Some journeys begin with a plane ticket. This one began with a blank page, a blue dress, and the decision not to hurry. Mea Zen went out into a city she thought she knew. The city, however, had a small idea of its own.
An imagined journey inspired by the author's Travel2City photographs. The events, sequence of the day and character in the scenes are artistic interpretations.
Beneath Michael's Gate, I slowed down. My scarf brushed my neck, and the breeze caught its end before I could straighten it. I let it be. For the first time that morning, I had nothing to finish. I only had to look up. The tower clock kept its own pace. My steps finally found theirs. The notebook stayed closed. Not every lovely thing needs to be caught at once.
The tower had been here all along. Today I finally looked up.
Outside the theatre, I sat down and opened my notebook. Windows appeared on the paper, then arches, then one suspiciously crooked line. It made me laugh. If I waited for a perfect drawing, the city would have time for another performance. I crossed my ankles, smoothed my dress and glanced over my shoulder. I wanted to stay. Instead of the building's name, I wrote: A little longer.
The theatre had its stage. Today, a bench was enough for me.
At Devín, there was suddenly more sky than language. I rested my hand on the wooden rail and watched the river beyond the stone walls. My hair fell across my face; this time I did not brush it away immediately. The sun was warm, the wind was cool, and I liked them both. An open page turned by itself. All right, I thought. A journey can suggest what comes next.
The wind made room for something no plan could hold.
By evening, the street had turned the colour of honey. Light by the doorway made small islands on the paving, and my footsteps seemed slower between them. I left the scarf loose on my shoulder. I was no longer looking back for fear of missing something. I simply liked the view. The notebook finally held a story, and there was still plenty of evening left. On the last line I added: Tomorrow, we need not hurry either.
The city was not saying goodbye. It was inviting me down one more street.
From notebook to book
The Map with No Last Page
The illustrations from our travel notebook are also finding their place in the forthcoming Travel2City book. The same places, another way to turn the page.
