Hurry, hurry! Get married now!

If you're single and live in Jagodina (YAH-go-dee-na), you might want to take advantage of the City's offer. If you get married by the end of 2008, you'll be offered a job, 200 euros for your first child (not necessarily before the end of 2008...), and up to 200 euros monthly for every fourth child until he/she is 18. Any takers?

P.S. The text written on the column supporting the billboard reads, "Please do not put posters on this billboard." Considering the billboard is at least 3 meters (9 or so feet) tall, that won't be easy.)

Skywatch Friday-Landmark Lineup

Still cold, but sunny now. This couple is walking in part of the vast Ušće park in New Belgrade. Visible behind them are several landmarks that I've shown you before. From left to right you have The Eternal Flame, then the Beogradjanka building, which used to house a department store and offices, the rounded dome of Saint Sava Cathedral, the Ušće Tower, which had been bombed in 1999 and now is a fancy office building (renovated!), and under the crane is the site of a huge new shopping center, which will feature IKEA, among other shops. WOO-hoo.

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Dogs on Thursday "Waiting for a bite"

It's getting cold....and I guess the fish are still biting. I think both the man and the dog are waiting for a bite here. And speaking of bites, Happy Thanksgiving to you who celebrate. I do, but only this Saturday, since I don't have off today.

If you'd like to join Dogs on Thursday, click on the icon in the left column. Woof.

ABC Wednesday "S" is for "Street Art"

Found this on a wall downtown the other week. Yes, on a wall, and that little yellow leaf was just hanging there, probably blown onto the wall when one or the other was damp, and it just stuck there. Street art loves you, but do you love street art?

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Unintentional art

I'd kind of like to have this abstract on my wall. In fact, it could actually be the wall. I found this piece of serendipidous art not long ago down by the river at a construction site. It's a large metal fence/wall panel that had been probably used flat at one time, since it bears traces of rust and paint that form abstract patterns. I actually have a whole series of these photos, and can't make up my mind which one I like best!

Slaving away

Not easy even being a bush these days, especially a lovely topiary creation like this one. Seems as if the statues behind him had other plans for this little guy and didn't want him just standing idle. Water those petunias! (Can you believe this photo was taken just three days ago in nearby Pancevo? It was a freezing cold day, with a major wind...I wonder if the flowers survived.)

Fish Soup

From time to time I do restaurant reviews for a local English-language newspaper and a column on places foreigners may want to visit around Belgrade. It's getting pretty cold, and people may not want to go far, so yesterday I visited the nearby town of Pancevo (PAHN-cheh-vo), about 16 kilometers away. While there, my friend and I stopped in a restaurant and had some spicy fish soup. We even had some extra red pepper on the side, as you can see, some warm bread, and shared a salad, topped with feta cheese. Fairly light meal, since I had to do another review that evening at the Hyatt...oh, la belle vie.

"Lying down" policemen

What do they call them where you live: sleeping policemen, policiers couchés, speed tables, speed cushions, road humps? Here in Belgrade, they're called "lying (down) policemen," and they're basically of three kinds:

1) the "just-keep-speeding-no-damage-will-be-done-to-your-car" type as shown here in front of a school; (?!)
2) the "if-you-don't-slow-down-your-wheels-will-be-knocked-off" type;
3) the "gently-rounded-hill" type;
4) the "obstacle course" kind that are scattered across the road at intervals.

I have heard that in some cities there are even "dynamic" speed bumps, activated only if a vehicle is travelling above a certain speed.

According to a local news station, 7 pedestrians are struck by motor vehicles each day in Belgrade. Some say speed bumps don't prevent accidents. What do you say?

Protective hand gear?

At first I thought this skater was wearing shoes on his hands to protect his hands in a fall. I mean, perhaps he didn't want to invest in protective gear, since other than those shoes, he's not wearing any. But then I thought it's just because he had no other way to carry his shoes to put back on when he's finished skating! Then again, both my guesses might be correct!

Dogs on Thursday: Let sleeping dogs lie.

That's what the proverb says, and it's probably true most of the time. These dogs have settled themselves down on part of a cast-off couch not far from where I live. The black one is looking at me rather ominously, but we are friends, so I passed by unscathed. Stray dogs here are a big problem, and only fairly recently have there been campaigns to get people to spay or neuter their dogs, and to not abandon their pets when they "don't want them anymore." If you'd like to join Dogs on Thursday, click on that box in the left margin.

ABC Wednesday "R" is for "red" facade

My bedroom is painted red, almost a blood red, and I love it. If I owned a house rather than an apartment, I just might paint it red too, like this one in Vršac (VUR-shots), about an hour and a half drive from Belgrade. Click on the photo and admire the ceramic tile grapes above and below the windows. Vršac is known for its vineyards, and you can read a bit more about the town

here .

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