WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--the observer

Besides me and the fellow in the boat looking in my direction, there is another observer....see?

See other reflections on James' WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

SKYWATCH---pigeons on the market roof

This red and white checkered tile roof crowns Zeleni Venac (ZEL-eh-nee VAY-nahts) one of Belgrade's oldest (1926) outdoor and partially covered markets, right downtown.

Zeleni Venac means 'green wreath,' and is so named because it was built in the area that was previously part of the trench which surrounded nearby Kalemegdan fortress in the 18th century.  When the trench was covered, a pond was formed. As Belgrade grew around it, the pond became a popular hunting attraction (for fowls, ducks, etc.) for the inhabitants of Belgrade.

Want to read more? Read this.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

POPCORN

I love these popcorn stands. This one, so neat and tidy, struck my eye, and was struck by my lens.

ABC WENESDAY: "Z" is for ZANY PICNIC DRESS FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY to my American friends.

There is a Fourth of July celebration at the American ambassador's residence, but I was not invited.  We local Americans used to be invited in the good-old-days, until at one point we were deemed personae non gratae....seriously.

I will eat a hot dog by myself and watch our president sink deeper and deeper....I hope.  Okay, enough.


But ladies, would you wear this zany dress to a picnic?

See other Zs on ABC WEDNESDAY.

Three women, three sundaes

There really are three sundaes here, but one is hiding behind another....

NATIONAL MUSEUM'S OPEN....

So what's new about the National Museum being open?  Well, it's been closed for 15, yes, FIFTEEN years, for renovation....

From last Friday through Sunday there was free entry, 24 hours, and beginning today the tickets cost 300 dinars (around $3). Where is the line, you may ask? There is one, but on the entrance to the right of the one pictured behind Messieurs Picasso and Toulouse-Lautrec, who each have one (or perhaps more) of their works inside.

I'll get there. Just not one for lines....

THEME DAY--Spirit of Gandhi

"Spirit" is the title of this month's Theme Day.  I may have published this photo before, but here it is perhaps again.  Taken in Pushkar, India, a few trips back.

The shadow is of course not that of Mahatma Gandhi, but it reminded me of him, and the spirit that he imparted to every single Indian, which lives on today.

Check out how others have interpreted Theme Day at THEME DAY.

Actually I can also add this to SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

SKYWATCH---lamp post

A sunset-lit lamp post in Kalemegdan Park, with silhouettes of some of New Belgrade's buildings in the background.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

colorful

I love the wild colors I often find on walls, windows, and flowers here.

ABC WEDNESDAY--"Y" is for "yummy, youthful, Yugoslavia..."

All those words and more could describe a recent trip to Djerdap (JER-dap) National Park," located in Eastern Serbia about 3 hours from Belgrade.

I'd been there several times before, but never had seen the rock carving of Decebalus, which is not visible from the road, but only by boat. That's the photo in the middle of my 'postcard'. Decebalus was the last king of Dacia, who fought against the Roman emperors Domitian and Trajan to preserve the independence of his country, which corresponds to modern-day Romania. The carving is located on the Romanian side of the Danube.

See other Ys at ABC WEDNESDAY.

Go vegan!

I never thought I would live to see the day when veganism,  let alone vegetarianism, would be advertised, albeit on walls.

Serbia is meat-eaters' paradise. I hardly ever eat meat.  What about you?