Old Town Labyrinth by Chipka
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Description
The Number 8 train will take you where you need to go. It stops in Agara, and after a long delay at strange and protean borders, it makes its way into Ükür. Expect delays as the train lumbers into one border station or another so that its wheels might be changed. Rail travel in Agara relies of tracks (and by extension, wheels) of a gauge irregular in the EU Territories. Agaran Rail Authority will not bow to EU pressures to standardize their railway network. Agaran trains (of which the Number 8 is the most famous) are a national treasure. One does not change a treasure in the name of something as pedestrian as convenience.
The Number 8 train will take you to Pekkur, the most picturesque of Agaran-national cities. It is an ancient seat of cultural heritage: home to the kings—many of whom were women. In Agara, there is no word for Queen as the concept of leadership (and by extension, royalty) relies on markers outside of the boundaries of gender or sex. Tsíáŕ, the Agaran word, often interpreted as “king,” simply means “ruler.” Nothing more. Nothing less. In Agara, you learn to enjoy such a disregard for trivial distinctions. In Agara, you learn to enjoy many strange things.
In the Old Town heart of Pekkur, the air smells of fish and cinnamon, of rare, honeyed pastries. A tourist’s nose may be seduced by the redolence of Hungarian paprika and Üküré dill. Street minstrels play recorders in damp, shadowy doorways. Old men play traditional games at café tables—Chess and Dominoes, and unfathomable, intricate card games known simply as Tarot.
Walk the streets of Pekkur’ ancient heart, and you will find yourself enclosed and embraced by walls painted in the colors of peach and ochre, butterscotch and pale, dusty lilac. Tourists are drawn to the shops selling watches without hands, or intricate chronometers that tell time only twice a day. For 2000 -,kĂ, you may buy famous “one time” watch. These are—perhaps—the most famous of Agaran treasures: watches that tell the correct time only twice a day. According to legend, they mark the birth-time and death-time of the greatest of Agaran Kings: Bagmila mem Hahlamainnen. The most famous of Agaran Tsíáŕí, Bagmilia was born on July 30th, 1412 at 8:15 am. She died on the night of July 30th, 1495 at 8:15 pm. At the age of 83. (No one explains the manner in which her birth and death are marked with such precision, especially since Agaran clocks are often devoid of hands and ancient Agaran calendars lack dates.)
It was Bagmila who commissioned the Agaran History-Keeper’s Guild, and her tower—a diminutive “churchless steeple”—is the tallest structure in Pekkur’s Old Town. Indeed, modern buildings in Pekkur do not exceed seven stories and so Bagmila’s churchless steeple remains the unchallenged giant looming above the Pekkur skyline.
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This is yet another picture I’d emailed from Prague. I took it in the spring and the air was crisp and scented with…well…Prague-scent. The steeple belongs to the famous Tyn Cathedral, where Copernicus’ nemesis Tycho Brahe is interred. The cathedral still holds regular services and so is rarely opened to the public. If you walk by, at just the right time, you can smell incense, and hear compositions by the Czech Composer Leoš Janaček blasting from the Classical Music boutique nudged lovingly up against the church. For those of you who saw the film version of The Unbearable Lightness of Being (Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche, and Lena Olin) then you’ve heard the music of Leoš Janaček.
The Czech Republic is a real country, Agara is not…but both are linked by the strangeness you often encounter in their streets. Agara was born in Prague, and so it’s only fitting that an image of Prague stands in for an image of the Agaran city of Pekkur.
Comments (25)
ocoee53
An engrossing fantasy spun from this wonderful picture of the ancient streets of Prague.
Sea_Dog
Wonderful story and scene. I love these old-world, narrow, crooked streets.
kgb224
Wonderful story and capture my friend.
geirla
It's nice to read another slice of Agara and to see the picture, too.
