"The end is near"

The end of what? Maybe the end of all the laundry to be done that day!

ABC Wednesday "R" is for "Razing"

Eleven and a half years later, the former Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, which was bombed during the NATO bombing of Belgrade in 1999, is finally being razed. Some say the embassy's bombing was not an accident, as NATO claimed, but was done deliberately. In any event, the Chinese now have a new embassy here in Belgrade in another location.

Find out what other R's are out there on ABC WEDNESDAY.

Texting

I was intrigued by these two pairs of legs draped over the back of this bench in Kalemegdan Park. I took the photo, then casually moved closer to see what was up...two teens texting!

'Old timers' Museum

This post goes out for Louis La Vache of San Francisco Bay Daily Photo, who loves cars. Belgrade has an automobile museum, affectionately known as the 'old timers' museum. I passed by the other day and took this photo of an old Opel (ask Louis what year....).

I must go in sometime....

Sunday Bridges--Through the arrow slits.

Seen through an arrow slit, a street cleaner carries a bag of trash to a dumpster across one of the bridges leading away from the fortress in Kalemegdan Park.

Check out more bridges at Louis LaVache's SUNDAY BRIDGES.

Reflections Weekend... À la recherche du temps perdu

This window of old clocks makes me think of Marcel Proust's À la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time). I photographed this window when the shop was closed, but must really try to see if they'll let me take a photo inside. Stepping into the shop is like entering another era... I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, enjoy the reflections...especially the one of that cute little black dog.

See other reflections at James' Newtown Daily Photo.

SKYWATCH--through the trees

A couple cuddles while watching the sunset from a knoll in Kalemegdan Park.

Check out more skies an maybe more cuddling couples on SKYWATCH.

Inspired

This little boy played the accordion while his sister played the violin, and both were very good. These kids were most probably inspired by the Piler children I showed you before, who were lucky enough to win first place on the TV show, "Serbia's Got Talent." They are now pursuing a music career abroad.

I wish this brother and sister well; they too have talent.

ABC Wednesday "Q" is for "quizzical"

Was stuck in photographic doldrums the other day and went out to search for something new. I wasn't disappointed, and couldn't believe what I was seeing when I looked up at the facade of the now 'for sale' Zvezda (Star) movie theater. A cherub photographing another cherub?? This, for a blogger, was too good to be true!

Intrigued, I Googled "Zvezda movie theater" and found out that the building dates from 1890. Part of it was a studio of the first royal Serbian photographer, Milan Jovanovic, and the other part became one of the oldest cinemas in Belgrade. The building is protected by the Institute for protection of cultural monuments. If you click on the link above, you can read more about this building...and buy it, if you want.

Anybody want to invest in a City Daily Photo Bloggers' Hall? :)

See other Q's at ABC WEDNESDAY.

Pretty but pesky pests

"Aren't they cute?" is what I said to my friend when we saw scores of these ladybugs on a tree in the province of Vojvodina (VOY-vo-deen-a) north of Belgrade. They are cute and they are ladybugs, but not the domestic kind, as you can see by their variations. They're Asian ladybugs and were imported for use in greenhouses to control aphids, a common pest. These ladybugs have become pests themselves, since they weren't happy being confined just to greenhouses. They apparently threaten the domestic ladybug, they bite (so people claim), and when squashed they release a yellow powder which leaves a stain.

I think they look like bumper cars on this photo.

Fashion....

This girl was attractive and she knew it, as she struck a pose while texting on Knez Mihailova, Belgrade's pedestrian street. What she didn't know is that I was taking one of my hip shots of her.

Those of you who read Serbian will note that 'volim te' on the popcorn stand next to her means 'I love you.' I'm sure a lot of guys will say that to her!