The Stairway by Chipka
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Description
I lived in Dortmund, Germany for 3 months, and I have good memories of the town, though it was also confronted me with jarring differences to Prague. Ah, but Prague stands in a class all by itself; indeed, many of the cities and towns of the Czech Republic are strange and atavistic places—gruesome, beautiful, and paradoxical and beguiling in so many ways. It's as if they stand outside of time, steeped in histories that often include alchemists and heretics. They give you glimpses into a world in which different alternatives are available.
Dortmund, was (and is) different all together. It is a modern place. Even its squares and plazas are paved with cobblestones that resemble 20th Century bricks more than anything else. There is such regimental, mall-like quality to the town; but it has its own personality, one at odds with the modern architecture, hulking steel mills, and mines.
In Dortmund, I lived with a friend and a cat, across the street from two other friends, a dog...and yes, another cat. I discovered a bar that sold Czech beer, though they served it in smaller quantities. I celebrated birthdays and the advent of Friday with friends, sometimes stumbling with one, up more flights of stairs than I care to recall.
Though I haven't seen them in a while, I've been in contact—well, with the friends and not the cats (or the dog.) At some point in the future, I am likely to return to Dortmund. I left quite a few things there, including a pair of skull-and-cross bone socks given to me as a birthday present by my friend Kača, a Czech woman who speaks flawless and perfectly idiomatic English with an accent that is impossible to place.
When I return, I won't see this stairway...
My friend (along with my possessions) has moved. But he remains in Dortmund, and once things are settled and moving forward as they must, I may—perhaps—see Dortmund again.
We will see....
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As always, thak you for viewing and reading, and commenting on this and my previous post(s).
Comments (31)
marcopolinski
grew up in Germany ... have walked many a stairway like this ... very evocative .. the smell that lingers in these places immediately arises too ... the brain, memory and senses are something amazing aren't they? Love the grainy effect here ... it adds to the feeling of the past. What I particularly like about this, but also many of your other works, is that one has the sense of being bathed in light, as well as being enveloped by sumptuous and warm colors. It's very visually stunning and instantly an emotional experience. Superb work!