I had to create a separate post for a place I have now
deemed one of my favorite places in the world. Perhaps the reason why I love this
place is because of the way I found it. With the internet I feel like a lot of
places have lost their mystery, as sad as it is to say this happened to me with
the Eiffel Tower in Paris. When I first saw it I thought it was beautiful but
it looked familiar. I’d seen it so many times in movies, pictures and on the
internet that I felt like I’d already been there! I had to keep kicking
myself-whispering quietly, “Donielle it’s the (expletive) Eiffel Tower, you
should be freaking out!” But I just couldn’t get excited-I’d already seen
it.
The way I encountered this particular sight was very unique
for me. Usually when I visit a place I do tons of research, looking at
pictures, discovering where I want to go and what I need to see. On this trip I
did not do that. I could go into explaining why I didn’t but what it comes down
to is nothing told me I should. I never got the urge to look anything up-I
honestly didn’t know what there was to see in Prague but knew that I had to go.
Call it faith but I just knew I would want to see everything here, whatever it
was and I didn’t need to research in order to prove that to myself.
We had just come out of our first dinner on my initial
arrival. I had made a friend, Helena, on the flight and we walked together
mostly because we hadn’t met anyone else. We were talking about culture and
what we had for dinner. I was just following the group watching myself so I would't slip on the cobblestones. I pointed to
the sky and took a picture of a tower that was incredibly detailed, it was only
peaking out of buildings and I didn’t think much of it. I when back to talking and laughing. However, when I turned around the
corner it felt like a thunderbolt had hit me. Helena and I turned silent as
our minds raced across our surroundings. Eyes wide open, we slowly turned around and started walking slowly backwards looking
at what had been behind us as we walked through the tiny passageway. The world
slowed, “Incredible,” my heart whispered.
The difference between pictures and seeing it yourself is
that single moment when you discover it. The moment when your eyes wonder
across something that is entirely unique, completely unknown; to the point
where your brain can’t recognize and compare what it is you’re looking at. The
little gears inside your tummy start to slow down and click only faintly. Your
mouth drops because your muscles have lost control and your lungs collapse
because you un-noticeably have stopped breathing. But what’s most important is what happens to
your heart in this moment. Your heart suddenly pounds in excitement, fear, awe,
wonder, and love all at the same. I believe the explosion of these emotions
will literally cause your heart to grow and in this moment you know that
nothing will ever look, taste, smell, feel or hear the same ever again. Your
life has changed forever in this single moment of setting your eyes and heart
on such a magnificent creation. This is what happened to my heart when I walked
into Old Town Square. My fist-sized heart pumped and grew in its little shelter
of a cavity as I saw the beauty that was all around.
Old Town Square is a huge square that is completely unique
in that it is home to four incredible architectural beauties as well as a large
sculpture, complete with European streetlights, colored buildings and
cobblestones. The Old Town Square is home to Old Town Hall Tower &
Astronomical Clock, the Church of Our Lady before Tyn and St. Nicholas Church
as well as the Jan Hus statue. Everywhere your head turns there is a new beauty
for your eyes and heart to discover. Your tired little eyes can’t decide where
you should look next! This square is dated in the 12th century and
over the centuries buildings of Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic styles were
erected around the market, each bringing with them their own unique style that
completes the amazement of the square. The dramatic nature of the buildings around
makes you feel small and large at the same time. An incredible realization of
the history, architecture and all around beauty that humans are capable of
makes your heart, truly, grow.
I encourage everyone to visit this place or any place that
your heart tells you to go so you can stumble onto beauties like this!
Nashledanou!
No comments:
Post a Comment