DARN GROUNDHOG

There is no custom here of a groundhog seeing its shadow on February 2, most likely because the groundhog is a North American animal. Be that as it may, in Pennsylvania Punxutawney Phil, the town's resident groundhog did indeed see his shadow. Seems like he's working internationally now for yesterday we got more snow.

LAST EVENING'S SUNSET

 I guess I should call this 'Essence of Sunset, ' since the sun itself is out of view. Its lovely colors filtered through my curtains. 

YORKIE DRESSED TO THE NINES

This little fellow was dressed for a photo shoot, haha, and he had his hair done, too. I looked up the expression 'dressed to the nines,' and couldn't find its exact origin, though most sites point to Scotland.
 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

 Remember lovle locks? Around the world they were tokens of couples' love for each other, but soon became a pain in the fence for cities. Most were taken away along with the fences that had to be replaced = $$$.

I saw this one lonely heart on a fence in Kalemegdan Park....Not sure how long it's been there, but it's all alone.....

Like other holidays, Valentine's Day is familiar to most Serbs and kitchy love junk is hawked here, too. 

THE SOCK SELLER

 I took this photo last Monday at the open market. Open markets are notoriously empty on Mondays, but this fellow thought he'd give it a go. Not sure he had a lot of business, but he did help me out with a photo.

MARKET ART?

 I can across this 'piece of art' on a wall at a nearby open market. I am wondering if it was intentional or not.

RED TRANSPORTATION

 "That's a real cherry bike," they would have said in admiration when I was in high school. Indeed it is bright cherry-red like the bus in the background. I was rather surprised to see a red bus, because most now have been painted blue.

FOGGY AND OVERCAST

 Double weather whammy with gray skies and fog, too.

MONDAY MURALS ---STILL NOTHING....

 I think I have photographed this area in the large park next to government building quite a while ago.  It appears that something was started there, but never finished, and probably won't be.  Someone took advantage of the wall for a mural.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

ŽUĆA

 There is a fair number of street dogs here in Belgrade. Some have it rough, having to scrounge for food and shelter. Others have the good fortune of being informally adopted by a neighborhood. This is the home of Žuća (ZHOO-cha), which roughly translates to 'Goldie'. She is old and has lived in this house for years. Someone pimped it up for the holidays. Žuća wasn't in when I took this photo. I found her waiting in front of the local butcher shop around the corner. 

A SPLASH OF COLOR

I know it's early for spring. I glimpsed some forsythia near where I live, but otherwise I am surrounded with drabness. However, today downtown I came across these tulips in a window that made my day.
 

TROMPE L'OEIL

I did a bit of a double take when I saw this bike leaning against a wall....but it isn't leaning; it's painted on the wall.

THE ACCIDENTAL ARTIST

Yesterday I caught this lady hanging out her laundry; folded-over sheets or curtains, not sure. She is the accidental artist OF THIS PHOTOGRAPH that I coincidentally took in black and white at this time last year. That 'seize the moment'photo is one of my favorites. Click and see.

SHARED WITH NEW FRIENDS

My birthday's gone for this year and I happily shared the rest of my homemade cake with two new friends from Jordan who traveled back to Belgrade with my son from his recent trip!

FROM SCRATCH

 No boxed mixes for me. Made for a special occasion yesterday. 

STILL THERE

 I just checked my past posts because, although I've photographed many cats, this one doesn't show up. He (I think it's a he) always sits in the same place down by the river, high up and away from dogs. So, today is this kitty's day!

OAK BRANCHES

 This is not an oak tree, but you do see here two bunches of oak branches. On Serbian Orthodox Christmas on January 7th, it is the custom to burn a bunch on your terrace on in your yard to ensure good health and prosperity. Some people don't have a yard or terrace and so, because the bunches should never be discarded as yrash, they are returned to Nature, as seen here. 

APPLES

 I don't eat as many apples as I should, but I love to photograph them. 

NOT A CREATURE WAS STIRRING

The dog and its owner stood fairly still for my photo, even though they were oblivious to my snapping a shot. I was on my way home from downtown where I had been cruising the streets for photos. Nothing came of that, so you get this one!

NOT PAYING ATTENTION

 Had lunch with a friend at a very good restaurant yesterday. Their food is excellent and so is the service, but yesterday the latter could have been much better. Had to call the waiter 3 times, he never dropped by to see how everything was, forgot the sugar for our espresso.... But I am sure he got his text messages out of the way. 

FILM NOIR

My urban neighborhood is often used for filming. Above is just a passer-by, but the whole scene reminded me of something from a FILM NOIR.

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON

 Dad and son out for a walk along the Danube.

WAITING FOR THE 71

 I often wait here for my bus back from town. Camera in hand, so......

NEAT WAISTLINE

 From my river walk yesterday. Someone inside this houseboat cafe takes pride in their curtains.

