ZEMUN FACADE

 

Another photo of a facade in Zemun (ZAY-moon), a close municipality of Belgrade, known for its cafes, late-night bars ,and fish restaurants along its riverside (Danube) promenade. Zemun once belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and its arhitecture reflects the then-popular SECESSIONIST ART STYLE.

LOST, BUT 'TWAS FUN

 After a smashing lunch at my favorite Indian restaurant, son and family took me bowling, something we had not done since just before COVID, when I beat everyone. No luck this year, sadly, but it was fun. These are bowling shoes to rent, marked in European sizes.

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN

 I love this photo and don't think I have posted it before. I ran a few search words on my blog and nothing came up, so here it is.

This is a phone (and not an iPhone) shot. Last April I was walking with my granddaughter and spotted these sheets. They called to me saying, "Take out photo!" so I did. I have recently had the photo enlarged and framed. Better yet, a local photo professor of mine a number of years back goes to the same framer. When I picked up the photo a few days ago, the framer told me that Prof X had come  in with some of his photos to  frame, and he admired my photo. Whee!

It's my birthday today and his compliment made my day, albeit a a few days early!

FEBRUARY THEME DAY: MOTORS

 Not the entire motor nor is this Belgrade!  Here is my favorite tuk-tuk driver in Delhi. I stepped out of my hotel one morning and was about to flag down a tuk-tuk, when Sonny zipped up and shouted, "Madame, you are back!" Hard to believe that in such a huge city he found me, but I knew he lived in the area near my hotel.

Sonny is hard-working and honest. Tuk-tuks are my favorite way to get around and if I had my way, I'd ship one back. I did learn however that they are not sold to anyone who is not a tuk-tuk driver, so I guess I may have to move and pass a driving test. Tuk-tuks have either a two-stroke or four-stroke engine, which is Greek to me. I just learned this through the Internet.

See other MOTORS on THEME DAY.

THE MIMOSA SELLER

 There are apparently 600 kinds of mimosa ranging from trees to shrubs. Here in Serbia these yellow flowers, symbols of spring, are imported from the coast. They cheer people up with their bright yellow color.

It may not be so close to spring yet by the calendar, but our changing climate says differently.

LOST

 Lost among the  leaves...I looked around for a child nearby, but there was no one in sight at all.

DRAMATIC TREE

 "It was a dark and stormy..." morning. 

SNACK

 Reasonably warm weather due to climate change, so this couple opted for a snack in the park.

TEXTING

 Usce (OOOSH-chay) Park (meaning mouth, as for a river) is Belgrade's largest park, stretching along the Danube. You don't see it in this photo, but there are many trees, paths...

These two seem oblivious to nature today. I hope ony today.

FOGGY

 Woke up at 7 and opened my shutters to view thick fog. I kind of like fog; it's mysterious. Now it is gone...

OW.

 I am always surprised that succulents outside do so well in the window. While trying to move in closer, I got poked by one of the 'leaves'. Ow.

SITTING IN ZRENJANIN

 

From my archives. It's cold and icy outside and I am afraid of slipping and falling....

AN UNKNOWN SAMARITAN

 The sign on a sidewalk above an overpass reads "Careful!  Slippery!".  And it was. I gingerly ventured out, holding onto the orange railing and armed with my hiking stick. I took a mini-slip and cautiously turned around and went back.

Ever grateful to this kind but unknown samaritan.

SHALL WE DANCE?

 Went to get some photos framed the other day. I hadn't been to my framer in a long time, since I am running out of wall space....  This is a new building that had been under construction since my last visit to my framer and it is now finished, though not occupied yet. Its wavy lines recalled THE DANCING HOUSE in Prague. Perhaps a distant cousin (wink).

CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK....OF ICE

 Nippy this morning on my dog walk!  Our nearby park has several sources of water and are frozen solid. Except of course for one place. I imagine some kids broke the ice last night, scattering pieces everywhere like shattered glass.  I liked this chunk. It looks like a very large diamond....

HAPPINESS ON A GRAY WINTRY DAY

 Cold, gray, and almost gloomy. However my day is brightened by a humble and 'bien fait' Camembert. No doubt upcoming days will be cheerful too, since in addition to this particular cheese, my son brought me back three others from a ski trip to France. Et un saucisson. Quel bonheur!

P.S. Actually there are two local shops that import French cheese.

ACCIDENTAL CANINE ART

 It's been really cold, so haven't taken my camera out much, especially since I have two dogs in charge (returning my granddaughter's dog today) and it isn't easy to stop for a photo when I've got to keep one eye on the pups.

I decided to do some abstracts, and this  is one of them, created by my own dog, Madhu. It's what's left over from her rawhide chewie.

URBAN MUSHROOM

I brought this boy inside with some of its surrounding foliage....I found it around the corner but had neither camera nor phone with me. I'm going to replant it where it was growing. And of course I can't locate my mushroom book and chart, so if anyone can identify it, let me know.

ONCE AGAIN, WITH STYLE

 I posted this dashing guard at Jodhpur's Mehrangarh Fort a while back, and yesterday came upon another photo. He seems to be eyeing the lady on the phone....I am still loving his mustache. 

THREE PEARS

 I must admit that I do not eat enough fruit. My son went skiing with his family and left me three pears and some other perishables which might go bad if not eaten.  He said the pears were delicious.

Now there are just two left and they will be gone soon, as they really are delicious!

SKYWATCH --autumn colors in winter

 Taken around 7:30 a.m. from my terrace. I loved the lighting and the autumn colors, but now the lighting has changed and it all looks dreary!

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

CONFUCIUS SAID AND WE FORGOT

Confucius, 551 to 479 BC, is considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Here is his  state in front of the Chinese Cultural Center in New Belgrade. His teachings emphasized personal and governmental morality, harmonious social relationships, righteousness, kindness, sincerity, and a ruler's responsibility to lead by virtue.

Most of our world leaders would do well to heed to his teachings, especially the one now elected president along with his crones in my birth country. 

MONDAY MURALS--WAKE UP AND SMELL THE FLOWERS

 Not sure, of course, but the very old buildings that have been demolished are most likely going to make room for a fancy apartment high-rise. Happening all over town. If they'd only make a park with a lot of greenery so we can all breathe a bit  better and this girl can really smell the flowers. I fear though that this mural will not be visible when the building goes up.

Thanking my friend Maja for sending me this photo!

Check out MONDAY MURALS to see murals around the world.

FROSTY TRIPTYCH

 I am hard-pressed for photos. It's been freezing, raining, and very foggy. The later makes it smoggy too. 

Here is a triptych of some frosty photos done free online. Couldn't figure out how to crop the last one decently. Oh, well.

OUT OF THE FOG...AND FROST

 Yesterday was my idea of a perfect January 1st. Very cold and frosty. Pup and I took an early morning walk, and met few people without dogs!  Even this lady had one, though he cannot be seen behind the tree.

INTO THE NEW YEAR

 These two pigeons appear to be questioning each other about what 2025 holds. I am wondering the same.

Dare I say "Happy New Year"?