SMILING LAMP POST

 A smiling lamp post...who knew? This one stands in front of Belgrade's National Museum.

UPDATE:  This happy face is also visible in a photo someone sent me taken downtown yesterday at some sort of Serbian pro-Trump rally....  I think it's laughing in the second photo. Certainly not much of a crowd showed up...

A TALE OF A WHALE AND A TALE OF A BOMB

The whale's tail stands just in front of the Modern Art Museum in New Belgrade. The building on the right in the background was an office building bombed from top to bottom during the 1999 NATO bombing of Belgrade,  Why bomb an office building, you might ask? Mainly because on its top was Marija Milosevic's (daughter of the infamous Slobodan Milosevic) sleazy television station Pink, which spouted propoganda for her dad.

After the bombing (you can see the bombed building just below here), it was repaired and even made a bit higher. Marija had since fled to Montenegro, abandoning her TV station...

The building on the left is a new adjacent to a mega mall.

Photographs by me...I was here for it all.

 

THE RED ROOSTER

A walk downtown over the New Year holidays revealed this small square which has been tidied up quite a bit since I last saw it. Ditto for the splended building behind it.

There's a rooster on top of the fountain and a cafe nearby, the Red Rooster, which was a cult cafe in the 50s,  60s and 70s. I say 'was' because for a while it was closed, awaiting renovation. It's been renovated too modern for my taste, but hey, that's the way of the world I guess.

I couldn't find out why it is called the Red Rooster....  

MONDAY MURALS--Mary among the ivy

 This mural stands in part of the garden of Christ the King Catholic Church on Krunska Street in Belgrade.

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

THE WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE --Spot the dog.

That's an imperative:  "Spot the dog," not a noun clause "Spot, the dog." I have no idea what his name is and it doesn't look like he has any spots, but this fellow (or girl) sat on a parapet of Kalemegdan fortress for a long time, looking west.

See more black and white photos on THE WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE

 

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--they've landed...

 Actually these little green men (and maybe one girl, who knows) that adorn the downtown location of the INTERGALACTIC DINER have been among us since 2012. They have now opened two more locations ... They have a preference for American food as you can tell from the menu if you click on the link, and will now happily deliver  your food in their little 'red rocket' delivery car....

They come in peace.

See more reflections n James' WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Missed the boat on this one. I spent New Year's Eve and NY Day at my son's place, and I couldn't upload his.

Looks like kids were sending out wishes for a better year. I  hope someone going to read them.

See more skies on SKYWATCH.

 

NO STAR...

 The other night when Jupiter and Saturn aligned to form the 'star' of Bethlehem, I walked to Kalemegdan Park to have a good look. Unfortunately the cloud cover didn't allow them to appear, so I have to be content with this shot.

What will the New Year bring? I hope for health and happiness for all, and for sure an end to this devastating virus.

HORSES IN FRONT OF FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

 This impressive statue (actually it's a pair on both sides of the stairs) leading up the stairs to the Federal Parliament was created by the well-known Croatian sculptor (remember Yugoslavia...?) Toma Rosandic (1878-1958).

That;s the main post office in the background.

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.