Simple Truths Away From Home

Weekend Miser / June 17, 2019

One of my favorite past times is to simply wander the streets of Europe in search of a musical tune. This weekend, I spent 27 hours in Rome and can confidently say that a good majority of those were occupied by street performers. It seemed as though every corner we turned came with a new treasure hunt, our map being nothing more than a melody. My favorite moment this weekend was gifted by two young men, a violin, and a cello.

Last night I returned to Prague, and it took no more than a stroll this morning to bring me back home to the same familiar feeling. Charles Bridge is always buzzing with talent – art, music, and the most obscure of trades. Mozart found a passion in this city that led to Symphony No. 38, then premiered and conducted Don Giovanni. Many great composers were born here, music-themed hotels reside here, and the John Lennon Wall in Malá Strana is popular among tourists.

Today I couldn’t pass up this moment. I paused just to listen for a moment and right as I turned to leave, these two caught my attention. A mother and daughter, hand-in-hand, enjoying an afternoon under the sun together.

It hasn’t taken long for me to notice that I am very much a fan of the overlooked moments; split seconds that come with a sweet reminder or memory. Today’s made me long to be seated next to my mom on a tired piano bench.

Architecturally Speaking / June 16, 2019

Our dinner was just around the corner from Frank Gehry’s Dancing House, so we decided to leave a few minutes early and make a pitstop. The house certainly sticks out like a sore thumb against a strip of gothic architecture. Its asymmetric nature in the middle of square and squares and more squares has let to varying opinions about the building. Gehry used essentially two main components for composer – a glass tower supported by curved pillars and the actually building which is characterised by its sporadic window alignment.

But the location is really the more important part of the Dancing House in this instance. This building lies on the Rašínovo nábřeží (Rašín Embankment), to the right of the Vltava River. The main street lining this area is remarkably busy and provided picture opportunities that I had never even considered when walking alongside it absent of a camera.

The area consists of a cycle route, a plethora of docks for cruise boats, restaurants galore, and more. Despite all of that, upon making a quick trip down to the dock, I found this man; he stood all alone amongst the chaos, seeming completely content. Everything that I just listed that makes this area of so much importance was behind him. His gaze was set on the water and the people who occupied it. There was nothing special about what he was looking at according to the measure of society, but in that instance, it was as though nothing else mattered to this man.

He had no clue that I snapped this shot of him and I think that was all for the better. Moments like this don’t happen often, especially in competition with the rapid pace of our world.

Not From These Parts / June 15, 2019

Our short little getaway to Cesky Kromluv was exactly what I never knew I needed. I found myself embarrassingly humbled by the genuity and rawness of those who reside in the city. As much as I hate to admit it, I very quickly generated a stereotype for the people of the Czech Republic; no one seemed very welcoming, everyone I met seemed entirely focused on themselves in the here and now. I was trying to make somewhere that wasn’t home, home for a month. Taking a step back from Prague for a few days made me realize this.

Observing the behavior of the abundance of tourists this week was something I should have gone a long time ago. I walked into someone else’s home, didn’t take the time to learn their language or invest in their culture, and expected them to treat me as if I had. Moving into a new part of the same culture was the first stepping stone to the acquiring of my refreshed mindset; I plan on greeting the tail end of my time in Prague from a different standpoint. To be considerate of the overwhelming nature of thousands of foreign feet scurrying the streets each day. To be aware that the language barrier is just as frustrating for the other side. To be respectful of the traditions and the pride that the people of Prague take in them.

My last two weeks will be spent running toward the goal of better understanding and appreciating the strangers I’ve been living among for 17 days. I think that traveling certainly isn’t as much about the place as it is the people. Monuments and landmarks make the journey colorful, but knowledge about the people and the culture provide the color palette.

Not From These Parts / June 14, 2019

I glanced up from the end of my oar for a split second today and fell head over heels for her.

Some of the girls and I decided to do a little rafting trip before we left our new favorite town of Český Krumlov. Of course, I felt that it would be appropriate to bring my camera (sorry mom) given the stability and insane surface area of the seven person raft that we chose.

