FROM FAR AWAY

 From a dog walk yesterday. I dug out my old Nikon Coolpix P510 bridge camera that I bought in 2013. They're still on Amazon, selling for $145.00 in the US. I bought it mainly for its 42x zoom, which is equivalent to up to 1000mm. Cheaper than buying a zoom lens of that equivalent. I only use it for far-away shots, and it has rarely disappointed me. This duck, resting on  a log in the Danube, was quite far away, and the photo quality is decent. The downside is that the battery does not last so long, so I have to carry a spare. But I do that anyway with my new Nikon mirrorless, so.....

THE ONE I REALLY WANT

 Yesterday I showed you a cute selection of bowls and cups wearing various expressions. They were all white. Here are a couple more....I really want the one that's been kissed...

HAPPY FACES...MOSTLY..AND A QUEEN

 I have passed by this shop many times. They've had these cute cups and matching dishware for a long time. Now Queen Elizabeth sends her greetings....from afar. 

I asked the price once for one bowl and it was expensive, so I haven't added it to my collection. Tomorrow I will show you one I really like.

I GET LOTS OF COMMENTS....

 I get lots of comments when people see my keychain, and what it says is very true since many of my street photos are from the hip and chop off various body parts, while still retaining good composition, feeling, haha.

MIDNIGHT URBAN STILL LIFE

 A late-night shot taken by phone when I went on my last dog walk of the day. I love the colors and for some reason, I think EDWARD HOPPER would  have, too.

HEY! ANOTHER ONE!

I found another mushroom/toadstool while out walking. All alone it was and someone had already picked it, then tossed it. From my searching on the Internet, it appears to be a Dark Fieldcap. Well-named! It may be edible, but Internet says to avoid it, since it can be mistaken for a poisonous variety.  And I want to keep on blogging....

Etymology

Not all fieldcap fungi occur in open fields, and the Dark Fieldcap is definitely a mushroom of field margins, hedgerows, woodlands and other shady places near trees. 'Fieldcap' is derived from Agro-, of fields, and -cybe, head or cap, and is therefore a direct translation of the generic name Agrocybe. The specific epithet erebia simply means 'dark'.

Identification guide

Cap 4 to 7cm across, hemispherical becoming broadly umbonate; the mid to dark brown cap surface usually pales somewhat towards the margin but does not fade, as other fieldcaps do, at maturity.

TOADSTOOL

 It\s been wet. I came across this toadstool today.  I used to think that toadstools should not be eaten at all, but that certain mushrooms can be eaten, so I\ve always used the former for those you'd only eat once...  Since |I am not sure if this one is poisonous or not, it's a toadstool for me!

PLUS ÇA CHANGE, PLUS C'EST LA MÊME CHOSE

I came to Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1977 and now it is Belgrade, Serbia. I knew virtually no Serbian, but had had a half a year of Russian at UCLA. There are some similarities, which helped me with Serbian.

As the French say, PLUS ÇA CHANGE, PLUS C'EST LA MÊME CHOSE and it is true for many things here, including the Institute for Foreign Languages, still at the same address when I  attended classes here. I didn't stay long though, since at that time the teaching method was so uninspiring, so I just hung out with friends, got a good grammar book, and here I am now fluent.  I imaagine now though, despite the still antiquated appearance of the entrance, that they must be doing something right to have lasted all these years.

MINOX AND ME

 Yes, I know it should read 'Minox and I, but I felt the need for alliteration. Once again I was downtown with my tiny camera. I've been really under the weather the past few days, so don't have much to offer today.

THEME DAY APRIL 2025---STRIPES

 Stripes it is for our April City Daily Photo Theme Day and this yummy cake is my contribution. Here is a piece of my grandson's layered chocolate cake for you...actually for me.

See what others have done with stripes by clicking RIGHT HERE.

FOGGY

 A view of two tall buildings in New Belgrade, taken across the river in Old Belgrade. I love fog.