SQUID!

One of my traveling companions had a birthday yesterday and she took us out to dinner. Fried squid and tzatziki.

 Delicious....

TWILIGHT

Twilight falls over the beach in Nea Kallikratia, Greece, where I am until July 2nd.
 

BUDDHA EARS

If you search 'Buddha Ears' on Google, you will find something similar to the following, explaining why the Buddha has elongated earlobes, like this Greek man who was sitting beside me at an ice cream shop.

"The Buddha is often depicted with elongated earlobes, a visual symbol representing wisdom, compassion, and the ability to hear the suffering of all beings. These long ears, sometimes adorned with earrings in depictions of the Buddha as a prince, signify his renunciation of worldly possessions and his focus on spiritual enlightenment. The symbol is also linked to the concept of "Buddha-ear," which represents the profound ability to listen and understand reality."

 

THREE TREATS

 Lemon sherbert, walnut/honey cookie, and Greek coffee here in small Greek beach town. Yum.

IN GREECE

 No more long-distance bus travel for me in tourist season! Horrendous crowds on the borders. It took 7 hours at the Serbian - Macedonian border ( the highway to Greece) and another 3+ at the Macedonian - Greek border. The sign in a coffee shop at that border was highly appropriate, now that we'd made it.

A WAITING GAME

 I left Belgrade at 9:15 p.m. last night. We are now at the Serbian/Macedonian border where we have been waiting for nearly five hours...so many people. But our turn to be checked is coming soon!

"JE SÈME À TOUT VENT"

 Since 1876, "JE SÈME À TOUT VENT" (I sow to all winds) is the motto of the French Larousse dictionary.  My blog is from Serbia, not France, but the dry weather here has made dandelions fade and be ready for a good wind to disperse their seeds.

FANCY

When I moved here from Paris in 1977, you couldn't find any 'fancy' food. The most foreign food was pizza and you had to really hint for a pizzeria. Just 'good old Serbian food' back then, and of course there's nothing wrong with that. Times change, tastes change. Above is a turkey breast stuffed with a prune set on mashed potatoes with a delicious gravy. Years ago a turkey and a prune would never have met on the same plate. No flowers either, even if they are these edible kinds.

 

SUMMER STROLL

 Summer stroll down by the Sava River which, like the Danube, intersects Belgrade.

DAY IS DONE

View of the A3-E70 highway that runs through Serbia. Ahead is the airport. Soon I will be heading to Greece in the other direction. This photo taken last evening reminds me of PETER, PAUL, AND MARY'S "DAY IS DONE".
 

KINDERGARTEN

 This is a freshy repainted wall of a local kindergarten. You can't see the whole structure here, but it is fairly large since it also includes a facility for children from age one to four, a kitchen, a spacious, well-equipped play yard, and a gymnasium. Maternity leave here in Serbia is for one year, so if parents don't have anyone else to care for a child, they may place the little one in this area. My grandchildren attended this kindergarten. The entire building is in the shape of a daisy. Cost is calculated according to a family's means. My family and I were very happy with the teachers and caregivers.

DRINKABLE AND EDIBLE

 A hot up of coffee with an edible (cookie) spoon. Slurp, crunch.

NOT A COLORING BOOK

 Although this may look like a page from a kid's coloring book, it's actually the interior of a local café cleverly painted to look like one! I'd have to resist the urge to go there with my crayons.

L'art à Belgrade

 The posts are painted with a particular design often seen here on locally-made rugs. 

I am referring to the lovely mosaic on the sidewalk which, a passer-by told me, was done by a French artist who does these here and there in countries he visits.

YELLOW

 I am  not good with tree names, at least those that I don't see often. The yellow blossoms on this tree in a neighborhood kindergarten yard struck me, pleasantly complementing the part-yellow fence and the grass that is a bit yellow because of lack of rain.

SUNSET

 Years ago, I had a photography teacher who advised our class never to take sunset photos because they're 'too easy'. But they are beautiful, so here is one from last night!

HOLLYHOCKS

 I always like to think of hollyhocks as one of the flowers of my youth in Pennsylvania and they are. When I looked them up online today, I learned that my hollyhocks belong to a different genus than the European ones above "A rose by any other name" is still a rose, and both versions are beautiful.

REALLY OLD...

 I am not good at combining photos and should really go back with my wide angle/fish eye lens to take a shot of the whole tree. Very old to be sure. At least since New Belgrade was built in the 60s and has seen much urbanism but has somehow survived. It now stands right next to the long E70 highway. 

VISITOR

 This is the first pigeon or even bird that has ever come to 'visit' me. My window was open and I think me may have been looking for a tidbit to snatch, but no...

RENOVATION

 I'm low on photos and need to get out and do more. Saw this unintentional arrangement of heavy, reinforced plastic sacks that most likely hold pieces of tile and concrete. I think someone is renovating. Not to worry. They will be picked up....but not, I hope, before I can get back with my real camera, since I took this one with my phone.

URBAN ART

 There's an amateur artist who lives near my son and me. I have never seen him, but now and then a piece of his work keeps popping up. I rather like it, even though the violet background isn't to my taste. It does however improve the otherwise drab, grey wall.

JUNE THEME DAY--SHADOWS

Keep your tractor tidy with these scraper steps to rid your shoes of mud. 

See other shadows on CITY DAILY PHOTO THEME DAYS.