Wisdom from Wien (Vienna) 21/10/11
I've embarked on a ten day tour of Eastern Europe. From Florence, to Vienna, to Bratislava, to Budapest, to Krakow to Prague and then back home. It's going to be exciting, exhausting, and above all educational. We're on day two, driving out of Vienna now. I like the balance between imperial and modern. The architecture, the lifestyle, the people. Vienna holds a strong contrast between 'regal', like the extravagant and awe-inspiring Belvedere, and 'hip' like the equally beautiful grafiti art display along the river. I wish we had more than one day though, but I've already learnt on a fast-paced, action packed trip like this it's not so much what you do as who you do it with. Keep good company and an open mind and every new place can be a whole new world of discovery.
Strolling through Solvakia 21/10/11
Bratislava is exactly the opposite of what I expected. Watching 'Eurotrip' probably wasn't the best way to prime myself, but I still expected a harsh, gray, cold town. I thought I would find beauty in the cracks of the cobble stoned streets and the heat from a local pub. What I found, however, was a cute, quaint, friendly little town with pastel pink churches and mossy green monuments. I was pleasantly surprised. I found myself browsing the small market in the town square, looking through the jewelry displayed in little red shacks, missing my sister and my friends. I was overwhelmed by the desire for them to be there with me, sharing the experience. Nothing in particular triggered it, there was nothing familiar, no 'deja vu'. I just wanted to share the moment with the people I love.
Bad weather in Budapest 23/10/11
Rain rain go away, come again some other day. I wish I had more time in Budapest. I wish I could have explored more, seen more, learned more. One day is not enough time in Budapest! I did make the best of that one day, however. I learnt two very important lessons in my short time there. 1) I learnt to go with the flow. I can't always try to be in control of everything around me. Some people might not have the best sense of direction, or be aware of the historical aspects of their surroundings, but that's ok. I can read the map and direct the group, and as long as I know the importance of what's around me it doesn't bother me what the other's do or do not know. And 2) I learnt that not everyone who travels cares about the cultural experience. It's one thing to not brush up on your history, but many people unfortunately seem to travel just for the fun of getting drunk in five different countries in ten days. When you say with dead certainty that Budapest is a country maybe it's time to consider that you should spend less time traveling and more time in school. Is ignorance bliss? Or does ignorance cripple you? I sat on the bus and listened to these young women, older than myself, two years into their college degrees, saying that Krakow is the capital of Slovakia and giving the colour and cut of their hair more importance than the culture, the history, the geography of where they were in the world. I am glad I took this year before college to learn and experience culture first hand, rather than to get drunk as much as possible. I am glad that I have always made it a point to surround myself with intelligent, interesting people to call my friends. And I am glad to be me.
Contemporary art in Cracovia (Krakow) 24/10/11
I love history. I have always enjoyed studying the events that created the modern world. Everything from the Cave Man, to the Renaissance, to the Scientific Revolution, to WWII fascinates me. As much as I try to read the news, however, I never know as much about current events as I do about ancient ones. Recently I've decided to change that, and today my eyes were opened. In Krakow, Poland, in the midst of the university that Copernicus attended and the jewish quarters of WWII my roommate and I stumbled upon a contemporary art exhibit. The photo-journalism recollection of 2010 can still be considered 'history' but it is fresh, it is recent. The wounds are still healing. I re-witnesed everything from the devastating earthquake in Haiti, to the unlucky men trapped in the mine in Chile, to the epic journey Somali's take for their freedom, to moments of the world cup and more. It was humbling. I was surprised at how many of the photographs affected me personally in some way or another and recalled a feeling or a thought from my personal history. I still love history, I still value learning from the past, but I also appreciate that I live in the present, and that the present is just as epic, just as eventful if not more so, and should be much more important to me as an individual.
No comments:
Post a Comment