Barn porch seating for a rest from field work. Don’t mind if I do!
Catch a ride on a gypsy wagon. and enjoy the view as the world goes by.
If the day is too hot and the stoop in front of your shop is being showered with sun, move your table and chairs to the shadier side of the street. and enjoy.
When the day is done and you need to rest. finding a swing is just the thing.
Today, we were out bright and early to see the sun!! It was a gorgeous sunny spring day. The Pijats was packed and it was my first time taking the munchkin in the stroller. What a task! Complicated further by an unreliable pitch, I had to take it slow and mind the unpredictable pavement below.
The entrance to the pijats was clad with the usual babas selling their eggs, onions, flowers, and more. It was worth stopping to take a picture
There were bags hanging here and there on the fence surrounding the pijats. This one was really beautiful. Old traditional embroidery made an old bag a work of art.
There were so many vendors today. Selling all kinds of fruits, and vegetables. Scales to weigh the various produce are very common.
The gypsies had massive amounts of yard sale like goods on display. One was calling out Sale sale everything 150 Dinars! (All in Serbian) and another was announcing all of his sales info in French.
One of the Gypsy Salesmen who are constant workers on the pijats. (He doesn’t usually dress like this… It was kind of a joke… just stuff he was selling that made for a funny outfit!) I wasn’t the only one who got a pic.
Hello Friends, Happy 8th of March! It is International Woman’s day. This is an old Communist holiday celebrating women. Men everywhere are lined up to buy flowers and other random gifts for their moms, daughters, wives, etc.
On my way out today to take pics for my photography Friday post, I past a flower shop. In hindsight, I should have taken a picture of all the people waiting outside for the flower arrangements. I was shocked at the number of adults and children outside standing and sitting where they could. Maybe next year.
I will take something to the mother-in-law tomorrow. She loves this holiday.
On to the pictures! I walked to the other side of the yellow bridge today. That is like the other side of the tracks in some towns. Lots of gypsy people live there. I met one gypsy lady today and she spoke English! This was her gate.
After I snapped a pic of her beautiful gate, she came out and a little boy followed but lagged behind. She was super friendly and just wanted to know why I was taking a photo of her home. I wish I had taken time to talk to her more. Another time.
This is the house next to hers, what contrast.
I was trying to beat the setting sun and the dark clouds that were threatening rain.
As I climbed the hill I got a nice glimpse of the looming clouds that hovered over the valley. The morning and most of the afternoon had been gorgeous. In the 60’s. I barely needed a jacket! And you can see from a few pics that laundry was hanging in lots of yards.
Some Baba had her naughty black stocking on the line here. 😉
Check out this creative clothes line! Whatever works.
Along the same line of thinking, there are some unorthodox shelters here for storing wood. I thought the first one here was rather a lovely idea.
It’s not like a gazebo would be used very often in the winter. What an ingenious seasonal use!
This one is quite inventive as well.
Lots of dogs were out to great walkers today. This old yellow lab was my favorite.
On the way home it started raining. I manged to snap just a few more pics worth posting. This lonely window in an empty old house was worth the time, and I liked the way it looked when I gave it the sepia treatment.
I headed down another road to make my way home. The hilly terrain here has inspired creative architecture.
By this time it was really raining, and I hurried on my way way. But I noticed the prettiest red gate and had to get one last photograph.
Hope you enjoyed the pics
Dobar Dan
and P.S. Thank you all for cheering me up yesterday!
I posted yesterday about February 14th holidays. After I wrote the little blog, THE MUSIC BEGAN. I was in the middle of changing and dressing Little Miss when it started. I got so excited to go see what was going on I could wait to be finished with her and to dress myself.
A crowd of people enjoying free wine and rakija
Soon enough, good camera in hand I was on my way… Just outside there was a band playing traditional Serbian music.
A Grandma and he little grandbaby were up on the terrace above looking down on it all.
Grandma and grandbaby
Waiters from the Cafe Pariz were milling about the crowd with trays full of FREE wine and rakija. Almost immediately, I was offered some, after declining once and a brief conversation in Serbian, he asked in English where I was from. Then offered me a little wine again. The second time was a charm. Wine in hand, I watched the show. Since I was already buzzed off of my Turkish coffee and no breakfast, the wine made me a little but more buzzed.
Traditional band
It was the cafe owner’s Slava. Sveti Trifun, pronounced Teefoon, is the patron saint of wine. There was a gorgeous loaf of bread in the shape of Grapes on a table with the traditional Slava set up.
Grape shaped bread
I believe it got around that I was an American, for when the traditions started a man came over and told me where I should be watching so I could get good pictures. He was very nice, polite, and helpful. I am so glad he cared enough to show me.
First there was the lighting of the candle like we do for out slava. Then the owner went over to the grape vine and cut a couple pieces off the grape vine.
Cutting the grape vine
Pouring the wine for a prosperous new season
Then the breaking of the bread with a friend.
Breaking the bread
I know they do this every year. I remember last time I was here for February 14th I could hear the music, but I was stuck in the apt in a cast. No going to check things out. I am so glad I can get out now.
Stray Dalmatian
There was a sweet Dalmatian lingering about waiting for some love in the form of food. He was so sweet but malnourished. I threw him some bread twice and saw some others do the same. I wish I could do so much more. I feel so bad for the many sweet strays here. They break my heart.
The gypsy lady caught taking her pic
There was a lone gypsy lady there. I think she, along with many others were feeling good from the wine and rakija. After she saw me taking her picture, she really wanted to talk to me, but my Serbian or lack there of made it impossible for us to understand one another. There again, it could have been something how much she had to drink impairing her speech and my ability to understand. She was very persistent, so much some bystanders helped me to escape, twice!
Kolo Party
She had a merry time. She danced as I would have liked to have and later joined the Kolo line. I had to get back up to the little one. But I got some pics of the dancing from the window.
The little one got to watch too.
Little Miss at the window
Chronicles of Serbia 