Wednesday, April 21, 2010

ABC Wednesday "N" is for "Never closed"

The store you see, open round-the-clock, is a 'Sarajevo Burek' place where you can buy yummy burek all day and all night. The burek you see when you click on the link isn't the Sarajevo kind, which is similar, but rolled and not baked in a round pan.

And that's a pretty cool car, too, though I do not know what it is. Anyone? Anyone?
See other 'N's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Smoking...

Almost looks like a French cafe scene, n'est-ce pas? Except now you can't smoke in French cafes, I think. There's been a law passed here (not sure when it goes into effect) that a percentage of restaurants have to have a non-smoking section, hurrah. However, like most laws here, unless someone complains about the smoke, people just light up. Caught this lady in the act on Saturday after my SlowArt Walk afternoon downtown in a popular pizzeria, whose name I will not mention, but should, and not because of the smoke. We all sat down at 1:00 and our food did not arrive until over an hour later!!! Anyway, I got a photo worth taking, but won't return to that restaurant.

Monday, April 19, 2010

van Gogh's terrace

Well, not really, of course, but Vincent might have felt at home here with all these sunflowers. Caught this shot on Saturday while walking from one museum to the next while participating in SlowArt Day. As you can see, I found my own serendipitous art.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

BRIDGES--The Zindan Gate

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.

This post is for Louis La Vache's Sunday Bridge Meme.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Weekend Reflections--Trees in the Sava River

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.
This post is for James's Reflection Weekend, which I often miss!

Friday, April 16, 2010

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.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

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.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

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.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

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.)

Monday, April 12, 2010

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.


Sunday, April 11, 2010

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!

TWILIGHT TIME

 Hi! I haven't posted for six weeks; been in the US but am now back in Belgrade.  I am going to take a possibly long break from photoblo...