20220810 Orientation and Perspective: In a few weeks, I hope to be heading to the Czech Republic for Prague, other cities, and, then, Budapest in Hungary. I was there in 2016 with Marian, Donna, and Jeff. I’ve been looking at maps to see where we will be staying compared to where we stayed then. For Prague, the hotel is on the other side of the city; for Budapest, it’s several blocks north. Each will give me a new orientation to the city and a different perspective.

On our April-May trip this year, I became aware again of how different things are when approached from different directions. Part of it is new sensations from a different point of view. Part of it is just getting my bearings of where I was as compared to where I had been the last time I was here. And part of it was seeing parts and things I had not experienced on a prior visit.

When I walk on the trails in our subdivision, my usual route is clockwise. If I go in the opposite direction, it all feels dissimilar even though the only difference is seeing the same things just from a different direction and angle. Same thing when I used to ride my horses in nearby parks – going one direction compared to the same route in the opposite one is a whole distinct perception. Now, to some specifics from our recent trip.

Parc Guell, Barcelona – When I was there in 2019, I entered from the top of the park and worked my way down. This visit started at the bottom and worked around and up, but not as far up as before. I had to get reoriented. It encompassed more than just a change of direction since I discovered parts of the site we had not seen before. And a difference in perspective given approaching things from different angles.

Pompeii – Our group entered the park from a different direction than where I had been in 2019. I had no sense of where I was as compared to before until well into the visit where we began to be in areas I had seen. Again, this was orientation, difference in perspective, as well as new vistas and sites.

Last time I got to Prague overland from a river cruise. This time I fly in.

Last time I got to Budapest on an overnight train from Paris through Switzerland. This time I fly out back home.

Last time I was part of a group on a Danube Jewish Heritage river cruise.

This time I am part of a group of photographers here to capture images.