grand Master,' but I liked it. Now, at this stage of my life, I have given my kids first choice of the paintings they want, but the rest I will sell, and if anything is left, would donate them to the MUSEUM OF NAIVE ART in Jagodina, about two hours from here.

WAITING FOR SPRING

 Patiently biding its time, this houseboat (and the trees as well) are waiting for spring.

NEVER TOO COLD

 A very cold day for me, but not for this pair of swans on a log on the Danube.

CHASING IN STYLE

 Stylish pup having a ball chasing birds along the Danube in Zemun, a adjacent community to Belgrade.

POSING PUP

 He was holding just as still  as the mannikins in the shopfront window.

CHEESEBOARDS!

 Seen at the recent Balkan Cheese Festival. I think these are gorgeous. I don't need such a huge one, but I did buy a 'home-size' dark one like the second from the right. Very happy.

GOT LUCKY!

 I won a selection of cheeses yesterday at the Balkan Cheese Festival here in Belrade. Over 200 locally-produced cheeses (France needn't be worried yet), 90% of which (my guess) were never around when I came here in 1977.

It's now Sunday morning and I still have some cheese left, haha.

THEME DAY--FIRE

 No good fire photos, so here's the flame on my dog's first birthday pâté. She will be 6 in August. 

March 1st...it seems to have come in 'like a lamb' not like a lion, so more winter lies ahead...but what is winter now anyway?

See more Fire Photos or at least Flames on CITY DAILY PHOTO THEME DAY.

INTO THE SUN

 Dog's-eye view of our walk the other day along the river.

HEELS

 I'm afraid this shop is one of the last true shops of its kind.  I can't remember the last time I needed this type of heel for my shoes.

FOUR STOOLS

 Just what the title says, nothing more, nothing less....except maybe some leaves....

WHILE WAITING....

 While waiting for a friend, I sneaked photos. I am never bored with my camera...

STREET ACTION

 Got off the bus on BRANKO'S BRIDGE, looked over the railing, and with my camera I froze all the action below.

ANTIQUE SHOP

 I pass this antique shop quite often and have even sold a few things to them. To tell the truth, it isn't completely an antique shop anymore. It's been turned into a cozy cafe. Kind of an old-school feel....

SHARING

 I watched this couple for quite a while. Each was engrossed in their phones....but then suddenly they shared something. A text, a photo, who knows?  But it actually got them talking to each other....

PANORAMA FROM THE PARK

 

Weather permitting, I take my dog for a looong walk along the Danube in New Belgrade toward Old Belgrade. In this photo you can see, from left to right, Kalemegdan forteress, the steeple of the main church, the dome of the bishop's palace, waaay behind that the dome of St. Sava's  temple, an old high-rise landmark, and the the far right, newly- constructed apartment buildings in an area called Belgrade Waterfront. In the foreground is a monument called The Eternal Flame.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

 Dropped by my framer's the other day to pick up two photographs I had framed. While he was wrapping them, I took a few photos around his shop. Here is one.

HINT OF SPRING

 We're not that close to spring. Though it is just a month away, spring seems to take its good old time to really arrive.

Had some friends over last Saturday and one of them brought me these beautiful tulips. They were more attractive when fresh, but do quite nicely faded.

STARK

 Just what the title says. Cold here; not a bud in sight.

HOUSEWARMING

 Had a mini-housewarming yesterday. I asked for no gifts since I have already downsized.

But these tulips were beautiful!

SOME VALENTINES HAVE FOUR PAWS

 Yes, indeed some Valentines DO have four paws.  Case in point. Here I am with Madhu, not long after I adopted her five years ago.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO ALL, including those with four paws.

A DIFFERENT VIIEW

 Last summer I moved from downtown Belgrade to New Belgrade, just across the river. Above was my view from my bedroom window before the move. I lived in a loft, and loved it. I  have a different view now, but the curtains are the same. And a terrace, which I like.

WAFFLES, BELGIAN ONES AND REAL ONES....

 

Digging back into my archives since I haven't been out shooting so very recently.  The sign on the waffle stand on the left reads "Belgian Waffles" and the sign on the stand on the right reads "Real Waffles."  I'll let you figure that out.