I'm back in the Balkans now

Here in Belgrade – "The Big Plum" – things look notably

perkier than they did a year ago. Construction cranes are busy.

The nouveau riche are gentrifying streets here and there.

The cops have cleaner cars and more relaxed expressions.

And the tagging wars among the street gangs have really

calmed down. This crossing-out business under the host

of tasty canned goods here... that public rivalry has gotten

rarer.