CRUEL FATE

 I went for a loooong walk along the Danube yesterday and came across this wreckage of a former FORMER FLOATING RESTAURANT YOU CAN SEE HERE. Like other floating restaurants, it apparently was abandoned and 'moved' down away from the prime location it had. I had eaten there many times. Now all that remains of this one and others that met a similar fate is debris. I have to point out that there is another restaurant in its place: a horrible, literally square structure with absolutely no charm.

IN THE UNDERGROUND PASSAGE

 It's cold. Not Moscow or Nordic/Arctic cold, but it is very cold. There are homeless shelters here, but some street people chose to sleep outdoors. 

SAINT'S DAY BREADS

 Winter is the season when most Orthodox Serbs celebrate their SLAVA or patron saint's day.  The photo above shows several kinds of a special bread that is part of the celebration.

POLICE STATION AT SUNSET

 Foreigners go to one section of this police station to have their resident cards or visas updated. The windows reflect the light at sunset.

DISCARDED

 Yesterday on my walk through the long park along the Danube, I came across these apples which I assume someone had discarded. They were so pretty!  I wonder if they had been under the snow that has now melted; they look fairly fresh. Hope the birds enjoy them.

ON THE WAY TOWARD THE DANUBE

Finally my dog and I were able to take a longer walk after all the snow we'd had. Up until yesterday, the sidewalks were still dangerous. I avoided slippery places when I could, but still used my hiking sticks. Anyway, today, no ice on sidewalks and no poles!  There is still snow in this photo, but I stayed on the trail, which was clear.

FLAT

 VOJVODINA PROVINCE (VOY-vod-eena) lies to the north of Belrade, and is comparatively looooong and flaaaaat. It houses nearly 2 million people, out of the country's total of 6.6 million.

I am not sure I'd like to live in a very flat place, but it is definitely great for hikes and just passing through.

PATIENCE

 A snow-white dog to remind us of the melting snow... He's waiting patiently for his human inside the shop. 

THE GODFATHER OF DOGS

Still freezing and slippery out, so I am 'snerdling' this morning! (Look up 'snerdle'!) Here is another srchive shot from my trip to Lyon last October. Enlarge the photo to see detail!
 

COLD KITTY

 

Kitty found a slightly warmer place to sit. Still, I don't envy him for having to be outside long.

CLEARED STEPS

 Finally after 5 days the steps across entrances to garages near my building have been cleared. More light rain and ice is due, so I will stay on my side, thank you. 

FROM MY ARCHIVES PART II

 Another photo from quite a few years back. I know I have posted this one  before, and now I am marveling that I ventured a walk from my place (I lived in the center then) to the small Bohemian quarter of Belgrade called Skadarlija. 

No way now would I bus into town and take a stroll.....

FROM MY ARCHIVES....

 I took this photo quite a number of years back from my son's apartment window, just across from where I live, and probably have already posted it. When there's no snow, it takes me just over five minutes to reach his place, but now with two small dogs in tow (actually they walk ahead of me on a two-dog leash) it takes me 25 minutes, no kidding; I am that cautious. I am now convinced for folks about my age, viewing snow and ice from the window is the best.

THE MYTH OF SISYPHUS, SERBIAN-STYLE

Two days ago these workers cleared the entire roof of a large nearby medical clinic. And here they are again!  I imagine getting the snow off somehow improves their heating units, who knows? It will be a seemingly endless job.

In case you don't know who Sisyphus was in Greek mythology, he somehow offended Zeus, who condemned him to roll a large boulder to the top of a hill and leave it there. He did, but each time he got to the top, the boulder rolled down again, so repeat, repeat, repeat.

 

FRENCH TOAST

 

My French toast this a.m. on my Paris metro map placemat. 

In France, this dish is called 'pain perdu' (lost bread), here in Belgrade it is called "prženica' (little fried bread).  Whatever you call it, it's good 

APPLES... and one pear

 Winter apples and a pear reminding me I should eat more fruit. 

YE OLDE QUILT SHOP

 Yesterday I showed you a young woman's hand resting on a bag that probably contained a light but warm quilt. I passed this shop today. I hadn't walked down this street in Zemun (adjacent to Belgrade) in literally decades, and was pleased to see that this old-fashioned quilt shop is still in business.  These are hand-made, stuffed with wool, and very warm.

If you want to see exactly what the wool inside looks like, have a look at THIS LINK. The article is in Serbian, but scroll down to see the photos.

HER HAND

 This young woman's nicely manicured hand rests on a bag from a Scandinavian bedding shop. We're supposed to be in for really cold weather, like in the 'good old days,' so perhaps this is a new quilt.

OLD AND PEELING

 I am fascinated by old doors, especially those whose paint is peeling.

NEW YEAR'S COFFEE AND COOKIE

 Went for a neighborhood walk yesterday morning. Weather was sunny, clear, and crisp. Stopped for a second cup of coffee and a typical Serbian cookie, an 'orasnica ' o-RASS-neet-sa), made eith crushed walnuts, a bit of sugar, and held together with beaten egg whites. The café's name is Crna Ovca (SIR-na OV-tsa), meaning 'black sheep'. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 Self-portrait for you on New Year's Day.