Poland is the neighbor country to the west of Kyiv which influence has spread all over. A long border line separates nation’s minds and makes them feel strangers. What does it mean being Ukrainian? Or being Polish? Can you look for the meaning in your vocabulary? Certainly not. However, you will find the meaning for the “citizenship” and that is what exactly important. Belonging to the Planet, World, and Universe. We need to be part of something, always, as loneliness can kill us. That is why I refuse to accept borders between countries, language barriers and mind blockades. I would like to get as close as possibly to life without any of them and understand why we still remain different mentally and so identical physically. There is a strong wish to inhale this beautiful city and print it in my soul!
PhotoThought 1: Main Scenes
I hope you are not tired of my postcards yet (I see your little cunning grimaces). I am not tired of designing them for you in some crazy hope that one day you might need them. It is also a terrific way to gather several photos at once and create a new common picture. The same as assembling a puzzle. Every piece takes its right place. And you look at the entire picture differently, right? The same when I look at the picture above. This is the collective image of Polish city called Zakopane. A very nice city situated in the southern part of Poland almost at the border between Slovakia and Poland attracts every hiker’s attention. You will find there so many routes to walk and so many breathtaking views to capture. In my postcard I decided to focus on little details such as local parks, monuments, and houses. They do not belong to the main attractions, however, they represent local habits and traditions better. Seeing these scenes brings me closer to Polish culture and people. I am eager to catch its specific mountain atmosphere. Air is different here; nature is different as well as atmosphere. It is a typical mountain city where tourism is the most popular occupation. A number of hotels, villas, cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops goes off scale. It is a real tourist resort crowded most of the time. However, there are some narrow streets that can draw the curtain and let you peep through secret hole. Then you are lucky to observe a completely different picture!
PhotoThought 2: Mountains
Only mountains can be better than the mountains. This is the love from the first breathe. Air in the mountains is fresh and intoxicating.
‘It is always the same with mountains. Once you have lived with them for any length of time, you belong to them. There is no escape.’ (Ruskin Bond)
And you would not like to escape from them, you prefer staying there forever, just to look at them endlessly. Here there is no time, no distance, no hurry, only they and I. There is almost intimate bond between us. This is a teaser for you, my little Friends, as I made a lot of pictures about mountains and so many breathtaking views. Be patient!
PhotoThought 3: Countryside
In this postcard I am particularly fond of two goats: white and black. Aren’t they look cute? A couple or two family members. They seem to be curious about me and my camera. I can’t stand not taking a snap of them. I suppose they suit the entire atmosphere perfectly…
I saw rivers, small houses, fields and gardens. This city is very different from any mountain city in Ukraine. It is visible that people here live much better. While sitting in the local cafe I saw Polish happy faces and felt a bit envy. Please forgive me for being too honest with you, but I wish I could see my Ukrainians the same happy and free one day. Surely, my country is not that hopeless and if everyone does its best it can be really changed for the better, however, it will be a long way. And I would not like to wait so much. Unfortunately, I am a realist as well and see not too much positive. In fact people, my Ukrainians, do surprise me every day with their indifference and rudeness. Even worse, they make me also being indifferent and rude…and that scares me the most!
PhotoThought 4: Houses
How about sit comfortably in these red chairs and enjoy the…houses? I confess I have never seen such a gorgeous and unusual style. These houses drew my attention at once. I could not go by without shooting them. And those windows with colorful flowers and designed yards. Owners prove they are skillful at design. They are proud of beautifully decorated yards. As you may see almost all houses are wooden, a distinctive sign of the mountain region. It brings us back in time: when people could not afford themselves anything better than a humble wooden house. They made their houses from wood found in forests. There were too many forests at those times. On the contrary, nowadays these mansions are a privilege for people with impressive bank accounts. I would not refuse to settle in one of them and you? Just imagine a romantic scene near your fireplace…hmm…I bet you won’t refuse!
And now tell me something interesting about the city where you live. I am hungry for your comments, impressions and stories. Only one problem – this time I cannot promise you any reward, since your writer was not so successful recently. In my heart I would like to present you something every time you share with me your wonderful story, but I have no good sponsor or investor…yet.
In case you have no good idea what to present your friends or you need to find something special for somebody, here is the link to my designs available for you:
http://www.redbubble.com/people/anrostudio/works/22497628-kocham-polske?asc=u&p=classic-tee&ref=artist_shop_grid
http://www.redbubble.com/people/anrostudio/shop?asc=u
Also if you like any of my postcards design, but in your head you imagine your own photos in them, please let me know and I will design for you. I am also eager to help to design some special card for any special occasion. Give me a hint in the comment or in twitter ann021814 (facebook Ann AnRo) and I’ll contact you as soon as possible!
Stay in tune! To be continued…
Happy weekend, my little Friends!
Yours Ann
P.S. As I was writing this post world has gone crazy… I have friends from France and I am in deep grief with them. One day France, the other night Turkey…I am lack of appropriate words…just a wish for all of us not to loose being wisdom!