My intentions were mostly just to capture some sweet memories of my lovely friends, but I would say that this picture alone made the risk worth it. This isn’t the most technically sound image – the composition isn’t perfect and nothing outrageously entertaining is taking place. I’m not entirely sure what drew me so near to her. All I know is that when I saw the graceful way she was moving with the water, everything in me ached to take her place.

Out in the middle of the river she stood tall. Unafraid, unbothered – the moment simply consisted of her and the moss between her toes. This season of my life is particularly frightening, or so I’ve been told. Sometimes I get a tad overwhelmed by the big decisions that are looming and the small ones that are creating a ripple effect now; but I’ve always just managed to brush off the stress that I see plenty of others cracking under. In a way, I think that the intentionality in the stillness of this little girl is all that I wish to embody. There is so much beauty in just being.

So in the midst of the rushing waters and the crowd of kayaks around us, everything grew silent. The winds ceased and time slowed all for this moment. A 1/400th of a second was the part I got to play in it, and for that I could not be more thankful.

Location Notations / June 13, 2019

Just when I thought I had explored every last crook and cranny of Cesky Krumlov, I somehow ended up wandering into a narrow street with a small sign hanging overhead. “Craft alley” was its label, and the few doors lining it had titles like “Sewing”, “Pottery”, and “Black Smith”. The sound of metal on metal drew me near and the image of flying sparks and shiny projects just wouldn’t leave my mind. I made my way into the tiny, dark entrance and down a risky set of stairs. Beyond the front door was no more than an arrangement of handmade rings, necklaces, helmets, and their maker.

After building up the courage to distract the man from his work, I was able to speak with Vladimir for a moment and make his photograph. He has only been working at this location for about three months, but he said not to tell anyone  – so shhhh. His real passion was with music, guitar specifically. He had been repairing guitars and playing small gigs here and there, but needed a substantial form of income. English was most certainly not Vladimir’s first language, so I didn’t get much more out of him. It was evident that life here was new and somewhat foreign to him; he new lives in a small village outside of Cesky Krumlov, but I’m not entirely sure where he was coming from.

I walked out of that shop pretty amused with myself. Taking pictures of people is already a little terrifying and I just walked into an empty room with a grown man holding an axe, raging fire consuming the walls behind him. I left the shop feeling like I had spent a few minutes with an old friend who was just trying to make it.

Today was our last full day here and I’m really going to miss it. Quite frankly, walking these streets feels a little too good to be true. It’s like some kind of secluded wonderland, what with the colors and the sweet, sweet people. Rivers flowing, castles extending their necks over the city, art around every corner. I’m going to miss this place.

The Nocturnalist / June 12, 2019

Our first day in Cesky Kromluv was brief, but I quite frankly could not be more excited to head back out into the streets of color in the morning. The amount of tourists here seems next to nothing in comparison to Prague. Yet, the abundance of life and joy within these walls is almost even more apparent.

Our tour guide for the afternoon strolled up in a bright red, polka dot dress, straps lining her sun kissed skin and glistening shoulders. Light was beaming from her. We walked through narrows allies laced with pastels – yellows, blues, pinks. Residents peeking out of windows whose perimeters were overwhelmed by full flowers. Our apartment sits right next to a central bridge where I found these lovely ladies. A harp, a violin, a harmony, and a pair of smiles kept me entertained for what felt like eternity. Light was beaming from them.

Maybe it was the rushing water, the Vltava River, that made me feel so at home. Maybe it was the music around every corner. The warmth, the art, the mutual content. Whatever it was, it truly filled me up. I’m excited to maximize my every second over the next few days here.

A Thousand Words / June 11, 2019

This morning I got a message from my T.A. about an invitation to an interesting opportunity. To be honest, I’ve always been a little afraid of Facebook photography groups – nerdy fear, I know. But either everyone seems incredibly intimidating due to their skill level and experience, or everyone just seems a little questionable and I don’t feel comfortable meeting up with an entire group of strangers for the evening. However, with the confidence of knowing that I would have familiar faces by my side, I decided to take on the opportunity.

