THE FRENCH KNOW GOOD FOOD

 Ah, oui, it is true that the French know good food...and in this case, meat. These two French poodles were waiting patiently for their owner to exit this butcher shop, known for its excellent meat.

BIG CHESS

 This large chess set and board are in Tasmajdan Park. I have yet to see anybody ever use it...  The pieces and board are in a glass-front storeroom and it beats me how the king got a smiley balloon and pink umbrella for the queen.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY---swings in the fog

 Last week it was very foggy in Belgrade, which created some shadows, albeit slight ones.

See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE: RADIO BEOGRAD

 Radio Beograd has quite a history. I wanted to translate just a small part of this article, but the whole thing is worth reading, so please have a look.

See other B and W posts on BLACK AND WHITE WEEKEND.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A COOKIE!

 Time flies, indeed it does, and when I see this photo, I feel very old. It wasn't long ago that I had to roll out the dough and let the kids cut out the cookies. Now this year (although I mixed the dough the day before) my grandchildren here in Belgrade rolled, cut, and decorated the cookies with cinnamon sugar.

Old-fashioned Pennsylvania Dutch Sand Tarts just like my grandmother used to make. On the front of the tray you can see a 'lady' and a 'man,' cut from my family cutters now over 150 years old.

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and good tidings to all.

CHESS PLAYER

 The chess players in Kalemegdan are always there, a few or just two, but they are relentless.

This fellow is waiting for his partner, someone in particular, or perhaps a passer-by who wants to play.

SPARROWS

 Just a picture of some cute, chubby sparrows on a bush. 

Sparrows are a symbol of  Belgrade and you can read why right here.

BEZISTAN PASSAGE

 This passage linking one main city square and another has not changed hardly at all since I came here in 1977.  It  has always been unattractive. It has gained a McDonald's (you to decide to its detriment or attraction) but everything else is frozen in time.

Its name is Bezistan Passage and if you can read Serbian, here is a link.

There's a lot in that article, but I couldn't find anything else in English, so here is what the beginning of the article says:  "Depending on which generation of Belgraders you belong to, remember the passage between the two squares - Terazije and Nikola Pasic, for different things. While the youngest recognize Bezistan by its fast food restaurants and small stalls, generations who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s remember it by the shops that sold T-shirts with the inscription of their choice, pirated discs and badges.Those of a slightly older generation remember Bezistan by the merchants in front of the now closed Kozara cinema, the first "instant" camera (Photomat booth) and the first self-service restaurant at the "Kasina" hotel. And those who still remember pre-war Belgrade, at the "Paris" hotel that used to be here."

MONDAY MURALS -- A KITTY, A BEAR, AND YARN

 Haven't a clue as to the meaning of this mural...but it caught my eye.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS

SKYWATCH It's up....

 Belgrade's New Year's tree is up and has been actually for a couple of weeks. We're all wishing that 2021 will bring an end to this virus and we can get back to our lives...but things will never be the same.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

PANDEMIC PANDA

 Usually there are quite  a few big 'toys' along the pedestrian street for people, kids mainly, to have their photo taken with. I watched this big guy for about 15 minutes, but the poor panda had no takers. I hope he got luckier later.