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5. The Minnesota State Fair.
I'm not inspired by the State Fair in a really big way, but I do go every year to (among other things, like stuff my face full of Pronto Pups and mini donuts) to gather very specific tactile, audio and olfactory data. Despite the footnote in Derelict Heaven, the fair is a good place to get good inspiration for those things... just not, you know, a war scene. There are all sorts of plants, animals, food and people. The bazaar is full of things to look at and touch. I go there every year to refresh my adjective and verb supply, because there are so many things and so many new ways to explain them. I recommend the fair, 100%.
4. The Ocean.
There is nothing (besides outer space) that makes me feel smaller than the ocean. If you can't guess why the ocean is inspiring, I won't try to explain it. I had a friend once say he didn't need to see the ocean because he had seen Lake Superior. You can't explain the ocean to people who say that. But once you see it, and stand in it, and spend a day watching it, then it begins to make sense. Everything does, I mean.3. The Mall of America.
I'm not exactly a mall rat, but if I ever don't have something to do on a weekday night, I will always opt to go to the mall. And, living where I do, I have the luxury of the gigantor Mall of America in my backyard. There's something about the amount of people, graphic design, advertising, and consumer/capitalism at this mall that always has something to say to me. I love people watching (good old fashioned inspiration) and the MoA always delivers weird, weird, weird people to watch. There's always events, and bookstores, and fashion, so I can see what's going on outside of my bubble. You know, like what's cool. Love the mall. Love it.
2. The subway. Any subway.
Really. It doesn't matter whether it's the Yamanote through Shibuya at 2pm or the underground Minneapolis-St. Paul Light Rail station in the airport at 2am -- I can't get enough of subway trains. I could ride 'em all day. All night. I have, in fact (cheapest way to entertain Joey, ever). There's something about the automated machinery and automated people doing their daily, mechanical things, pretending they're not sharing close company with people right next to them. Every time I get off a train I have to go home and write something down. There is never an end to the inspiration I get on the train.
I really can't say more for this place. The location itself was so surreal and quiet, but the Ryokan (traditional Japanese style inn) in particular was amazing. They have one green tea hot spring and there are tea plants covering the mountains, so when we went in July of 2007, the entire region smelled of cool, sweet green tea. The sky is bigger there, the trees are greener, and the place makes you feel like you're just another leaf on the wind. It was absolutely amazing. I have been to a lot of mountains, but there is surely something very special about the fantastic mountains of Japan. There is a deep peace and quiet there, and if I could claim one spot as my recurring gettaway, this would, without a doubt, be it.
So there you are, five favorite inspirational locations. What are yours?
There is a street in the city of Logrono, Spain called the Calle Laurel. Traditional Spanish tapas bars line the stone streets, and it is such an incredible atmosphere to experience the people and culture of the area. The smells of the wine and cuisine (each bar is known for a certain specialty tapa) mixed with the chatter of everybody and the amiable atmosphere - strangers become instant friends at this strange time of day when Spaniards go out on their traditional gastronomic prowl - makes for superb people watching and sensory input.
ReplyDeleteThe Roman Aqueduct in Segovia, Spain never ceases to amaze me though it is possibly the historic site I have most frequently visited. The history of the place is pracitcally tangible, and the ancient structure is juxtaposed with modern streets and hotels. I love to climb the stone steps to the top and get a view of the city and breathe in the scent of a place that has witnessed the passage of time for centuries.
As an undergraduate, I frequented a fantastic bar/restaurant by the name of Beggar's Banquet. This is a place where I met with friends to enjoy wine and catch up each week. The stories we told and the memories we reminisced about always put me in a great mood mid-week (Wine Wednesday was what we called it) and inspired me to not stop cultivating my social nature while I was buried in the jungle of academia. We still have reunions whenever a few of us are in the area.
I agree about the ocean. While I lived in Miami, the ocean was my neighbor. I loved visiting it and having the luxury of experiencing it whenever I felt like. I loved seeing wild manatees and dolphins. I loved snorkeling and practicing yoga ocean-side, with the sound of a seashell always filling the air. I love the fishy, salty smell of it. I miss it.