Comments on: London Summer Evening

By: Froshty

Froshty — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:20:10 +0000

Lily, this line perfectly describes what I experience when traveling: “Literal, because I am useless at translating what I see on a map to what I see on the sidewalk and figurative because you are never really yourself in a place that is not your own.” The only way I can equate a map with reality is if I try to turn it so that it matches the way I’m standing or driving, but that can be difficult sometimes. I travel to Peru a lot and relate to “you are never really yourself in a place that’s your own”–I am a different person in Peru–freer in many ways but shyer because I have a modicum of Spanish knowledge but not enough to understand much of what’s said to me.

By: Jana Bouc

Jana Bouc — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 05:10:41 +0000

What a wonderful merry-go-round! Your photos are great! I hope you’re having a wonderful time. I really like your approach to being lost–loving it! It hadn’t occurred to me to consider being lost just a new way to have fun. I get lost anywhere I go and have no sense of direction whatsoever (well I do have one but it reliably tells me to go in exactly the wrong direction).

By: fencer

fencer — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:08:36 +0000

Wow… great photos. I especially like the graffiti one.

Happy travels!

Regards

By: Danielle

Danielle — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 17:27:10 +0000

I love that feeling of being “lost” while travelling–I totally understand!

By: openpalm

openpalm — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:29:59 +0000

“My program told me that he’s more judgmental than Chekhov and that, like Chekhov, he was interested in furniture. I was happy to know that (I think this has to do with materialism, but I won’t go into that now). And there is indeed a moment in the play when someone talks to a sideboard. Or a cupboard.”

i can hear the laughter in your straight-faced words here. makes me smile.
–op

By: openpalm

openpalm — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:26:18 +0000

I felt happier than I’ve felt in a really long time — which is how you feel when you realize that the heaviness of being yourself isn’t there any more.

ooooh, i’m so glad!
–op

By: bloglily

bloglily — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 10:36:44 +0000

Hey John Baker — That’s right, I do remember reading that they were friends, and that although Gorky worked in the furniture bit before Chekhov, he still thought of himself as the student. I’ll just say that you are terribly lucky to live in a country that has such wonderful theater.

Dear no shower girls — how nice to hear from you! I am having fun, although the food photos will have to wait until France or Italy, it being apples, yogurt, energy bars and the occasional chocolate bar thus far.

I’m with you there, Kate. Something about the whirling round and round, and all the colors and the music gets to me.

Hi Sandi– Divine indeed so far. All this happiness seems a little insane, considering the things I read every day when I open up my computer, but there you have it, individual happiness goes on.

Marta, And don’t forget the Italian wine. That’s something I’m looking foward to.

Cam, I didn’t know about the movie — but Jeremy Irons is so deliciously wonderful, I’ll bet it was a very good film.

Sandra, You’re right — it was a good day. Since then, the bikes have receded and the cars seem to be taking over!

By: johnbakeronline

johnbakeronline — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 09:54:11 +0000

I’d love to see the Gorky play, but haven’t got tickets yet. Interesting what you say about furniture. I knew about the references in The Cherry orchard, but not in the Gorky. Still, they were friends, so probably spoke about these things together.
Furniture was a different commodity in those days, a cupboard or a bookcase was invariably hand-made, heavy, and something that probably followed you through your life. The bookcase which Gaev addresses in The Cherry Orchard is more than a hundred years old and forms part of his attachment to his childhood, and even further back into the lives of his parents.
Furniture for us, however, is much more of a throw-away commodity. It doesn’t get to be a receptacle for our childhood memories or emotions, or at least not to the same extent as it did at the beginning of the 20th century.

By: noshowerfamily food blog

noshowerfamily food blog — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 05:42:52 +0000

great photos! glad you’re having fun.

By: Kate S.

Kate S. — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 01:10:47 +0000

I love your carnival photo. I have a thing about carousels–it makes me happy just to look at them. And thanks for talking us along with you on your walk about London. I can see that I’m going to enjoy vicariously traveling Europe with you!

By: sandi

sandi — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 00:36:52 +0000

So glad to hear about your trip! It sounds divine.

By: martadc

martadc — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 23:37:38 +0000

Glad to read you back, BL!
I totally agree with you on the joy of travelling: it is when I am away from Spain and my familiar surroundings that I feel truly free – and it feels really good indeed.

I wish you a delightful holiday – enjoy the Italian food, I’ve heard it’s amazing…

By: Cam

Cam — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 20:59:35 +0000

I do hope that you write about Betrayal. I saw the movie version with Jeremy Irons in the early 80′s, but don’ t know how true it was to Pinter’s play.

Glad you are enjoying your time alone in London. Travel is like going to the Green World in Shakespeare; a reality on to itself.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 20:03:52 +0000

For me the best part of travelling/being on holiday is leaving all the old routines behind and inventing something new. A holiday for the soul!

As for the congestion charge, initially the streets felt almost deserted, now businesses have factored the cost into their bottom line and traffic is creeping back up again – maybe you hit us on a good day.

And smoke free? You bet! The whole of England. It will be wonderful.

By: JLB

JLB — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 16:09:05 +0000

Sounds lovely Lily – I can absolutely identify with “how you feel when you realize that the heaviness of being yourself isn’t there any more.” Excellent.