Sit on a slice

A cool slice of watermelon is indeed refreshing, but I'm not sure that it would be refreshing to sit on this bench (indentation for sitting on side facing the river), at least in the heat. This bench is one of many that appeared along the Danube on both the Old and New Belgrade sides. Some are shaped like feet, some like hands, and some cute pink ones like little ears.

Eight heads

On Thursday I mentioned that the facades of many of Belgrade's old buildings are deteriorating, and this is a case in point. This is a detail of what must have been a wealthy family's home over a century ago, for this head is one of eight that appear to represent the home's owners, now long gone. They're not the ordinary stylized heads for decorative purposes that one usually sees. After WWII, private homes were seized by the communist government and, for example, the original owners were forced to live in reduced quarters and the other living spaces given to others. Nowadays, descendants of many such formerly private home owners are trying to have the property returned to them.

Sky Watch Friday--Against the itch

In New Belgrade especially, mosquitos can be quite a problem. Several times each summer the City sprays areas along the Danube and Sava against these pests. From my porch I have an excellent view (?) of the planes used for this purpose and their approach. Personally, pesticides scare me, and I really don't like to think about breathing in what they're spreading around, so I stay indoors and hope that somehow the spray's effect on me will be less when I venture out.

For more Sky Watch participants, check out: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Hidden beauty

In downtown Belgrade there are many modern buildings and also many old ones. The facades and stairways of the latter are either well maintained if the owners have the money to do so, or else are left to slowly deteriorate. I amuse myself by peeking through doorways of the more dilapidated buildings to see if it's worth a closer look inside. Often it is, as you can see by this treasure of a ceiling I found. Click on the photo to enlarge and appreciate the artwork more.

ABC Wednesday "G" is for "girl"

This little girl was out for a Sunday walk with her parents and ventured onto a lawn with her lavender balloon. She's wearing a typical little Serbian vest, skirt, and white blouse. Serbs dote on "little princes and princesses" and indulge them to what must of us would call spoiling the child. For the most part, however, they do also instill in them good manners and proper behavior.

What's my name?

Photographed this beauty the other week through a fence. I don't know the name of this flower or even if it has a scent, since I couldn't get my nose close enough! Anyone know?

Theme Day--Sister Cities "Belgrade-Chicago"

"Chicago, Chicago, that's my kind of town...." And I'm pretty sure it would be too, if I were ever to travel there. Thanks to Nesha of the Beograd Cafe and Meat Market in Chicago, I am showing you this photo today that he gave me permission to publish. As their site http://www.beogradmarket.net/explains, "Beograd Market is a family-owned, old-fashioned market and coffee shop...selling only the finest tasting beef, pork, and lamb....In addition to our meat products, we also carry homemade meals, groceries, and frozen foods." Check out their site for a glimpse of mouth-watering ćevapčići, pljeskavice, (check my April 14th post; go to Archives on the left), and their photo gallery for a picture of Vlade Divac, the basketball star, who visited the Market!

"Hay" there! (2-for-1 last day of August)

Two-for-one on this last day of August. These two trucks were in front of us on our way back from Pirot the other week. No sooner had we passed the hay truck, which resembled a large hedgehog ambling along, than we found ourselve behind a log truck. Don't you just love how they hope to keep the logs from falling off? That log poised just above the log brace on the left worried me...it was inching its way off ... Then we passed the truck and were gone!

A change in custom

Went to a wedding a couple of weeks ago where our son was best man. This little girl, a member of the wedding party, is selling boutonnieres (the orange ones in the basket) to the men who attend, and lacey wrist bands to the ladies. It used to be the custom that a little girl like her would sell sprigs of rosemary, an herb reputed to bring luck and health, but now this custom has changed. A while back, the money she collected used to go to the new couple, but now it is hers to keep. There's no fixed "donation," and you can see what she's received so far. 100 dinars is roughly $2.00. (I don't know what the little candle is for!)

Skywatch Friday--Little terrace, big flowers

This terrace is hardly big enough for two to stand on, but it looked so beautiful with its bright pink petunias against the sky and clouds, I couldn't help but photograph it.

Big white undies

"Underwear is everywhere but mostly underneath..." or so sings Barry Louis Polisar in his kids' (or kid-like adult like me) song, "Underwear." This underwear isn't underneath, but rather above. Maybe these are Captain Underpants' (by Dav Pilkey) underpants. (If you want to howl with brainless laughter, read Pilkey's Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants.) These are nice and clean and white anyway, and definitely a couple of sizes larger than the undies seen on my August 23rd post...