BALKANOPOLY

 Various international versions of Monopoly have been around for quite a while, but I hadn't ever played any until yesterday. The game with my granddaughter was a ruthless, Trump-like property grab, no holds barred! I managed to buy all the former Yugoslavia airports and the pricey properties. Seems like all's fair in love and war....and ss Donald would say, in real estate.

PALACE OF SERBIA

 The PALACE OF SERBIA,whose official name is the Palace of the Exdcutive Council, is a sprawling building in New Belgrade, and once represented all of Yugoslavia. It is surrounded by a huge green area with trees and bushes. I often cut through that area with my dog either going toward the Danube or returning from.

Today, much to my surprise, I stumbled accoss a makeshift bee yard, surrounded by a crudely-made fence of fallen branches. I think it may be some sort of unofficial cooperative of local apiculturists. I could only get one shot at one hive where I saw bees coming in and out, but I think the other hives should  be active very soon.

SKYWATCH--EVENING BEAUTY

 Looking west from my window. Sometimes sunsets are just blah, but thisone was a stunner.

See other skies onSKYWATCH.

A SCENT OF THE RIVIERA

 GORGEOUS day here in Belgrade. Waiting for some friends on a psrk bench. Gardeners are tending the lavender that grows here and its scent for me is Proustian. Palm tree is fake , but the building in the background reminds me of those on La Promenade des Anglais in Cannes.

FLASHBACK

 Two summer ago I went with my family to  Barcelona. Gorgeous weather, not too hot, but very sunny. Couldn't resist photographing this lady who was probably in pain that evening...ow.

ANACHRONISM?

This phone 'booth' has been in this place for ages. I may just pass at the wrong time, but I have never seen anyone using it.

I think it will be soon headed for a museum of anachronisms, like big, fat phone books. The latter were never here, but I haven't seen one in the US for a long time either. I remember as a child hearing the heavy 'thud' on our porch when a new one was delivered.
 

MY DOG'S ADMIRER

 I have to admit that my dog gets a lot of smiles and pats, which she just loves....  This sweet lady obliged her and even gave her a little treat.

PIGEON AND POPPY SEED CAKE

 This pigeon was stuffing itself with a piece of poppyseed cake, a very popular cake here. I had heard that if humans consume an adequate amount, it can lead to a false positive on a drug test. I googled for birds, but apparently they're not affected. Not that they take drug tests anyway.

LESSER-KNOWN

 My husband and I collected many naive paintings from now deceased Serbian painters. One could call them, without being presumptuous, the Grand Masters of Naive Art, mainly from the village of Kovacica and its surroundings.

The above one was not painted by a 'Grand Master,' but I liked it. Now, at this stage of my life, I have given my kids first choice of the paintings they want, but the rest I will sell, and if anything is left, would donate them to the MUSEUM OF NAIVE ART in Jagodina, about two hours from here.

WAITING FOR SPRING

 Patiently biding its time, this houseboat (and the trees as well) are waiting for spring.

NEVER TOO COLD

 A very cold day for me, but not for this pair of swans on a log on the Danube.