SKYWATCH It's up....

 Belgrade's New Year's tree is up and has been actually for a couple of weeks. We're all wishing that 2021 will bring an end to this virus and we can get back to our lives...but things will never be the same.

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PANDEMIC PANDA

 Usually there are quite  a few big 'toys' along the pedestrian street for people, kids mainly, to have their photo taken with. I watched this big guy for about 15 minutes, but the poor panda had no takers. I hope he got luckier later.

JAZZY SWEATER...

 It's always a challenge for me to find a present for my son who, like me, seems to have everything he needs.  This year I told him if he didn't drop some hints soon, he'd end up with this sweater. To my surprise, he said he kind of liked it...  Now I wish I'd asked this fellow where he got it...

LYUBISHA AND LUKA

 I started carrying my biggie camera again and several of the people I see when I walk my dog in the morning asked me for photos, so I happily obliged.

MONDAY MURALS--Kissy, kissy

'tis the season to be kissing. I found this amorous mural in Dorcol (DOR-chol) a neighborhood of Belgrade near Kalemegdan park.  I had never seen it before, but wonder if it hadn't been partially hidden by a building that has  been knocked down.

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WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE===coffee

 An unusual presentation. Espresso coffee on the bottom with a tiny pitcher of milk on top. Easier for the waiter to carry?

Participating in THE WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE.

SKYWATCH--clear skies over the National Museum

 Thanks to heavy winds over the past few days, today's skies were clear over Belgrade and the National Museum. Visible are Serbian flags, the one on the left bearing the city's coat of arms.

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Kiosk kitty

'twas a chilly evening and kitty has in some way protected itself from the wind....not sure if he snacked on anything.

 

MONDAY MURALS--another trompe l'oeil

 Another trompe l'oeil mujral for you. Ii is a shame it has been defaced.

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SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY--the blind gusle (GOOSE-leh) player

The Blind Gusle Player has a history, and I will copy and paste what I found right here:

It has recently found a home in Kalemegdan Park, and even a seeing eye dog....

"The Commission also adopted an initiative of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of the City of Belgrade to install the sculpture "The Blind Gusle Player" in Veliki Kalemegdan Park.

The bronze sculpture, the work of sculptor Paskija Pasko Vucetic, was a part of the Monument to Karadjordje composition erected on August 13, 1913 in Kalemegdan, and demolished in 1916 by the Austro-Hungarian occupation forces. After the end of the First World War, in 1930, a monument of gratitude to France was erected on the site of the dismantled Karadjordje Monument. This sculpture is the only remaining part of the intricate monument composition of the Karadjordje Monument."

MANY THANKS TO LISA, who asked for more info on the player, Filip Visnjic. Please see  this link for a lot of info!

I have already shown you another Blind Gusle Player ten (wow) years ago....see it here.

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SKYWATCH---six swans

 I took a much overdue walk around the lake beside Belgrade's river island, Ada Ciganlja. Seven kilometers around, and it felt great.

I think the swans had it eassy, albeit cold, by paddling.

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