NO SITTING TODAY

I came across these chairs and tables at a fast-food place, but because everything was wet, there were no sit-down diners. Liked the colors., especially the blue. 😃
 

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

 Me on the sly again. I discreetly took a few shots of this girl biting her nails but I think she saw me in this one. However, I never look at the subject and balance my camera on my lap, so I have never been challenged. I thank my camera for a totally silent shutter.

A DEMOCRATIC BLUE TSUNAMI

Well, look who made the front page of Serbia's most respected newspaper.The title reads "A Democratic Blue Tsunami Has Flooded Congress." I didn't buy the paper, but I kind of regret it. I could have sent the front page to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

TIDIED UP.....GETTING THERE....

This photo of the underground passage downtown leading to a bus hub does not appear tidied up at all. However, if you had seen it before the recent triumphant victory of the Oppositions, you would understand. Volunteer members of the Oppsition came with brooms, mops, scrubbrushes, water, and white paint, cleaned everything, and painted over walls of graffiti. Yes, one has returned but it too is currently smudged out, awaiting the cleaners' return. Hats off to the volunteer members.
 

BLUE!!!

Am very pleased about the US midterm elections so far....May the Blues conquer.

In their honor, I photographed this blue bench in our park....the orangey-yellow leaf will, I hope, soon be blown away.
 

BACK TO PARIS

 Well, no, not really, but I am out of local photos. Have been spending too much time editing my Paris photos, but I am finished now. Hope to hit the streets soon for local fare.  Anyway, this is a pot-au-feu kit!  All wrapped up and read to slow cook. It is delicious and you can find a POT-AU-FEU RECIPE if you click.

RABINDRANATH TAGORE

 Not far from The Eternal Flame I showed you yesterday stands this bust of the Nobel Prize-winning Bengali poet RABINDRANATH TAGORE (1861-1941).  Tagore came to Belgrade all the way from India by train in 1926.

THE ETERNAL FLAME BURNS AGAIN

 I took a long walk along the Danube yesterday and though I have passed by this monument many, many times, this was the first time I have seen its flame burning. I can only believe that its flame, symbolizing hope and a guiding light, was lit because of Serbia's recent regime change. 

LA DAME EN ROUGE

 Flashing back to Paris until I get out more here in Belgrade...busy photo editing. This young woman in the courtyard of the Louvre attracted a lot of well-deserved attention. I was reminded of a 1973 film entitled LA DAME EN BLEU, starring (RIP).  Has anyone seen it?

FALL FLOWERS

 Fall has been  here on the calendar since September 22nd, but 'thanks to' global warming it hasn't felt like it until about 5 days ago. A trip to a local outdoor market yielded a shot of these splendid flowers. I love their colors and their scent. That's fall for me.

SLOW BUT STEADY

 I love turtles....and tortoises, too. I came across this lovely walking stick at a crafts exhibit, but the carver was  not there, just the person selling the carver's canes. I did get a hold of the artist and he will get back to me when he returns to Belgrade. If this one is the right height for me, I'd like to have it. Stay tuned.

UNITED SERBIA...but not like he'd planned!

 Parliamentary elections were held here in Serbia. MASSIVE TURNOUT. United voters were, but not like Vucic wanted. I can only wish for something similar in the US. Aleksandar Vucic's party lost to the Opposition movement, spurred on by two years of unyielding student protests. Time to go, Aleksandar; you and yours have been in power waaaay too long. (14 years...)

WHERE OH WHERE...

 I am back in Belgrade.... But my suitcase is not! 😯😔 A short connection in Charles de Gaulle airport is most likely the cause, andc here are several Paris - Belgrade flightsca day, so I am hopeful. 

FOOD, FOOD, FOOD

 Last night in France, in Provence to be exact, unless flights are cancelled due to thunderstorms and heavy rains. Above are pumpkin (potiron) soup, followed by roast lamb, potatoes, and zucchini. Vive la Francce!

LAPIN À LA CRÈME

I am returning to Belgrade on Wenesday, but will sorely miss French food, like this lapin à la crème (rabbit in cream sauce), served by a friend here. I had never seen entire heads of garlic used before, but wow!
 

APPLE PAVLOVA CARAMEL SAUCE

 Went to lunch today in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in Provence. This trip to France has been one big dining marathon. Vive la France! 

HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL

 Here I am on Pont de l'Alma in Paris. In the background is the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox  Cathedral, opened in 2016. Tomorrow--off for 5 days (never enough) in Provence.

AW, RATS!

Strolled through Les Halles in Paris yesterday. Came across La Maison Aurouze, the famous pest control shop founded in 1872. As you see, the ship is there with its hanging rats that were exterminated in 1931. If you watched the Pixar film Ratatouille, Rémy, the main rat, s shown standing in front of this shop.

DINING IN DECADENCE

 

I have always wanted to dine at Paris's lavish restaurant Le Train Bleu, in the Gare de Lyon. Yesterday I did, and it was fabulous.

MOI EN 1970

The top photo is yours truly in 1970. I had climbed up the one tower at Notre-Dame where I met a kid who asked me to take his photo with my little Instamatic and I did. He offered to take mine. I carefully ascended the few meters to this pole (ah, youth...) and here is the result. I googled now to see exactly where on the roof this was and found much earlier photo of man who had had the same idea.