SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY--the pedestrian

A pedestrian passes against the light behind a policeman, who is oblivious to his infraction.

See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--Hotel Constantine

It is true that Belgrade is attracting more and more tourists, and it seems that there's always a hotel going up. This one is just around the corner from where I live, and indeed, there's one going up across the street from me as well....

It sure makes for a good reflection.

See other reflections on James'WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

SKYWATCH--an oldie but goodie

The photo is not an oldie, but a newie of an 'old' place I often admire when I am in Kalemegdan Park.

Always attractive.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

Sadness...

Yesterday morning I received news that a friend of mine here in Belgrade passed away the preceding night. I had been going to visit her, and each time I found her weaker and weaker until the inevitable happened.

Her name was Nena, and she was my oldest Serbian friend whom I met shortly after moving here. Our kids spent their younger years playing together, for a while she lived just down the hall from me, we used to watch Dynasty together, exchange recipes,...fun friend things.

Nena would offer me photos for my blog, and here is one for you. I will miss her.

abc wednesday = "V" is for "Vrdnik"

Vrdnik (VURD-neek) is a small town not so far north of Belgrade, It only has a population of about 3,500, but thermal baths and a bit of history.  Last summer (Yes, I know, it's been a while, but I've been absent!) I took my grandkids there and we had fun doing small town stuff.

You can read a bit more about Vrdnik on this link.

See other Vs on ABC WEDNESDAY.

The other side of the street

A creature of  habit I am, but today I found myself walking down a street I often take, but on the opposite sidewalk. I was surprised to see this lion's head above the Union Hotel, the door of which I have passed by many times.

So I told myself I will start to walk down the opposite sides of familiar streets to see what I can see!

A snooze in the hay

Time for a little snooze in the hay that remained from a recent happening in Kalemegdan Park.  This fellow caught the hay between the heavy rainstorms we've been experiencing.

Hey, where's the warm weather?

Down with nature, Up with money...

This is going to be a rant post. In recent years, Belgrade has seen a mushrooming of shopping malls,, luxury hotels, and other attractions for the foreign and local well-heeled crowd and often in detriment to Mother Nature.  One such recent horror was the destruction of an old, well-loved tree in Kalemegdan Park, under which children played, locals dancced the kolo, and of course which provided shade during Belgrade's hot summers.

It was removed because of the City's desire (notice I did not say the local populace) for a (ashamed even to write this) cable car that would whiz people from Kalemegdan Park to the large park in New Belgrade just across the river. A pedestrian foot bridge would have been more useful, in my opinion, and hey, it could have even been a covered one for inclement weather.

The second photo I posted shows where the tree stood...and the last one, a poignant photo by Dusan Knezevic with a model portraying the tree's sorrow.  And mine.

You can read about this plan at this link. So far, major protests have stalled the cable car....but you and I both know that it will go through. Damn them.

THEME DAY- Pink

Pink is the color of caring, compassion, and love. In this photo I was wearing pink, but all those qualities apply to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, whom I had the extreme pleasure of meeting last February in Dharamsala on my 7th (Woo!) trip to India.

 See how others exxpressed today's theme of "pink' at CITY DAILY PHOTO THEME DAY.

SKYWATCH--yellow

Tomorrow's Theme Day will be pink, so here's a ltitle yellow for you today.

A somewhat hazy sunset over New Belgrade, seen from the old city side.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

Reflections of Poland

Retirement is great....  I can enjoy traveling near and far when I want. Recently, a former colleague and I traveled once again to Warsaw, where we visited a mutual friend. Laugh fest, food fest...great fun.

This is me practicing my favorite hobby at one of Warsaw's flea markets.