It's a drawbridge! Once upon a time there was water under it that was used to supply the city, but that was long ago. The gate you see is part of the Kalemegdan Fortress, and is known as the Zindan Gate, built in the mid-15th century.
I love these trees that stand in the river and have taken lots of lots of photos of them, but most I do not keep. I managed to grab this photo in a break between storm clouds the other day.
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.
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.
A bright mishmash of architecture for you, snapped from my car at a red light while stuck in traffic.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dining out all alone. I caught this fellow while taking a long evening walk through an area of New Belgrade
