SKYWATCH--SEPIA SKY

 The air quality has been JUST AWFUL here over the past week. The sky is not quite as bad as my rendition of this photo, but close. I'm still wearing a mask when I go ot. So sad for Mother Earth.

See more skies on SKYWATCH.

JUST WOULDN'T MOVE.... THREE WINDOWS AND A MAN

 

I love these shuttered windows. I waited patiently on the other side of the street to photograph them sans homo sapiens, but he stayed. I think he was waiting for a ride.

I could have eliminated me on Photoshop, but after a few days I looked at my photos and realize I had kind of grown attached to him, haha.

PUMPKINS, PEARS, PERSIMMONS, KIWIS....

 An autumnal still life from a local grocer's stand. Halloween is the reason that this type of pumpkin is now seen here. When I came to "Yugoslavia" in 1977, few persimmons and kiwis were not available, let alone heard of.

NOVEMBER THEME DAY: SOFT

 I found this theme rather mundane  until I began to think out of the box.  Here I have chosen 'soft' to mean both the light and colors in the photo above, as well as to impart the soft, warm, fuzzy feeling I have when I look at it.  

The photo is of the courtyard of the old Institut d'Etudes Francaises pour Etudiants Etrangers , rue Gaston de Saporta, in Aix-en-Provence. This institute, affiliated with the University of Aix-Marseille, is no longer located at this address.  From 1968 to 1969 I spent a year studying here in Aix, and developed friendships I have maintained until the present. Wonderful memories, times.

In a previous post from 2011, you can see me (on the right) along with our director and two friends standing in front of the outer street door that led to this courtyard. Our director is now 95 and going strong.

I must thank my friend Layne, who also studied with me, who sent me this photo. 

See other interpretations of 'soft' on CITY DAILY PHOTO THEME DAY.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

 Up until about ten or so years ago, nobody here knew very much about Halloween, and didn't celebrate. Now they do, but without the trick-or-treat.  Here it has now become known as Noć veštica (night of the witches), but actually the holiday has little to do with real horror or witches. November 1st in some countries is All Saints' Day. People in those countries visit graveyards where loved ones who have passed on are buried. The day before, October 31st, was believed to  be the day when the dead returned to earth.  Bonfires were lit to keep them at bay. Children eventually would dress up as ghostly figures and go door-to-door 'reciting Trick or Treat,' and be given sweets. Otherwise, they may play pranks on the stingy homeowner.

For a really good read about this originally Celtic 'holiday,' please read this on History Channel's link, THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY--the red-head with a shadow

 And there she st, pink bag, cigarette, flaming red hair, and a shadow.

See other shadoes on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--the furniture store

 This furniture store just down the street from me offers ultra-modern furniture, not much of which you can see here. That red and white ball is some kind of cushion site. Not to my taste, but it made for a good reflection today to see also on WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

SKYWATCH--those who fly at night

 

Just happened to look up and see what at first I thought were plastic bags floating against the nnight sky.  Fortunately, they were not. Birds!

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

SLOWLY BUT SURELY

 You can take the title figuratively or literally, but sooner or later, we'll all get there....

WAITING FOR THE BUS

 

A young Muslim girl, her back to Students' Park, waits for her bus.

SOLDIERS

 I came across this group of kids in the park beside the Federal Parliament Building.  I sneaked a photo, but one saw me and saluted!  I returned the salute, and asked for a posed photo, so here you go.

I like to see engaging in real play outdoors, not with their eyes glued to a screen. I guess I would have kind of liked to see them in something other than war play, but so it goes.

That was the Yugoslav flag.  The Serbian one has no star anymore since 1992.