We joined up with some of the heads of Prague Street Photography Collective to receive a prompt and then split to fend for ourselves in the city. The objective of the hour was to fulfill the idea of “solidarity in the city”. Essentially, we were to roam one of the busiest parts of Prague and find someone at peace by themselves – not an easy shoot. Every time my eyes would dart to an unaccompanied individual, there would be a sour look on their face and a phone to their ear or the moment would pass to quickly along with the bike that my subject was zooming by on. This place is a place meant for celebration – for big groups and parties and lovers; no one takes a trip to Prague alone.

The evening forced me to truly dig. Although I wish that I had a bit longer on this photowalk, I managed enough time to realize the beauty in the absence of distraction. Those whom I did find on their own were entirely engulfed in the energy of the city. Their eyes soaking up every last glimmer of the setting sun. Their skin welcoming the new kisses of the breeze that the rising tide would bring. Their shoulders soft, relaxed without the responsibility of holding up anything other than all of the dreams and hopes that they could hold for themselves and only themselves for that moment.

I’m a big fan of people, but I’m a big fan of my alone time as well. Recognizing the value of others is one of our most imperative responsibilities during this life, but recognizing what the world itself has to offer isn’t even optional. I find it easiest to do this in isolation with nothing but a pen and some paper and a whole lot of gratitude. Tonight reminded me that this recharge and reflection looks different for everyone, and for that I am grateful.

Around Here / June 10, 2019

This weekend was the fourth anniversary of Prague’s biggest music festival. The annual event kicked-off on Friday with a line-up full of over 500 performances and 200 artists. Entertainment always includes much more than just music. Theatre ensembles, local designers, and even fundraisers such as Run For The Oceans took place.

It seemed as though everywhere I went I ran into some portion of the festival. All of Prague was consumed by tourists and traffic and people eager to find the bit of the weekend that was meant just for them. One morning I stumbled into Wenceslas Square, per usual, and unintentionally found a multitude of activities that were a part of the festival; kids were doing bike tricks on massive ramps, street artists were out, and there was an entire area blocked off for roller blading.

As if there weren’t already enough hotspots for locals to make money off of tourists, these few days came with an abundance of markets and pop-up shops. Fresh flowers to the left, fresh flowers to the right, postcards and dreamcatchers  and knick-knacks galore. Typically, roaming the more quiet and humble areas of the city is my favorite pastime, but this weekend I just couldn’t stay away from the hustle and bustle.

Morning Glories / June 9, 2019

Runners of all levels gathered in a small park yesterday to take part in a revolution that was much bigger than them. In June 2018, Parley Ocean School put on a worldwide 5k for the funding of its new program along with many other missions.

The Parley Ocean Plastic Program is intended to make a mark on the next generation by “increasing environmental awareness,  boost marine conservation and equip Ocean Guardians with the knowledge, tools and inspiration they need to safeguard their future.” More than 150 million tons of plastic exist in the ocean today.

The school believes that there is a lack of education about the ocean. Many children are deprived of the opportunity to experience the power of the ocean and everything that lies beneath its surface. This was the second year for the run, and if it went anything like the first, massive change is already taking place.Last year there were over 12 million kilometers logged within the first month by 924,237 runners. This year, the school has partnered with Adidas who has committed to donate $1 for every kilometer run with a 1.5 million dollar cap.

Noticed / June 8, 2019

Gold, orange, pink, a splash of sky blue – I can confidently say that simply roaming the streets of this city and taking in all of its vibrancy is my favorite way to spend my days. Prague in two words would be “sensory overload”. The colors differ against the subtle morning sun and the warm tint of an evening slipping away. Streets and houses are embellished with compatible greenery and blossoms that are perfectly suited for their place of residence.

Taking note of the mutual appreciation of locals and visitors is truly refreshing; it seems as though anywhere I go there is so much life. A bench by the river will always be occupied, the windy paths of the beer garden can guarantee guests, neighborhoods are constantly bustling with little ones who just want to get outside and play. This place is just so full of life in its architecture and its occupants.

It seems as though every time I manage to work up the courage to ask a local about their story, they are unable to speak English. But I was at least able to obtain permission for a quick photograph from this kind woman. When I found her, she was doing nothing more than taking in a warm summer day in a garden of roses. Her attire, nails, and the smile painted across her face made me think she felt the same way about the vivacity and shades of this city.