SKYWATCH --Sit on an ear

Kalemegdan's famous statue, seen from the (ahem) rear. There was a gray sky to view if you chose to sit on one of these ear-shaped benches, donated to parks around Belgrade by Telenor, the mobile phone folks. You can see a watermelon to sit on right here.

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SKYWATCH--The Victor's buns...

Shameful title, I admit, but I couldn't resist. Click here, though, to see why this naked statue is in this very place, and not in the originally intended location. P.S. Want to see some California pseudo-Roman buns? Click here to see what Tash posted at Palos Verdes Daily Photo.
And...just when you thought you had it all, here's a nifty little book I recently received as a present. I carry it in my purse. You get points for each kind of cloud you see, and there are lots! The ones above The Victor seem to be some sort of cumulus clouds (15 points), but I got 30 points for these altocumulus, plus another 15 because I caught them at sunset....what fun. Get yourself a copy!

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Skywatch--Never a Moment's Rest

The statue of The Victor that stands in Kalemegdan Park never has a moment's peace. Birds in his hand all the time, and the occasional bird on his head, shoulders, or above him.

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Skywatch Friday--The Victor in the Tree

The statue "The Victor” commemorates the Serbian victory over the Austro-Hungarian Empire in World War I. With its pedestal, this bronze statue in Kalemegdan Park rises over 14 meters. The statue was created by the famous Ivan Meštrović over 75 years ago, and was originally intended to stand on one of the largest streets downtown. Because he was naked (The Victor, not Meštrović!), The Victor was deemed an affront to public morality and moved to the park where he overlooked the Sava and Danube toward the great plain beyond. Now this plain has become New Belgrade, and I thought he might feel shy, so I've hidden him in this treetop...

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The Golden Years

Many who walk in Kalemegdan are retired people, especially on weekday mornings and afternoons. They sit on benches bemoaning their meager pension checks, recalling stories from their youth, or engaging in a game of chess. Kalemegdan is also home to Belgrade's zoo, and a doting grandma (baka; BAH-kuh) or indulgent grandpa (deda; DAY-duh) often treat their grandchildren to a visit. This "deda" appears to be headed for the statue of The Victor, visible in the distance.