SKYWATCH Friday--French Embassy and Orthodox Cathedral

Wow, it's Friday already. Here's a zoomed-in shot of the three figures atop the French Embassy in Belgrade, built in 1930, which stands literally a stone's throw away from Kalemegdan Park. They represent 'liberté, égalité, and fraternité.' That's the steeple of Belgrade's Orthodox Cathedral in the background.

My Belgrade blogger buddy, Vlada, (whom I have not met!) was kind enough to send me an easy-to-use High Definition Resolution program that I used on this photo to dramatize it. I still prefer photos 'au naturel,' but for dull days like when I took this photo (when will they end?), enhancement comes in handy.

See other bloggers' Skywatch' posts at SKYWATCH.

The snoozer with a sneeze?

Ah, spring. With the flowers and the sun come allergies, for some of us. I wonder if this fellow has allergies...not too many flowers near him, but he has strategically placed his Kleenex in case he gets that tickly feeling while he's soaking up some rays, or maybe just warming himself up, since it was rather cool when I took this photo a short while ago. Achoo.

ABC Wednesday 'M' is for 'mishmash"

A bright mishmash of architecture for you, snapped from my car at a red light while stuck in traffic.

See more M's at ABC WEDNESDAY.

Monument to....?

Many times I have passed by these columns which stand on a knoll on an otherwise flat area in the park next to Hotel Jugoslavija. I finally walked up the knoll and found a section of train tracks! I asked a passer-by what these were, and she told me they were all that was left of an old train station. There was no plaque and my Googling was to no avail. I fiddled with the contrast and highlights here, for it was such a dreary photo (and day.)

Back after 65,000,000 years....

I fulfilled the wish of the child in me and went to see Walking with Dinosaurs at the Belgrade Arena. It was everything I thought it would be, and more. They walk, they roar, they 'breathe,' accompanied by sound/video effects; all so real. Read about it on the link above, and if they come to your town, do yourself a favor and go....it's for kids of all ages.

Here you see a pair of towering brachiosaurus (brachiosauri!). The very idea of transporting these babies is overwhelming. There were quite a few very large trucks in the Arena's parking lot.

The Cracow Bugler..oops....Trumpeter....

I'm back in Belgrade now, but here is one more collage from Cracow. On the left you see the tower on Saint Mary's church. On right is a close-up where you can see a pair of hands holding a trumpet. Legend has it that in the 13th century the church trumpeter, whose job it was to play the Hejnal, or Hymn to our Lady, was the first one to notice the Tartars advancing on the city. He warned the citizens of Cracow of the upcoming invasion by playing the Hejnal over and over, but unfortunately, a skilled Tartar shot him in the throat with am arrow, cutting the hymn short. Now, every hour a real trumpeter (as opposed to a recording) plays the Hejnał, but stops abruptly where the original trumpeter was cut off.

I named this photo 'The Bugler of Cracow,' for I am musically challenged and confused the two instruments...it was too late to change the title on the collage!

A Day in Cracow

Cracow....what a beautiful city. I took soooo many photos, it was hard to choose just one, so I have made you a collage. Moving clockwise from the upper left you have a detail of the ceiling at Saint Maria's church, a basket of ewe's cheese, a detail of the wailing wall made of shattered tombstones from the Jewish cemetery, and a display of tulips in the window of the Camelot folk art cafe....where I ate a delicious rose-flavored ice cream.

Skywatch Friday--Pinwheels and the Royal Palace

Just another two days in Poland. Here are some colorful pinwheels against a backdrop of the Royal Palace in downtown Warsaw, and of course, the sky.

Check out more skies at Skywatch.

Pierogi

Yum. I am having a super time in Poland trying out all kinds of Polish foods. Above are some potato and mushroom pierogi that my friend bought fresh and that we fried and ate with thick yogurt. All that was missing was the vodka...I still have time.

ABC Wednesday "L" is for "Lany Poniedzialek"

I am here in Poland for a few more days. Yesterday my friend and I went out to an outdoor regional museum where there are several village houses that display various aspects of Polish rural life. Some interiors were of a village old school house; others were of farmers or craftsmen. Still others showed kitchen scenes where it appeared as if everyone had just hastily departed, leaving set tables, freshly-baked bread, and sliced meats. Artisans, dressed in folk outfits, displayed and sold their wares, like papercuts, paper flower bouquets, and wood carvings. There were also games for children all along the road, such as egg-rolling, hoop, and this custom of water spraying. Dousing passers-by is what really takes place on Easter Monday, or as it is called here "Lany Poniedzialek." Using targets keeps innocent bystanders dry and still lets kids have fun.

See other L's on ABC Wednesday.

In Poland

I am here in Poland visiting a friend for several days. I swore I would not buy hardly anything (notice the 'hardly'), but indulged myself in a few pieces of traditional Polish Boleslawiec pottery. Anya, a friend of my friend's, runs this shop in Warsaw and sells these beautiful ceramics at very, very reasonable prices. Next time I must come to Warsaw by car, not by plane....