IN GREECE

 No more long-distance bus travel for me in tourist season! Horrendous crowds on the borders. It took 7 hours at the Serbian - Macedonian border ( the highway to Greece) and another 3+ at the Macedonian - Greek border. The sign in a coffee shop at that border was highly appropriate, now that we'd made it.

A WAITING GAME

 I left Belgrade at 9:15 p.m. last night. We are now at the Serbian/Macedonian border where we have been waiting for nearly five hours...so many people. But our turn to be checked is coming soon!

"JE SÈME À TOUT VENT"

 Since 1876, "JE SÈME À TOUT VENT" (I sow to all winds) is the motto of the French Larousse dictionary.  My blog is from Serbia, not France, but the dry weather here has made dandelions fade and be ready for a good wind to disperse their seeds.

FANCY

When I moved here from Paris in 1977, you couldn't find any 'fancy' food. The most foreign food was pizza and you had to really hint for a pizzeria. Just 'good old Serbian food' back then, and of course there's nothing wrong with that. Times change, tastes change. Above is a turkey breast stuffed with a prune set on mashed potatoes with a delicious gravy. Years ago a turkey and a prune would never have met on the same plate. No flowers either, even if they are these edible kinds.

 

SUMMER STROLL

 Summer stroll down by the Sava River which, like the Danube, intersects Belgrade.

DAY IS DONE

View of the A3-E70 highway that runs through Serbia. Ahead is the airport. Soon I will be heading to Greece in the other direction. This photo taken last evening reminds me of PETER, PAUL, AND MARY'S "DAY IS DONE".
 

KINDERGARTEN

 This is a freshy repainted wall of a local kindergarten. You can't see the whole structure here, but it is fairly large since it also includes a facility for children from age one to four, a kitchen, a spacious, well-equipped play yard, and a gymnasium. Maternity leave here in Serbia is for one year, so if parents don't have anyone else to care for a child, they may place the little one in this area. My grandchildren attended this kindergarten. The entire building is in the shape of a daisy. Cost is calculated according to a family's means. My family and I were very happy with the teachers and caregivers.

DRINKABLE AND EDIBLE

 A hot up of coffee with an edible (cookie) spoon. Slurp, crunch.

NOT A COLORING BOOK

 Although this may look like a page from a kid's coloring book, it's actually the interior of a local café cleverly painted to look like one! I'd have to resist the urge to go there with my crayons.

L'art à Belgrade

 The posts are painted with a particular design often seen here on locally-made rugs. 

I am referring to the lovely mosaic on the sidewalk which, a passer-by told me, was done by a French artist who does these here and there in countries he visits.

YELLOW

 I am  not good with tree names, at least those that I don't see often. The yellow blossoms on this tree in a neighborhood kindergarten yard struck me, pleasantly complementing the part-yellow fence and the grass that is a bit yellow because of lack of rain.