Once upon a time there were two friends...

Earlier on in my posts I'd mentioned Vuk Karadžić (Vook KA-ra-jeech) 1787-1864, a language scholar and the father of Serbian folk literature who reformed the Cyrillic alphabet for Serbian use, and created one of the simplest and most logical spelling systems. Vuk also wrote down many folk tales and proverbs that up until then had only been passed on orally. His German friend, Jacob Grimm (1785–1863), liked these tales so much that he learned Serbian in order to read them as well as Serbian epic poetry in the original. He then translated them into German, and they were so popular in his homeland that they sold out as quickly as they were published. This street sign reads "Brothers Grimm street," named for him as well as his brother (who never learned Serbian, but who helped his brother preserve some great fairy tales...)

I WAS A BILLIONNAIRE ONCE! (And so was everyone else.)

Numbers is the theme today, and the astonishing denomination of this note - five hundred billion dinars - bears witness to the economic chaos that can follow political upheaval. After the collapse of Yugoslavia in 1991-92, the newly-independent republics began issuing their own notes. Inflation and spiraling prices forced the government to issue notes for unimaginable sums. People find this hard to believe, but at that time if one was lucky enough to have foreign currency to change, one did so JUST for the amount needed right then and there, since a few hours later the dinars' value had gone down. No kidding. If you visit Belgrade, you can buy one of these big bills for around 100 dinars (now about $2.00), or buy it online for around $22.95. None of the currency featured is in use anymore, except the coins. By the way, the man on the bill is Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj (YO-vahn Yo-VAHN-oh-veetch Zm-eye) 1833-1904, known as the father of Serbian children's literature.

Where's Waldo?

I hadn't started this blog when it was theme day for wall art/graffiti, but I like this photo, so I'll post it now rather than wait until the same theme comes around again. It reminds me of those "Where's Waldo?" books, which are sold in Serbia as "Gde je Gile?" (Guh-DAY yeh GEE-lay)

Treasures...

I love to go to the local green markets here, especially the larger ones that often have a "flea market" section where you can find all kinds of treasures. This is a sample of what was recently available at Kalenić (KAh-len-eetch) market in downtown Belgrade. And no, I resisted temptation and left only with this photo.

Smile...you're on Candid Camera!

I have been practicing photographing people with what I call "belly shots." I hang my camera around my neck, and when I see someone I'd like to capture, I act nonchalant, look the other way, more or less aim, then press the shutter furtively with my thumb, hoping that the angle from my midriff will be a good one. That's what I did with these three ladies, but I think they suspected something. Oh, well. Practice makes perfect.

Happy Easter again!

Happy Serbian Orthodox Easter! I only color eggs for one Easter and this is it. Last night my son and I painted some "family eggs," one for each member of our family or boyfriend/girlfriend, and one for a friend who is coming to dinner. See if you can find me. (Hint: I have a hairline crack on my chin, or rather my egg does!) The blue egg in the front with a leaf pattern is made by putting a leaf on the egg, wrapping it tightly in cheesecloth, and dropping it in the dye. The brownish one with tiny leaf patterns is made in the same way, and boiled with a lot of onion skins to obtain the pretty color. Serbs polish their eggs with a bit of cooking oil to make them shine, and have a fun custom of tapping eggs. If you're interested, drop me a note on the comments and I'll tell you what they do.

Pots and pans

The company Metalac (May-TAHL-ahts), located about 120 kilometers from Belgrade in Gornji Milanovac (GOR-nyee Me-LAHN-oh-vahts), is one of the most successful producers of enameled, teflonized, and Inox kitchenware in Europe. The 46 year-old company exports 70% of its production to France, England, Spain, Germany, Italy, Russia, USA, and Australia. Recently this year Metalac participated in the Housewares Show in Chicago. My guess is that this lady on one of Belgrade's large green markets is reselling some mismatched pieces of enameled pots and pans she may have purchased at the factory. She's even offering some carrots and parsley to cook in them!

Close encounters of the canine kind

This photo is not quite in focus, but I'm sure you'll understand why. Here in Belgrade there is a leash law, as well as a law that larger dogs must wear a muzzle (logical or not; little ones bite, too). I must admit I regularly violate the former, but I really have a problem with when it comes to potentially aggressive dogs that run unsupervised and out of the owner's control. The owner of this male pit bull didn't seem to be too concerned when it came over to check out Bibi (female) that I had picked up. I can't help wonder what would have happened if our visitor had taken a dislike to her. (At least I'd have had a photo of the aggressor....)

Kitty on Cobblestones

In Belgrade you can still find lots of streets paved with cobblestones. Unfortunately, most of them are are also lined with cars, which often park half-way or more on the sidewalk as in this photo. This kitty posed perfectly for me under a sign advertising a doctor's office. On the wall on the left someone has spray-painted a hammer and sickle. Although Yugoslavia (and the names that followed!) was never under the rule of the Soviet Union, socialists/communists were in power for a long time until the fall of Milosevic. Perhaps this person would like a return? Some think he may get his wish in the upcoming parliamentary elections....

"This is dedicated to the one I love...."

So goes the hit song made famous by The Shirelles in 1961 and later by The Mamas and the Papas. This is not a photo of me with my husband, but I posted it for all lovers out there, because today marks my 31st wedding anniversary...and as many years in Belgrade. In 1977 Belgrade was in the Socialist Federal Republic of Jugoslavia (SFRJ), then the country became the Federal Republic of Jugoslavia (SFR), then Serbia and Montenegro, and now it's just Serbia. Names come and go, but I don't, so I am dedicating this photo to my husband, who has weathered storm after storm with his/our country and with me! (The photo was taken in January at Grinet, one of Belgrade's coffeeshops that is like Starbucks.)

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day, and recycling plays a large part in taking care of poor Mother Earth. Here in Belgrade you won't see hardly any recycle bins for glass, paper, or plastic, and convenient recycling isn't made easy for those who want to. Many less fortunate people earn some extra dinars by recycling paper, as this fellow is doing, by either rummaging through dumpsters or picking up discarded boxes beside them.