Thursday, March 29, 2012

Just walking...

Many older people I see strolling along do so with their hands clutched behind their backs.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

ABC WEDNESDAY--'K' is for 'kickin' it.'

We've had warm weather a bit and as soon as the temperatures rise, the people are in the park.... Each to his own preferred activity: Kickin' it like the man on the bench, or simply reading like the man in the background. I guess he's kickin' it in his own way.

See other K's at ABC WEDNESDAY.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

One last stab

From early fall to late spring and sometimes like now a bit beyond, villagers come to Belgrade to sell wool sweaters, socks, and caps. They're wonderfully warm, and generally not so expensive. They make great souvenirs. This man is trying one last time, or so I imagine, to sell his wares rather than keep them for next year.

The town of Sirogojno (SEE-ro-goy-no) is famous for its fabulous sweaters. Unlike this man's, they're quite pricey, but just about everyone I know who lives here for a while has splurged on one, this writer included. Here's a link.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Sweet and tart

It's been warm and so I treated myself to a lemonade, instead of my usual cappuccino. Look at all that sugar! I actually don't put sugar in my lemonade at all, so back it went when the waiter cleared the table.

Bought the snowdrops from the man I posted a few days ago.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

SUNDAY Bridges--The Serbian Minister of Defense...He Who Opens Bridges!

As nearly every week, I was having coffee (this time outdoors, hurrah) with some friends, and who should stroll by but Dragan Ĺ utanovac, Serbian Minister of Defense. He's the one waving at me in the first photo and the one on the right in the second, still smiling. The gentleman in the lavender tie is the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Dmitar Salamatin.

And what does this have to do with bridges, you might ask?

Last year Mr. Ĺ utanovac opened a bridge in Mazarac, Serbia, and also one in Svilajnac, which you can read about here and here.

Check out more bridge posts at Louis La Vache's SUNDAY BRIDGES.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

WEEKEND REFLECTION--the water glass

Not Perrier or even any sparkling water; just ordinary tap bubbles.

See other reflections at James' WEEKEND REFLECTION.

Friday, March 23, 2012

SKYWATCH --Sit on an ear

Kalemegdan's famous statue, seen from the (ahem) rear. There was a gray sky to view if you chose to sit on one of these ear-shaped benches, donated to parks around Belgrade by Telenor, the mobile phone folks. You can see a watermelon to sit on right here.

Check out other skies at SKYWATCH.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Dry-docked

A little color today. This boat is being spiffed up for spring. I would love to have seen how they put it up on those barrels.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

ABC WEDNESDAY "J" is for "Jump into spring"

"Jumping" into spring is what I've been waiting so long to do. Not a cold weather fan anymore. I just couldn't resist buying snowdrops from this springishly dressed man.... Two bunches for 100 dinars, which is about $1.25.

See other "J's" at ABC Wednesday.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Chimney Cakes



Have you ever eaten chimney cakes? I've seen them being made at village fairs in northern Serbia near the Hungarian border and also last November in Prague. They're good... Sweet dough is wrapped around a wooden cylinder and then either baked or fried (baked here), then coated with your favorite topping...chocolate, hazelnut, walnut, cinnamon...or a combination of those.

CLOSED--FOR GOOD

 This is the wreckage of a floating restaurant on the Danube near Zemun, which is just down the road from downtown Belgrade. I couldn't ...