KatesFriend
Agara strikes me as the alternate Czech Republic. A nation that co-occupies the same physical space on the globe but exists parallel but mirrored to the modern EU country we are all familiar with. I know that doesn't make much sense. Your characterization of Agara is always wonderfully engrossing and I always want to learn more of this unusual and ancient realm. I love the photograph as well. I can never get over how Prague has endured so many storms of history that would have washed aside lesser cities.
beachzz
Such a wonderful story you weave here, Agara is appealing in so many ways. Quirky, odd and a bit dark at times. This is a great shot, an alley going who know where--just keep twisting and turning till you get where you want to be.
koosievantutte
i love these kinds of streets - they are still of human proportions.
auntietk
I love the photograph, and anything you write about Agara is welcome. Ükür as well, of course. I love Ükür because it's taught me a new skill. (I can do those letters with the ALT key now! It's very exciting.) I love it that they change the wheels on the train rather than change trains at the border. Of course the Number 8 train is ... exceptional ... and I'm thrilled and flattered to see it appear in your story! I knew about the watches of course, but it's good to know the history behind these charming timepieces. Thanks for filling in part of the back story!
romanceworks
How can one not fall in love with walls painted in the colors of peach and ochre, butterscotch and pale, dusty lilac. CC
kwami
thank you for sharing you stories and pictures, best wishes for 2010 and a merry christmas...hugs and kisses
faroutsider
I love the double telescopic effect of the photograph and the superimposed words, showing us what is and what almost is.... I Prague, but also Agara!
durleybeachbum
So THAT'S where the clock on my dressing-table comes from! I've often wondered, and now I know I shall post a pic of it specially for you. I forget which opera I saw by Janecek, but I found it quite, mmm... challenging, musically! I love the tight knitting of the two places into one, and once again your words transport us to the twin towns. Marvellous, Chip!
tamburro
Great capture and story!!!! Hugs:)
marybelgium
beautiful !
claude19
I felt like reading a story you'd written as a fantasy! Thank you for this change of scenery ... Very nice picture picturesque Prague! I wish you beautiful days for the holiday of the year!
MagikUnicorn
Gorgeous shot...small street ;-) MERRY CHRISTMAS
bmac62
Chip...this street with its' carefully fitted cobblestones brings me "home" to some of my favorite haunts in Germany. I've done a quick read of your episode and notes above and will be back later for a more in depth read. I was struck however by the olfactory sensations of, "fish and cinnamon, of rare, honeyed pastries". Smells so European...they don't pop up in Chicago or Kansas City. Excellent piece:) Happy holidays if I don't get to say anything else before tomorrow.
nikolais
Prague has always been a dream to me and one of the few most wanted places to visit since I started communicating with a guy from Prague way back to the early 60s. His name was Mirec... Reading and viewing your great works brings me back again and again... well, life is still long and there's still a lot in it. Moreover, we are open now. Thank you Chip for everything and have a great holiday.
MrsRatbag
A beautiful image, and even the grafitti looks foreign; how fitting!
myrrhluz
Wonderful to visit Agara again. Beautiful capture of this street that seems to beckon forward. I love how the houses lean forward ever so slightly, as if exchanging secrets. The cobblestone path irregularly narrows and widens and the buildings are entered through beautiful doors. I enjoyed this visit very much! I love the idea of having clocks with no hands and calendars with no dates. As Andrea said, your weaving together of the two places is excellent.
helanker
I love the see shots of alleys and so with these kinds of paving stones.A super capture chip :-D
Meisiekind
I love city street scenes like this Chip! Most wonderful image! :)
prutzworks
fantastic shot & story
TomDart
Chip, truly wonderful..enough said.
anahata.c
chip, i've been away from rosity so much, and though I've uploaded, i've barely commented anywhere. I apologize for this, because I've missed so much of your astonishing gallery even though you've graced mine with your presence. Tonight I'm visiting one piece per gallery, so I can wish everyone a happy new year; but after the first I'll be coming back for more...First congratulations on getting LWitG: It's a beautiful, mysterious & oh so eastern european shot. And second, your Agara musings are beautiful & filled with your vignettes of mind that are among your many lavish gifts. The watch details (down to specific kings) and the Agaran train & its wheels, and the fragrances of the towns, (down to the spices) are you to a tee; and you present them as small jewels without making too much of them, allowing us to taste them on our own & see how rich they really are. And Agara is a real country, if you take the inner mind, heart & soul to be the seat of reality. In the photo, your modulation of deep shadow & saturated light (esp atop) is beautiful. I still can't get over how fine a photographer you are. And the composition is classic for this space: deep & mysterious & cavernous. You bring Eastern Europe to our door. I wish you a wonderful New Year, Chip, and thank you for your presence in my world. And I hope to be back here after the first, where I'll be more present than I've been before. Much light to you! A wonderful upload all around.