No hurry to dry

Snow's almost gone, but in a few places it's still around. It's hard to dry your clothes in cold, damp weather.

Sunday Briges--Spinal Bridge

Here I am desperate again for a 'bridge' photo. The above photo of spine-heeled boots that are almost guaranteed to throw your back out of line was taken last fall, and I really wanted to use it. Thanks to Google, I found spinal bridge and can post it today!
You can click on the link to see what a spinal bridge yoga exercise looks like, but briefly, it:

• Stretches your chest, neck, spine and hips.
• Strengthens your back, buttocks, and hamstring muscles.
• Calms your brain and central nervous system which helps alleviate stress and mild depression.
• Massages abdominal organs and improves digestion.
• Stimulates the lungs and thyroid glands and helps relieve the symptoms of menopause.
• Reduces anxiety, backache, headache and insomnia.

And I'll bet all of you (including me) reading that can benefit from at least one of those!

Check out other bridges, beneficial or not, at LOUIS LA VACHE'S SUNDAY BRIDGES.

REFLECTIONS WEEKEND--Play it louder, Sam...

I went to another wedding! You may remember my son's and 10 months earlier my daughter's and now it was time for my daughter-in-law's brother. You can see above that one happy guest really loves the gypsy brass band that makes a short appearance at all weddings! I love it when they come, and it seems as if this fellow really wanted his ears to ring.

See other reflections, like the ones in the instruments here, at James' Reflections Weekend.

SKYWATCH FRIDAY...a bird in the hand...

...is worth at least one on your head. There was a cold, white sky when I took this photo, but then, I guess I don't have to tell you that.

The Victor wasn't dressed for the weather...

See other skies at SKYWATCH FRIDAY.

No more blank walls....or gates....

Street art is popular here, as it is in many cities, as you saw in yesterday's post. This art on a preschool's gate and inside wall was most likely created by the kids (okay, the gate...) and their teachers (the wall, maybe!) and was not the result of a casual talented passer-by. Nonetheless, it brightens up the surroundings!

ABC WEDNESDAY --"H" is for "heart"

Valentine's Day is past, but love is still in the air, or so it seems. At least it's in this park downtown.... I discovered both of these hearts not long ago. The one in the foreground is an attempt to have something to put Love Locks on. I haven't been able to find out who put it there, but imagine it was the City. The locks are on, and somehow those little papers are available to write the lovers' names on.... But passers-by who must not be in love tear them off... Better to use an indelible marker....

See more H's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

International Women's Day...

March 8th is International Women's Day, which I have written about before. There are several women in this photom even one with bright orange/red hair. The lady in the foreground was waiting for a tram to take her back home, most likely to a village not far from Belgrade. She'd been to the market across the street to sell her fresh cheese.

Her seat doesn't look too comfy....

The Čukur Fountain: Now you see it, now you don't

The bronze statue seen on the right is of a Serbian boy, who was killed in 1862 by occupying Turks in a skirmish over who had drawing rights from this fountain on Dobracina Street in downtown Belgrade. The boy's death initiated a movement for the liberation of Belgrade and other Serbian cities from Turkish rule.

This post goes out to a young Serbian lady from the US, who had written me for a photo of the fountain. I can only partially fulfill her request, since the statue you see above was stolen several months ago, and fortunately found, but very damaged. It is to be repaired and replaced soon. (I photo borrowed from another source on the Internet, whereas the photo with the wreath in honor of the missing statue is mine.)

Sunday Bridges: Bridge Over Troubled Water

I'm running out of bridges, but not imagination. Hard to believe that Bridge Over Troubled Water (click to listen to the song) dates from 1970. I did not take the above photo, at least the original, but I did photograph the old Bookends album cover I have. Before the song's release, there had been "troubled water" between the duo, and Simon and Garfunkel parted ways in 1970.

See other bridges, metaphorical or not, at Louis La Vache's Sunday Bridges.

Reflections Weekend--HOTEL ZIRA

Hotel Zira is one of Belgrade's newer hotels, located only a short walk or bus ride from the city center. The hotel The modern offers 125 stylish rooms equipped with modern communication and entertainment technology. Our school had a conference there last year, and everything was top-notch.

So if you plan a trip to Belgrade, you will find Hotel Zira to be a good choice.

And the hotel offers a reflection for REFLECTIONS WEEKEND.

SKYWATCH FRIDAY--gnarled tree and wintry sky

The title says it all! I love the colors here, which remind me of the painter Maxfield Parrish.

Check out more skies at SKYWATCH.