A true dog lover....

Not a true dog lover because this lady has two gorgeous standard French Poodles, but if you check behind her (and I didn't see him/her until I uploaded the photo at home), you'll see she also has a mutt! I often see people here with some upscale pooch...and a street dog.

Sunday Bridges--sunset over the old and the new

A photo taken at sunset from Kalemegdan Park. Belgrade's newest bridge spans nearly the entire photo, dwarfing the old tower that still stands in Belgrade's old fairgrounds, site of what was during WWII a concentration camp. Branko's Bridge is in the foreground.

See other bridges at LOUIS LA VACHE'S SUNDAY BRIDGES.

WEEKEND REFLECTION--the shoe repair robot

Cute little guy, but I'm not sure how many shoes of this size he gets. Sadly, this shoe repair shop has gone out of business since I took this photo, and the robot is gone, too.

See other reflections at WEEKEND REFLECTION.

SKYWATCH--statue of King Peter 1st of Serbia

This statue of King Peter the 1st of Serbia stands before the Town Hall of the city of Zrenjanin, Serbia.

See other skies at SKYWATCH.

Where's the Marquis?

"What Marquis?" you ask. Who else but the Marquis de Sod.....?

Before you go groaning about my bad pun, which I really hesitated to use, but finally did, I found out that it isn't even an original one. I Googled "Marquis de Sod" and found out that there is a landscaping company in Sherman Oaks, California, by that name. Click here if you leave near Sherman Oaks and want your lawn done by Marquis de Sod, since the original Marquis de Sade devoted his life to other pursuits...

ABC WEDNESDAY "Q" is for "quotation"

Had dinner with my good friend the other night at Tri šešira (Three Hats) restaurant in Skadarlija, Belgrade's Bohemian quarter. My finger is never far from the shutter button, and I snapped this candle, which brought to mind a quotation attributed to Prince Gautama Siddhartha, known as Buddha, founder of Buddhism (5th century BC):

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. "

How true. This past year I've shared happiness with my family in the US and some good friends from my student days in France. Although another Buddha quote says, "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment," I can't help but look forward to sharing more happiness with others I haven't seen for a long time.

See more Q's at ABC WEDNESDAY.

Flower child or Venus de Milo aux fleurs?

Couldn't think of a better title for this torso in a perfume shop downtown....any suggestions?

Boots and stockings

I was praying these two young girls wouldn't notice me snapping away at their footwear and legs, and they didn't. They were too busy consulting a street map.

These boots may not be as fashionable as the ones I showed you here or as practical as the others I'd shown you even earlier, but I couldn't resist...and those stockings are an extra.

SUNDAY BRIDGES--Despot Lazarevic's castle

This small reproduction of Despot Stefan Lazarevic's stands in Kalemegdan Park, right behind The well-known statue of The Victor. If you take the time to click on the first link in particular, you can read more about this 'despot', which lacked the negative connotation the word bears today.

Two bridges here! A tiny one in the foreground, and the new bridge I showed you here last August.

See other bridges at Louis La Vache's SUNDAY BRIDGES.

WEEKEND REFLECTION--Baby Mila's eye...

There IS a small reflection here in her left eye. My son's daughter, Mila, is now nearly four months old, but this photo is from a bit earlier. And if you're not happy with that reflection, you can check out the one in the photo below: my daughter in Seattle is expecting for next May! New cousin for Mila! What will it be? If you've had children, were you able to know if they were going to be a boy or girl? If you haven't, would you like to know?

See other reflections on WEEKEND REFLECTION.

SKYWATCH--Institute for Neonatology exhibit

Belgrade's Institute for Neonatology currently has a photo exhibit in Tasmajdan Park, dedicated to all the prematurely-born babies who, thanks to the Institute's care, made the transition from fragile newborns to healthy children. On each board, as you can see, are one or two photographs, with information about the child and his or her (or their, in the case of these twins) family. Sunny skies in store for them and pretty soon they'll be strolling through parks like the children you see on the sidewalk.

See other skies at SKYWATCH.