Tropical Belgrade

You can have the best of both worlds, or sort of, here in Belgrade. Visit one of the city's floating bars or restaurants, many of which offer a view of the city. How about "Karibi," which, after a few shots of rakija or šljivovica (RAH-kee-yuh/SHLEE-vo-veet-sa), local brandy/plum brandy, just might make you imagine you're in the tropics. You'll feel warmer anyway.

Corporate housing

Miroslav Mišković, whom you can find more about on Wikipedia, is the second wealthiest person in Serbia. Among his other dealings in insurance, banking, government, real estate, and a chain of shopping malls, he also acquired not long ago several supermarket chains, one of which is called Maxi. And now, it appears, even our feathered friends' homes have fallen under his wing.

Not black and white

Believe it or not, this is not a black and white photo, but just trees I photographed early yesterday morning under dim light!

Got my wish...

Yesterday a wise blogger reminded me, "Be careful what you wish for," when I had said I wanted snow. But Belgrade did get some snow yesterday, just enough for a White Christmas (western Christmas anyway, since the Serbs celebrate on January 7th). It was quite pretty, but I didn't go out much, since Bibi is scared to death of firecrackers, and though there's been a crackdown on them here, they're still illegally available around town, and kids buy them. Bang.

Happy Holidays

No, it hasn't snowed here yet, but I am hoping. I know many of you are snowed in, but I'd just like a little. This is a photo from last year at this time. Not an original shot, but one to wish you readers the very best for the end-of-year holidays you celebrate and a healthy New Year. Be kind to each other, and appreciate each moment.

UPDATE: It's now 10 a.m. and it is SNOWING, so the scene from my window actually does look like this!

ABC Wednesday "W" is for "But WHEN did you leave?"

This sign on my local newsstand reads "I'll be back in 30 minutes."But WHEN did you leave? "

To take part in ABC Wednesday, go to: http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/

A flag, of sorts.

I always carry my camera with me wherever I go, as I imagine you all do, too. Sometimes at first I don't see a single thing worthy of a shot, but when I look harder, there's always something there. Such was the case yesterday while I was waiting for the bus after a trip to town. Bored, and still with an empty camera, I turned around to peek through a dilapidated fence and spied this alternate version of the Serbian flag! The flag of Serbia is a tricolor with three equal horizontal fields, red on the top, blue in the middle, and white on the bottom. The same tricolor, in a number of variations, was the flag of Serbia throughout history, and is the National flag of Serbs. I imagine the lady of the house didn't have patriotism in mind at all as she hung out her sheets, but that's the way I saw her arrangement.

A little extra holiday cash

This fountain in front of the Cervantes Institute on Knez Mihailova, Belgrade's pedestrian street, is often a place where people sell books or odds and ends. Kids sometimes sell their old toys, too. This takes place pretty much year-round, but yesterday it seemed as if some folks wanted to make some extra money before the holidays. Nicely displayed books!

On a wing and a prayer

Very busy today and didn't have time to take any photos here in Belgrade! This one is from last Wednesday, when my son and I left Athens. These Greek Orthodox priests were on their way somewhere, but not on our plane. I feel reassured when there's a man (or woman, for that matter) of the cloth on a plane I ride on....

My hand is cold.

It's getting colder. Early the other morning I came across a construction site with a number of large metal pipes. I couldn't resist leaving my stamp on one of them. (Yes, I know better than to stick my tongue on frosty metal!)

Sveti Nikola or Saint Nicholas' Day

December 19th is Saint Nikola's Day, according to the Serbian Orthodox Church calendar. Each Orthodox Serbian family has a patron saint, and my late husband's is Saint Nikola. Serbs who celebrate St. Nicholas as their slava or "celebation," mindful that the holiday occurs in the midst of the Christmas-Advent Fast, observe the holiday in the traditional religious manner and, prepare only no-fat meals on this day. In the first photo you see a slavski kolač (SLAHV-ski KOE-lahcth)or "slava cake," which is like a large brioche. Along with this cake in the second photo, there is the "slava" candle, an incense holder and incense, an icon of Saint Nikola, a glass for wine, and "žito" (ZHEE-toe, cooked wheat berry mixed with nutmeg and sugar), which are the traditional offerings. The priest comes to the house to cut the cake, pour a little wine on top, and light the candle and incense. The custom is for people to drop by in the evening, wish the host "happy Slava," have a bit of refreshment, and perhaps move on to another family celebrating the same occasion.