It has been a long time since I wrote a new post. The delays are due to lower spirit caused by not the best
stretch in the health department of mine. It is time for allergies to
flair up and that added to my general health maintenance issues.
I wonder why I started my post in
the way I did. Do I think my readers need an excuse from me? Has my old friend - guilt (I am working on getting rid of it) kicked in again? Is it that I have
not come up with an interesting subject to write about and am asking for understanding?
All the above? Looks like it.
Some time ago I concluded that my blog will be a series of essays or as my very European soul prefers to call it - feuilletons. “Feuilleton” seems to me more like literary type of writing while an “essay” indicates something like a school assignment.
So, the subject of my feuilleton
today will be – Fascination with Mountains.
There are two things that brought
the subject of mountains to my attention. One of them is the a series of posts by one of my favourite
bloggers Hans the Hiker. He impresses me with his determination to put dreams into plans and then into action. From what I can observe he succeeds big way.
His most recent writing relates to his Mont Blanc walk. New posts are still being added but the first ones were enough for me to get into the mood of
the hike and want for more. I recommend his site.
I do not think I am particularly
pessimistic thinking that such trips and views are beyond me now. Actually,
many years ago when I spent time in Polish Tatra I had some altitude problems
and was advised to avoid high mountains in the future. But mountain views are
stunning; on Hans’ blog and in my recollection from student days. As I lived
in the middle of rather circularly shaped Poland, summer trips were usually
planed with change of scenery in mind. That meant either the mountains on the south of Poland or north at the Baltic shore. The two of my closest
student friends and I went few times to Polish Tatra staying near Zakopane,
the most fashionable place in the Polish mountain region. This was a great time for
bonding and building trust one thought will last for life. And this is one of my most profound disillusions and the saddest experiences of the recent. I know it is time to let it go, so I salute to the old friendship.
Back to
Zakopane and our holidays. We walked a lot in beautiful valleys with refuges
feeding us local specialties. Reading Hans’ blog I came to a conclusion that
Polish Tatras are a small brother of Alps but they beat even Italy as far as
feeding tourists is concerned. Now and in communistic times, I can remember.
 |
| This looks like enough calories to prepare for a long hike |
 |
| The cheese is very special and you can buy it only in Polish Tatras. |
Being young girls, we laughed a lot (maybe
all the time?), we talked a lot and we read a lot as well. Magic times…
| This is Giewont. Can you identify a laying man? His head and torso? |
The memory of my holidays in the
mountains was triggered by watching rather silly old Polish series – In
Stilettos on Giewont. Giewont is one of the most recognizable Polish mountain
sites; it is often named a Sleeping Soldier. The TV series is really silly and
I gave up watching it after a short while but it brought the memories that are very
important for me. There is a very special climate around the place, very
distinctive culture, even language is different and very melodious, architecture 
and way of dressing. 
Maybe a
lot of that is the show for the tourists those days, but even if it is only a show it is a very
good one. Back to Hans’ posts, I can not stop myself to put a little add for
Polish Tatra and its resorts. They are wonderful walks there. Not of the magnitude
or beauty of Alps, but there is enough beauty to be found on less strenuous
walks that for many will be demanding anyhow.
and way of dressing.  | ||
How about that for a view? Valley of Five Lakes.
|
Thanks for bringing topic of mountains. I was also fascinated with them, I mean Polish mountains - Tatra, but for many years they were just memories of my mother. I visited them first time when I was 21 years old. Later visited mountains many time, mainly in winter, for skiing. Actually more frequently I visited - Sudety - mountain range in South-Western Poland.
ReplyDeleteMy most exciting mountain experience took place in Caucasus mountains, in Soviet Union. My relation from this visit (in Polish) is here ==> https://ewamaria2013texts.wordpress.com/2017/10/01/wsrod-przyjaciol-moskali-1/
Another thanks for a link to Hans the Hiker. Actually his last post is about Tour of Mt Blank, which I made 12 years ago. My relation, this time in English, here ==> https://sites.google.com/site/pharlap1941/Home/tmb
Looks like I used your entry to promote my memories. Sorry, but memories are dominating my current life.
Funny about that, memories, I mean. I am almost obsessed with memories these days. Have we got old?
DeleteThank you for the links. The story about kulebiak i Chekhov very funny. Chekhov's prose simply fantastic in the part you quoted. It is difficult to believe that ideology can kill sense of humour and commons sense. Scary times they were.
Yes, it looks that you and Hans walked the same walk only your description is very terse.
Thank you for the plug and your very kind words Anna. Yes, walking Tour du Mont Blanc was quite an experience. I’m blogging one post for each of the 11days on the trail and 1for each the day before and the day after. Still got two more to do.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you may have a new follower in Lech. Looks that he walked the same walk as you.
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ReplyDeleteWelcome to the club. I am fascinated with mountains as well and I live 900 Mts AMSL just at the foothills of our great Western Ghats. I love to go up to some of the resorts on it close to home and also love to drive over it on my way to Mumbai. I have also been to our Himalayas at many places and if only my health would permit, would go again. My trip to the Mont Blanc in the Swiss Alps is one of the cherished memories of my travelling days and I have written about all these experiences at various times in my blog.
ReplyDeleteMy health now does not permit me the luxury of hiking which I used to enjoy but, I hope that my son will take up to it as he intends to shortly.
It really looks that there is something like a magnet in mountains. People seem to be drawn to them and cherish the memories for many years if not for ever. Of course there is a majestic beauty about it but I think that there it may be something spiritual about it as well.And you have this beauty just outside your door! Lucky you. I just looked it up and Western Ghats are beautiful mountains and so green.
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