Waiting for their coach

Waiting for their coach to show up....

Plums=fresh, jam, juice, dumplings, brandy.....

Plums are Serbia's pride and joy. Aside from being eaten right off the tree (I like mine crisp and slightly sour), they're made into juice, jam, dumplings like these I've shown you before, and of course, plum brandy.

The happy plum in the second photo is my doing. That's what you do without Internet in the village where these were photographed.

How do you like your plums?

SUNDAY BRIDGES--sleeping.....

End of summer...but not for some backpackers who chose to sleep in Kalemegdan Park, as did some others before them.

Branko's Bridge and the old Savski Bridge are in the background, as is the tower of Belgrade's newest bridge, the Bridge On Ada, just right of center in the distance.

It's been a long, hot summer...  Let's see what lies ahead.

Check out other bridges on  Louis La Vache's Sunday Bridges.

THEME DAY--people watching: No GPS

Remember the days before GPS when you actually had to stop and ask people for directions?  I've used a GPS on a trip from Seattle through California a year or so ago, and while it was easy to get from Point A to Point B by myself, the GPS was really handy in a city.

But here in Serbia GPSs exist, but I don't have one, so I have to stop and ask for directions. This fellow in a village outside of Belgrade was all too happy to explain to me the route I should take. And of course I sneaked a photo of him...camera on lap.

Check out other 'people watching' photos at CDPB THEME DAY SITE.

SKYWATCH--tree in Čekmin, Serbia

Scene from the terrace of my friend's family's house in Čekmin (CHECK-meen), Serbia, where I spent two days earlier this month.  Fields, fields, fields...

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

Playing with Mini

On the first of this month, I posted a Theme Day photo of my new little Minox camera.  Of course I still have and use my Nikon D90 most of the time, but it's fun to play with Mini.  It's limited, of course, with 5.1 pixels, an equivalent of a 42mm lens, an ISO of (I think) 100, and only three focusing distances.  Here are some examples of what it does. As you see, some photos are not too sharp, but honestly, I think it's me who wasn't too steady or else, as in the case of the garlic and plums, in reduced light.

You can have a look at its review right here.

And the answer to yesterday's puzzler:  The object on the left in the photo in question is a yoke used for people to carry buckets of milk on their shoulder.  The other 'bench' is used to remove dried corn from the cobs.  You straddle it, then rub the ear up and down on the pegs to remove the kernels.

ABC Wednesday--"G" is for "Goričani"

Another photo from Goričani, where I visited some friends.  On the left are a bottle of homemade plum brandy or rakia, a typical brandy glass, and some local wildflowers.  On the right my friend had made Serbian cornbread (usually with bits of fried bacon and some local cheese).  On the plate is some of that white cheese, and in the red cup is kajmak, a buttery-like spread made from cream skimmed from milk.

And in the middle, what are those two items.....?  I know, but do you?  (Answer on tomorrow's post!)

See other G's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

Let's cruise....

I wanted to take a canoe ride in this canoe, but decided it was just too darn hot.  So I took a photo instead.

Not at the zoo

No, not at the zoo, but rather in the village of Čekmin (CHECK-meen), Serbia, near the cities of Niš (NEESH) and Leskovac (LES-ko-vahts.)  This peacock, peahen, and occasional offspring belong to one of the villagers. They like to roam...

Čekmin is very small, and I was surprised to find a short video of it on Youtube, so if you'd like to have a look, click right here.

SUNDAY BRIDGES--Seeing Double Part II

This photo above of two bridges on the way to the natural reserve of Carska Bara may remind you of this earlier post of mine.

See other bridges on Louis La Vache's  SUNDAY BRIDGES.

WEEKEND REFLECTION--Waiting for goose goulash

Went to the Zasavica Nature reserve on a recent road trip.  In one of the reserve's ethno houses, they serve a delicious goose goulash in these ceramic bowls...at least I'm fairly certain it was delicious...  I was traveling with someone who didn't want to try it and that specialty is all they had, so next time for me.

Is that me in the reflections?  Not sure...

Can you spot the fly?

See other reflections on James' WEEKEND REFLECTION.