Wednesday, June 24, 2009

ABC Wednesday "W" is for "weather-worn wood"

Isn't this a great mish-mash of wood and a bit of rusty fence, too? This was taken in southern Serbia last year, when my husband and I visited a small village in search of someone selling honey. We found someone, and I waited in the car while my husband bought the honey. This was what was in front of me.

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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

You know what they say....

...about owners and their dogs looking alike. These two have the same color hair and the dog is wearing a plaid harness and color to match 'mommy's' shirt. And no, I do not have the same underbite as Bibi does!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Old and crumbling...

Passed by these stairs downtown the other day, then returned to have a closer look. They 'spoke to me,' but not in color. I think black and white is best here.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Red and Yellow


This is a yellow tarp-like material covering part of a children's ride (the red) in a little amusement park beside the Sava River. The colors reminded me of Tibetan Buddhist monks' garments, and so I did a little research to what these colors mean to them.
The color red is auspicious in Tibetan culture. It is a sacred color, one of the colors of a monk's garments. It is believed to have protective qualities and is therefore often used to paint sacred buildings.
Yellow is has the highest symbolic value in Buddhism through its link with the saffron robes of monks. This color was chosen by Buddha as a symbol of his humility and separation from materialist society. It thus signifies renunciation, desirelessness, and humility.
Yellow is the color of earth, and thus a symbol of rootedness and the equanimity of the earth.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Hairdresser, pedicure, waxing, artificial nails!

This is nearly a one-stop beauty shop where ladies can treat themselves to beautifying from head to foot! Judging by the sandals waiting patiently outside, I imagine that there's someone in there who's having her feet done just now. I've never had artificial fingernails, but am morbidly fascinated by the lengths I see some women wear. I read that artificial fingernails carry a risks of everything from fungal infection to allergies and even burns due to their increased flammability. Better use a potholder...

Friday, June 19, 2009

Thursday, June 18, 2009

"Underwear is Everywhere...|

"Underwear is Everywhere," by Barry Louis Polisar is the title of one of my favorite kids' songs, and I'm pasting the lyrics below. Some people who live in apartments here don't have a terrace, so they hang out their laundry where they can! Here are the lyrics, but they're so much better with music:

Underwear is everywhere but mostly underneath.
Usually you can't see what goes on beneath
Ragged clothes, evening gowns or the finest three-piece suit.
Underwear is everywhere; there is no substitute.
Everyone is equal when it comes to underwear,
Because beneath your underwear it's just yourself that's there.
Everyone wears underwear -- or at least they should.
Underwear is lots of things, but mostly it is good.
Some like the feel of cotton.
I share this belief.
Likewise I don't like boxer shorts, give me a pair of briefs.
Some don't like to talk about it, that's because they're shy.
People laugh at underwear, but I do not know why.
"Now don't use bleach on underwear."
That's what my mom will say.
"Cause bleach will eat the fabric and soon they'll wash away."
Underwear with lots of holes, is a sorry sight.
Look around and try to see who's wearing theirs too tight!
Underwear is everywhere but mostly underneath.
Usually you can't see what goes on beneath
Ragged clothes, evening gowns or the finest three-piece suit.
Underwear is everywhere; there is no substitute.

ADDENDUM: You really HAVE to check out Sajkaca's post about the building(s) where I took this photo. Click here.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

ABC Wednesday -- "V" is for "Vigilance"

On Knez Mihailova, Belgrade's pedestrian street, there are many vendors selling all kinds of wares, from neckties to wind-up toys. Legally you need a permit to do this and I don't know how much it costs, but many sellers don't want to pay. Most have their goods in 'pack and run' types of cases so that when the police approach, they just slam them shut and act innocent. Others, like the vigilant jewelry seller you see in the first photo, pull their stand into a nearby passage.

The door on this particular passage has always been closed, and I never thought of trying to see what was behind it. However, seeing the seller make a fast get-away, I followed him in and was very surprised to find such beautiful, although very neglected, art and woodwork, as you can see in the second photo. Someone must at least appreciate art though, since halogen lights have been installed to set it off.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The Work Break

The fact that he may not have the most comfortable place to take forty winks hasn't deterred this worker from enjoying a little mid-afternoon snooze on his steam roller! I think he may wake up with a cramp in his legs.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Say it with flowers.

Meet Desa Lukic, who makes beautiful pressed flower art. I've known her for several years, and have bought her creations from time to time for presents for friends abroad. In the top photo, she's holding one of three works I bought for wedding presents. I bought one for my mother a number of years ago, and the colors have not faded! Below is a close-up of one of her other creations I bought.


Sunday, June 14, 2009

Water Fun

Never fails. I'm running late, and I get stuck behind these street washers. As you can tell, I took this shot from my car while waiting to go down the street. The water that is used is drinking water. I always thought this was a waste of good water, but the alternative is either not washing down the streets (here they were washing away to somewhere a lot of leaves blown down in a storm the preceding night) or else washing the streets with river water. That water, unfortunately, is often polluted with waste of all kinds....the Danube is more brown than blue here, due to poor enforcement of dumping laws.

Sometimes if you beep at these fellows and point to your windshield, they will happily hose your car down! Gets it quite clean, but make sure your windows are up first...

BEARDED

Of course people can choose their hairstyle and in a man's case, beard style. Personally, I do not mind beards, but for me they have to ...