RESIST THE URGE...

 Fairly certain it was kids who messed up this chess table, one of two large ones, in the public area near me. I often see such disfiguring of public property and it's saddening. Public property means it is free to all, so in a way it belongs to all of us, so why mess it up? End of rant....

BRILLIANT

 Poppies are not a flower you should pick. They wilt instantaneously. But they're certainly 'brilliant' when still rooted.

A MAN WHO READS...."

 "Give me a man who reads" is  a common expression, so here you are. Sneak phone shot from across the table.

MONDAY MURALS--SENYA

On my way to my pedicure, I came upon this mural. I googled to see what Senya is, and it seems to be a movement for caring for green spaces in urban settings. Makes sense.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.
 

THE HIGHWAY

This is Belgrade's main highway, which runs quite a distance through Europe. Locally, most use it for vacation trips south or to southern Serbian cities. In the other direction, it takes you right to the airport and beyond.

TEXTING IN BLACK AND WHITE

I was treating myself to a chocolate ice cream (two scoops...) and was fascinated by this woman who was endlessly texting. I stayed nearly a half an hour and she never stopped.
 

ALL COMFY AT THE MALL

 This guy's position makes me hurt just looking at him. I'm sure he just hops up and walks off. Wouldn't be the case for me.

STILL IN RUIN

 Twenty-six years ago Serbia was heavily bombed by NATO forces. One of their targets was the headquarters of the state-run news service RADIO TELEVISION SERBIA. PLEASE read the entire link.  You can see the bombed section in my photo.

OLD RECORDS, OLD BOOKS

It would be stretching it a bit to compare these stands on a side street downtown to Paris's famous used book sellers' stands along the Seine, but that's what they are. Full of old books and LPs, just begging you to have a look. But it was Easter Monday; not a soul in sight.

ILIJA BASICEVIC BOSILJ

 The name of this artist is a mouthful for those who don't know Serbian, but Ilija Basicevic Bosilj (IL ee ya BAS ee cheh veech BOS eel ya) 1095-1972 was/is one of the most well-known Serbian Naive Artists.

Please read about him RIGHT HERE.

MONDAY MURALS --HUNGRY DOG?

 Not sure which came first---the recycling bags or the hungry dog.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

HAPPY EASTER

 Happy Easter to all of you who celebrate.

This red egg is called the 'čuvar kuće,' (CHOO-var KOO-chay) or 'guardian of the house' and is usually the first egg colored. Of course it is hard-boiled and stands on a shelf all year long to protect the family and house from harm.

STAND-OFFISH

 I must admit I am not a cat person. I tolerate them, but just don't want one. That said, I am intrigued by their habits. I have often noticed that, unlike dogs, cats don't like to share their bed, cushion, chair, etc. Here's an example.

TREES ALONG THE DANUBE

 It's been on and off overcast; yesterday was overcast with little bursts of rain.

I walked with my dog along the river and managed to get home without getting too wet.

KOI

 Short out-of-town visit yielded this photo of some koi in a pond. Nothing special; just pretty!

CHURCH OF ARCHANGEL MIHAILO

SAINT MICHAEL'S CHURCH, located in Old Belgrade, is seen here from the New Belgrade sign.

"APRIL SHOWERS BRING.....

 ...May Flowers," so they say, but April brings us pretty shoes. Maybe these are not to your taste, but they are colorful.

MONDAY MURALS--BETA VUKANOVIC

Beta Vukanovic (1872-1972) was born in Germany, but lived nearly all her life in Belgrade.  She was an Impressonist at first, then  became a Realist. She was also a caricaturist, and orifinated the art of serbian caricature. She died in Belgrade at the age of 100. 

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.
 

FROM FAR AWAY

 From a dog walk yesterday. I dug out my old Nikon Coolpix P510 bridge camera that I bought in 2013. They're still on Amazon, selling for $145.00 in the US. I bought it mainly for its 42x zoom, which is equivalent to up to 1000mm. Cheaper than buying a zoom lens of that equivalent. I only use it for far-away shots, and it has rarely disappointed me. This duck, resting on  a log in the Danube, was quite far away, and the photo quality is decent. The downside is that the battery does not last so long, so I have to carry a spare. But I do that anyway with my new Nikon mirrorless, so.....

THE ONE I REALLY WANT

 Yesterday I showed you a cute selection of bowls and cups wearing various expressions. They were all white. Here are a couple more....I really want the one that's been kissed...

HAPPY FACES...MOSTLY..AND A QUEEN

 I have passed by this shop many times. They've had these cute cups and matching dishware for a long time. Now Queen Elizabeth sends her greetings....from afar. 

I asked the price once for one bowl and it was expensive, so I haven't added it to my collection. Tomorrow I will show you one I really like.

I GET LOTS OF COMMENTS....

 I get lots of comments when people see my keychain, and what it says is very true since many of my street photos are from the hip and chop off various body parts, while still retaining good composition, feeling, haha.

MIDNIGHT URBAN STILL LIFE

 A late-night shot taken by phone when I went on my last dog walk of the day. I love the colors and for some reason, I think EDWARD HOPPER would  have, too.

HEY! ANOTHER ONE!

I found another mushroom/toadstool while out walking. All alone it was and someone had already picked it, then tossed it. From my searching on the Internet, it appears to be a Dark Fieldcap. Well-named! It may be edible, but Internet says to avoid it, since it can be mistaken for a poisonous variety.  And I want to keep on blogging....

Etymology

Not all fieldcap fungi occur in open fields, and the Dark Fieldcap is definitely a mushroom of field margins, hedgerows, woodlands and other shady places near trees. 'Fieldcap' is derived from Agro-, of fields, and -cybe, head or cap, and is therefore a direct translation of the generic name Agrocybe. The specific epithet erebia simply means 'dark'.

Identification guide

Cap 4 to 7cm across, hemispherical becoming broadly umbonate; the mid to dark brown cap surface usually pales somewhat towards the margin but does not fade, as other fieldcaps do, at maturity.

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.