THROUGH A BUS WINDOW

 Another shot from my failed bus trip to Romania (soooo many buses at the border, would have waited for many hours). Not to make the entire trip a failure, I did get a few shots. This is one!

VINKO LOZIC OF VRSAC

 During my three-hour wandering in Vrsac (near the Romanian border) last Saturday, I came across this statue of Vinko Lozic (VEENko LOWzeech), a ictional character and dear to the hearts of people from this region. Here's what Wiki says about him:A monument to Vinko Lozić, a humorous character by Jovan Sterija Popović, who has the role of mayor during the "Grape Harvest Days" festival. 

This area is known for its quality wine.

THE BELLED BULL OF VRSAC

 Went on a road trip the other day and spent several hours in the lovely town of VRSAC (vur-SHATS). In front of the town's largest hotel stands this bull. I have no clue, and I did ask, why he has been (pardon the pun) emBELLished with a bell instead of part of his privates.

UNUČIĆI --oo-NEW-chee-chee

"UNUČIĆI" means little grandsons.  But not always. It is also slang for miniature bottles of strong alcohol (vodka here), just enough for a few nips. Sadly, these bottles were discarded here and not in a bin.

MUSTACHE MAN

 Couldn't resist posting this photo of a door guard at MEHRANGARH FORT in Jodhpur. I loved his mustache. Not a Belgrade post, I know, but I am lacking just now in current photos.

NOT THANKSGIVING, BUT SORT OF....

 Today in the US families are celebrating Thanksgiving. No matter how hard times are, one can always find at least one thing to be thankful for. Because today is not a holiday here  in Serbia, I will celebrate with family on Saturday.

In the meantime, above is a photo of 'English-speaking women married to Serbs,' and we have been getting together at least since the 70s. There is now a whole new generation or two of us, but we are the Founding Mothers, ha.  This was at Hotel Majestic Downtown, still standing, though many landmark hotels and restaurants have been 'modernized'.

Somehow I got the seat at the head of the table!

A WALK IN THE WOODS

 Forest not far from Belgrade. Went birding there with a friend; no birds to speak of, but the woods were still lovely.

SUNSET

 

A beautiful urban sunset over New Belgrade. The 'smoke' from the stacks on the left is actually just steam from the heating plant. Gettin' nippy!

PICKLED RED ONIONS

 

My grandmother used to make these around Thanksgiving and now so have I.  Great as a tart side, in salads, or in a leftover turkey sandwich. Easy recipe! Look online.

SPRING FLOWERS YEAR-ROUND

 

My 93-year-old former colleague and travel buddy loves flowers. In her garden in the soring and summer, flowers burst with color. Results of her green thumb have been captured by her granddaughter, who painted a selection on her heater.

ARCHIVE DIPPING

 No current photos so I am posting this one as a follow-up to my recent trip (#7) to India. I did go back to Dharamsala where I met the Dalai Lama in 2019, but he was not available and anyway I hadn't booked an appointment. 

This little stuffie on my guest room couch is supposed to be Buddha. I added the glasses and I think Buddha now looks like High Holiness the Dalai Lama. One in the same anyway; Buddha is in us.