In The Right Place, At The Right Time
"Every passion borders on the chaotic,
but the collector's passion borders on the chaos of memories."
Walter Benjamin
In the right place
I’ve been thinking more and more about the places that we desire. In search of particular lessons, we often book a flight to an unknown, unvisited place or plan a solo trip to a city that seemed pivotal in the process of becoming who we are now. The unknown is promising when we want to experience anything but the everyday.
Hélène Grimaud, a French pianist, wrote a compelling memoir, 'Leçons Particulières'1 (Private Lessons), in which she shares how a trip to Italy rekindled her passion for music. Meeting strangers, starting conversations, asking (rhetorical) questions, and the novelty of places were all catalysts for change. I devoured her memoir in less than a day because when I read it, back in 2022, I was having an existential crisis myself. Unable to move forward, all the places found me in Zugzwang.2
I’ve always mapped a lot of emotions onto places. Maybe because some of them have the capacity to bring forth stories, thoughts, and ideas that we barely remember. Maybe because no place stays the same; no city will resemble the one we left behind. Maybe because every place seems forever until it’s a passing thought now and then.
I hope that this year we find ourselves at least once in the right place, hopefully at the right time. Looking back, that’s all that takes for life to unfold the way we desire.
Interviews: The Flâneurs Project
I met Anwar in an online Interintellect salon when the world was experiencing the first lockdowns in 2020. I was living in Switzerland back then, she was living in Kuwait. She joined some of my salons on art gallery curation and storytelling, and I joined her salons on writing.
Anwar is a wonderful listener, a very attentive observer, and a lovely human being. I was very happy when she accepted to answer these questions for The Flâneurs Project. Read the interview below:
Walking in Kuwait-City with Anwar
What is your personal definition of the flâneur / flâneuse?
When walking with curiosity and observation becomes an innate part of the person’s nature and routine, I think that’s a flâneur / flâneuse.
I noticed that people who love walking in general aren’t very timid in reaching or sticking to a destination - it’s bravery and a joyful thing to get lost.
I met Alina Jitari in a cosy café in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, almost ten years ago. We were both volunteering at the same student organisation and we started chatting over mulled wine at the NGO's winter gathering. We both remember that we quickly forgot the world around us and that we talked and talked and talked for hours.
I have asked her a few questions some weeks ago about her walking experiences in Leiden, Barcelona, and around the world. Below you can find her written answers:
Walking in Leiden, Walking in Barcelona with Alina
What city brings you joy whilst walking?
Porto is a city that I could visit a million times. The rich history is floating in the air combined with the scenic views from every corner.
Seen from across the Douro River, it seems that the city is a stairway to heaven, getting lost between iconic buildings, vibrant colours and the ocean side is such a complex experience. You might think that you are walking in a different city at every moment.
Upcoming Gatherings
Join us for three days of immersive walking experiences in Cluj-Napoca, in the heart of Transylvania.
Read more about this experience here. Apply for a place by filling out this form. If you have questions, just write me on Twitter / X, or reply to this email.
Art
Andreas Achenbach (29 September 1815 – 1 April 1910) was a German landscape and seascape painter in the Romantic style.
Reading
War and Peace
“Pierre was right when he said that one must believe in the possibility of happiness in order to be happy, and I now believe in it. Let the dead bury the dead, but while I'm alive, I must live and be happy.”
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
To Fall in Love, Drink This, A Wine Writer's Memoir by Alice Feiring
Dinner Installation
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Thank you for reading.
Onwards,
Patricia
Unfortunately the book doesn’t have an English translation, I’ve read it in Romanian. You can also find it in French.
“Zugzwang” is a German word that translates to ''compulsion to move'' in the English language. The etymology of the word includes “zug,” which means “move,” and “zwang,” which means “compulsion.” In chess, the definition of zugzwang is when a player must make a move that will worsen their position. If a player is in zugzwang, every move available to them puts them at a disadvantage.