SKYWATCH--spring is in the air?

Last week I posted a tree that seemed to be yearning for spring. I know I am, and I still feel that way.

Not many signs yet, but I remain hopeful.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

Winter in the park

The park behind these two urns is Belgrade's Students' Park.  The statue you see in the background between the two urns is of Dositej Obradovic, whom I explained to you last October right here.

ABC WEDNESDAY--"F" is for "Five hundred"

Jovan Cvijić was a Serbian geographer, president of the Serbian Royal Academy of Sciences, and rector of the University of Belgrade. He was a world-renowned scientist, and considered the founder of geography in Serbia, having started his scientific career as a geographer and geologist.

And now he's on the 500 dinar note, worth as I type, around $7.00.

See other F's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

Keep the warmth in

Insulation comes in many forms. Not sure how much warmth these pillows will keep in, given the size of the window.  Judging by the yellow pillow, there seems to be some moisture that got in.

The Charles Gate

The Charles Gate stands in what is called Lower Kalemegdan, part of Kalemegdan  park that lies below the fortress and The Victor statue.

The Austrians built the Gate of Czar Karl VI (1736) in commemoration of their victories.This is undoubtedly the most important Baroque monument preserved to the south of the rivers Sava and Danube.

Sunday Bridges--The Old Sava Bridge

Yes, there IS a bridge here.  It is the green, curved structure just in front of the two buildings on the left in the distance.  I've shown you the Old Sava Bridge several times before. In the foreground, those buildings with the checkered roofs make up Belgrade's Zeleni Venac market.

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

WEEKEND REFLECTION--Chanel No. 5 and Brad Pitt?

I wonder if Coco Chanel would be surprised that her perfume is being advertised by a man, even Brad Pitt.  Popular since the 1920's, Chanel No. 5's celebrity was reignited by Marilynn Monroe the 1950s, when, upon being asked what she wore to bed, replied, "Five drops of Chanel No. 5."  In the '60s, Vogue and Bazaar presented their ads to read, "Every woman alive wants Chanel No. 5" and "Every woman alive loves Chanel No. 5."

I know I did. My first boyfriend gave me a bottle for Christmas.  Chanel No. 5 still remains one of my two favorite perfumes.  (The other is "L'heure bleue" by Guerlain. 

I wonder if Brad Pitt wears five drops of Chanel No. 5 to bed...or does Angelina?

See other reflections on James' WEEKEND REFLECTION. (See Brad across the street, too....)

SKYWATCH-- Reaching for spring

A tree in Kalemegdan Park yearns for spring.  So do I.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

Love in Black and White

Today is Valentine's Day, a holiday that calls for red, the color of love.  I decided to post in black and white today. Love is love, it's black and white to me, along with all the passion, of course.  I could have used a red filter maybe....

Happy Valentine's Day to lovers everywhere....old, new, past, present, future...

ABC WEDNESDAY "E" is for "enamoured"

Spring is coming.  These pigeons were about to get a head start....

See other E's at ABC WEDNESDAY.

Chess break

Any time's a good time for chess, even when it's cold.

New Belgrade's flea market is shrinking, since a new bridge has taken over some of its space.  These two sellers are taking a chess break.

Here's an example of what my little Minox can do when conditions are right---no fuzziness, fairly clear!