All through Europe, and this time across Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic and Hungary, I kept getting amazed by the sheer perfection of the architectural landscape. Huge old monuments including palaces, fortresses, museums, churches, town halls, even public buildings like railway stations (in Budapest) and post offices, were obviously designed and built to inspire awe. The massive scale, the intricate carvings, the elegant sophistication…appeal hypnotically. The flow of each sculpture, the curve of each pillar, the grandeur of each flight of steps… there is beauty everywhere. I sweep my eyes slowly over the magnificent structures, again and again, as if trying to record the images in my mind forever. Only scattered memories will remain. And so, I try to capture a fraction of the beauty in my Sony Handycam, hoping that the videos will partially help relive the magical experience later.
Cities, towns and even little villages are planned with admirable precision…pure poetry in stone and cement. Symmetry and uniformity (in space, scale and style) are never compromised. Colours and materials used for buildings and areas are pleasantly homogenous…as if aimed to create a natural calm. Nothing sharp breaks the rhythm, nothing jarring shocks the eye. Not only is the heritage of centuries old grand buildings preserved with pride, but newer structures are built to imitate, and enhance their traditional charm. The cobbled streets in the old towns, though crowded with cafes, shops and tourists, seem to invite, attract, even surprise, but never, ever suffocate you.
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