THE QUESTION MARK CAFE AND RESTAURANT

 Downtown there is a very old restaurant across from the main church in Belgrade. When the restaurant was first established in 1823, it was named Tomina Kafana. Later in 1878, its name was changed to Kod Pastira (At the Shepherd's), and even later on in 1892 when it changed owners, an attempt was made to call iit Kod Saborne Crkve (At the Saborna Church), which infuriated the clergy.  Tired of many name changes, the owner put a large ? on the door, and Znak Pitanja (or Question Mark stayed).  Here is a LINK if you want to read more.

In any case, I visited it recently with a friend and here is one happy waiter.

WHAT'S BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR?

 It's been dreary these past few days, so I needed a splotch of color. I found it with this chartreuse green door.

It cheered me up, as did playing this old 1956 hit WHAT'S BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR?

MONDAY MURALS --HOTEL INDIGO

 Every now and then I pop down one of Belgrade's passageways that link two main streets. Found this pearl created on the wall of the newly-opened HOTEL INDIGO.  Click on that  link if you're planning a trip this way.

On the terrace above the mural is a cafe, which I need to check out since I think it just might have some sort of urban view.

Check out more murals on MONDAY MURALS.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY--Abbey Road in shadows

 Not really Abbey Road, of course, and we'd be missing a Beatle, but this shot reminded me a bit of the iconic Beatles' crossing the road.

See other shadows on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE - SHIH-TZU AND OWNER

I was also sitting on a bench with my Shorkie, a Shih-Tzu/Yorkie, nearby.  She was getting a discreet eye from the dog across the way.

See other black and white photos on THE WEEKEND IN BLACK AND WHITE.

SKYWATCH--SEPIA SKY

 The air quality has been JUST AWFUL here over the past week. The sky is not quite as bad as my rendition of this photo, but close. I'm still wearing a mask when I go ot. So sad for Mother Earth.

See more skies on SKYWATCH.

JUST WOULDN'T MOVE.... THREE WINDOWS AND A MAN

 

I love these shuttered windows. I waited patiently on the other side of the street to photograph them sans homo sapiens, but he stayed. I think he was waiting for a ride.

I could have eliminated me on Photoshop, but after a few days I looked at my photos and realize I had kind of grown attached to him, haha.

PUMPKINS, PEARS, PERSIMMONS, KIWIS....

 An autumnal still life from a local grocer's stand. Halloween is the reason that this type of pumpkin is now seen here. When I came to "Yugoslavia" in 1977, few persimmons and kiwis were not available, let alone heard of.

NOVEMBER THEME DAY: SOFT

 I found this theme rather mundane  until I began to think out of the box.  Here I have chosen 'soft' to mean both the light and colors in the photo above, as well as to impart the soft, warm, fuzzy feeling I have when I look at it.  

The photo is of the courtyard of the old Institut d'Etudes Francaises pour Etudiants Etrangers , rue Gaston de Saporta, in Aix-en-Provence. This institute, affiliated with the University of Aix-Marseille, is no longer located at this address.  From 1968 to 1969 I spent a year studying here in Aix, and developed friendships I have maintained until the present. Wonderful memories, times.

In a previous post from 2011, you can see me (on the right) along with our director and two friends standing in front of the outer street door that led to this courtyard. Our director is now 95 and going strong.

I must thank my friend Layne, who also studied with me, who sent me this photo. 

See other interpretations of 'soft' on CITY DAILY PHOTO THEME DAY.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

 Up until about ten or so years ago, nobody here knew very much about Halloween, and didn't celebrate. Now they do, but without the trick-or-treat.  Here it has now become known as Noć veštica (night of the witches), but actually the holiday has little to do with real horror or witches. November 1st in some countries is All Saints' Day. People in those countries visit graveyards where loved ones who have passed on are buried. The day before, October 31st, was believed to  be the day when the dead returned to earth.  Bonfires were lit to keep them at bay. Children eventually would dress up as ghostly figures and go door-to-door 'reciting Trick or Treat,' and be given sweets. Otherwise, they may play pranks on the stingy homeowner.

For a really good read about this originally Celtic 'holiday,' please read this on History Channel's link, THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN.

SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY--the red-head with a shadow

 And there she st, pink bag, cigarette, flaming red hair, and a shadow.

See other shadoes on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.