FANCY

When I moved here from Paris in 1977, you couldn't find any 'fancy' food. The most foreign food was pizza and you had to really hint for a pizzeria. Just 'good old Serbian food' back then, and of course there's nothing wrong with that. Times change, tastes change. Above is a turkey breast stuffed with a prune set on mashed potatoes with a delicious gravy. Years ago a turkey and a prune would never have met on the same plate. No flowers either, even if they are these edible kinds.

 

SUMMER STROLL

 Summer stroll down by the Sava River which, like the Danube, intersects Belgrade.

DAY IS DONE

View of the A3-E70 highway that runs through Serbia. Ahead is the airport. Soon I will be heading to Greece in the other direction. This photo taken last evening reminds me of PETER, PAUL, AND MARY'S "DAY IS DONE".
 

KINDERGARTEN

 This is a freshy repainted wall of a local kindergarten. You can't see the whole structure here, but it is fairly large since it also includes a facility for children from age one to four, a kitchen, a spacious, well-equipped play yard, and a gymnasium. Maternity leave here in Serbia is for one year, so if parents don't have anyone else to care for a child, they may place the little one in this area. My grandchildren attended this kindergarten. The entire building is in the shape of a daisy. Cost is calculated according to a family's means. My family and I were very happy with the teachers and caregivers.

DRINKABLE AND EDIBLE

 A hot up of coffee with an edible (cookie) spoon. Slurp, crunch.

NOT A COLORING BOOK

 Although this may look like a page from a kid's coloring book, it's actually the interior of a local café cleverly painted to look like one! I'd have to resist the urge to go there with my crayons.

L'art à Belgrade

 The posts are painted with a particular design often seen here on locally-made rugs. 

I am referring to the lovely mosaic on the sidewalk which, a passer-by told me, was done by a French artist who does these here and there in countries he visits.

YELLOW

 I am  not good with tree names, at least those that I don't see often. The yellow blossoms on this tree in a neighborhood kindergarten yard struck me, pleasantly complementing the part-yellow fence and the grass that is a bit yellow because of lack of rain.

SUNSET

 Years ago, I had a photography teacher who advised our class never to take sunset photos because they're 'too easy'. But they are beautiful, so here is one from last night!

HOLLYHOCKS

 I always like to think of hollyhocks as one of the flowers of my youth in Pennsylvania and they are. When I looked them up online today, I learned that my hollyhocks belong to a different genus than the European ones above "A rose by any other name" is still a rose, and both versions are beautiful.

REALLY OLD...

 I am not good at combining photos and should really go back with my wide angle/fish eye lens to take a shot of the whole tree. Very old to be sure. At least since New Belgrade was built in the 60s and has seen much urbanism but has somehow survived. It now stands right next to the long E70 highway.