Five: To the Rhythm of My Footsteps

The enigma of the unfamiliar is a warm amber whisper on a chilly spring breeze, and I am lost in Kaunas, lost in Vilnius, lost among a thousand trees. I discover with no purpose. I wander with no companion. I am alone–through forests I am; through cities I am; in every perfect, joyous way I am–carried by the cadence of my footsteps, a warm amber whisper.

Small Signs of Spring -or- In The Valley of Adam Mickiewicz

There is perhaps nothing more pleasing, nothing more valuable, than being alone with Nature. Here, every moment is yours and yours alone. Here, solitude is perfect and unbroken. Here, it is unimportant to be understood–all that is important is under your feet. The Romantics knew this. Adam Mickiewicz knew this.

You know this.

Girstupis, a tributary of the Nemunas River, winds through the
Adomo Mickevičiaus slėnis (the Adam Mickiewicz valley).

The ice, so long unmoved, is bursting now,
With superstitions that have dimmed the light.
Hail, Dawn of Liberty! Oh, Long live Thou!
Thou carriest the Redeeming Sun so bright.
From “Ode to Youth” by Adam Mickiewicz, 1820.

A bridge over Girstupis observes the vibrant birth of Spring.

On the Banks of the Vilnia -or- The Beautiful Guts of Broken Pianos

Vilnius is art. And to be there is to be created as art is created–as a painting, a poem, a street is created; as a river, a tree, a god is created. Vilnius sculpts you, recites you, assembles a salon and invites you to attend. It is not a place that can be appreciated by those sorry thinkers stuck in the concrete. It is an abstract city for abstract people, those who do not require meaning, who rejoice in ambiguity.

St. Anne’s Church as viewed from the other side of Maironio gatvė.

The Flamboyant Gothic façade of St. Anne’s Church.

The Church of St. Francis and St. Bernard peers out from between the towers of St. Anne’s.

Adam Mickiewicz prays under the eyes of St. Anne, St. Francis, and St. Bernard

Everyone has the right to die, but this is not an obligation.
From the Constitution of the Republic of Užupis

Welcome to Užupis, a neighborhood of artists that declared itself an independent republic in 1997.

Woven art hangs from the main bridge into Užupis while The
*Užupis*Mermaid suns herself.

Love locks on one of the many bridges of Užupis.

A cat is not obliged to love its owner, but must help in time of need.
From the Constitution of the Republic of Užupis

The Constitution of the Republic of *Užupis is displayed in numerous languages, mirrored, one might suppose, to reflect the reader in its words.*

Everyone has the right to appreciate their unimportance.
From the Constitution of the Republic of Užupis

In *Užupis, art is on every wall, in every word, in every thought.*

Everyone has the right to understand nothing.
From the Constitution of the Republic of Užupis

No one has the right to have a design on eternity.
From the Constitution of the Republic of Užupis

An old piano plays to the Cathedral of the Theotokos .

Everyone has the right to be lazy and to contemplate.
From the Constitution of the Republic of Užupis

Everyone has the right to be misunderstood.
From the Constitution of the Republic of Užupis

6 thoughts on “Five: To the Rhythm of My Footsteps”

TomAndAlexandra says:

April 14, 2019 at 8:46 pm

The drafters of the constitution were smart people. These are gorgeous pictures, especially the spring ones. We had about 5 inches of snow today.

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1. James Gray says:
  
  April 17, 2019 at 5:19 pm
  
  Thanks for reading, Alexandra! The constitution has a few articles that address dogs and cats. I like that it counts animals as citizens. And I’m sorry to hear about the snow. I think we’re done with snow here, but who knows? The weather in Lithuania is unpredictable.
  
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Trina Ryan says:

April 15, 2019 at 1:20 am

I don’t know which is more beautiful, the writing or the pictures. It’s a close call–both are inspiring works of art. Thank you for your creativity.

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1. James Gray says:
  
  April 17, 2019 at 5:23 pm
  
  Thank you for allowing me to share my creativity! In doing this blog, I’ve discovered interests that I never really knew I had, and I’m lucky to have a platform to explore them.
  
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Ben says:

April 15, 2019 at 6:22 am

Wonderfully engaging. Beckoning with voice and vision to experience the author’s world.

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1. James Gray says:
  
  April 17, 2019 at 5:25 pm
  
  Thanks for reading, Ben! I think this post contains some of my best work, and it’s good to know that it’s appreciated by others.
  
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