ABC WEDNESDAY''"I" is for "ill-fated"

Yes, it's Serbia, and yes, that's a statue of Rocky Balboa, immortalized on screen by Sylvester Stallone.

But how did a likeness of the Italian Stallion get here?  

Briefly, the little town Zitiste (ZHEE-tee-shtay), about 55k (33 miles) north of Belgrade, said the statue of Rocky was needed to give the village a more positive image because the town Zitiste had suffered serious damage from floods and landslides, earning it a reputation for being jinxed.And so, in 2007, up came Rocky.

You can read more about the statue on this link.

I am not superstitious, but believe that Zitiste, despite Rocky, still brings bad luck. When I pulled over on the main road (entirely deserted) through town, and then pulled away, a policeman stopped me and threatened me with a traffic violation, because I was 'parked' on the intersection.....  I managed to get away with a warning.  So maybe Rocky brings good luck after all.

See more I's at ABC WEDNESDAY.

Too much stomping?

Maybe this fellow did too much stomping, like the poster behind him advertises.

You've seen a few things happening in and around this fountain before.

Don't touch my ice cream....

Don't even think of taking this guy's ice cream.

SUNDAY BRIDGES--vertical....

Lots of verticals here, among which are the spire from Belgrade's newest bridge, the Bridge on Ada, and in the foreground, the old Nazi concentration camp watchtower that stands on Belgrade's Old Fairgrounds.  The dilapidated buildings of the former camp are now home to Serbian refugees from the wars across the former Yugoslavia.

See more bridges at Louis La Vache's SUNDAY BRIDGES.

WEEKEND REFLECTION--Meet yourself.

The fellow on the right looks a little heavier....

See more reflections on James' WEEKEND REFLECTION.

SKYWATCH--random roof at sunset

A building along Knez Mihailova Street, photgraphed from Kralja Petra Street.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

Christmas countdown...

Red and green are traditional Christmas colors, even sported in September.  110 days until December 25th....

ABC WEDNESDAY "H" is for "hanging"

Hanging red peppers over hanging white sheets.

See other H's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

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.