I was always fascinated by art, in whatever form it expresses itself. Naturally I show great favor to theater, so much so, that I forgot to notice of those others expressions of art that surround me, that surround all of us.

 From a lowly street artist to the grandest sculpture of a radiant city, art is everywhere, that is of course if we keep our eyes open.

 Scrolling through the photos of my latest trip to Turkey I noticed maybe for the first time, this particular picture. It is from Ciragan Palace, now 5 star hotel and one of the  finest examples of architectural art. Those neo-gothic windows which blend harmoniously with the baroque style of the palace made me realize how much I had underappreciated architecture and its beautiful craftsmanship.

 Since this photograph of Ciragan inspired me to explore the virtuosity of architecture, I did a little research about this palace, which housed several sultans but unfortunately only for a short period of time. It had to demonstrate walls built from the finest marble and traditional wooden roofs. But its charm doesn’t stop there. It either inspired a secret affair or aother piece of art, this of storytelling! According to the legend the palace rumored to house the secret love affair between the wife of Napoleon the 3^rd and the sultan Abdulaziz.

 So there I had it, from something that started as admiration for the art of architecture became a journey to the art of fiction –as my research firmly suggested- to a whole different kind of art, that of discovering the hidden craftsmanship everywhere. Because once you go inside Ciragan palace a whole new world awaits you, full of beauty. From the Japanese art of arranging flowers to the most exquisite gourmet cuisine the art of pleasuring even the most delicate palates.

 Then I really started thinking. If we assume that the world around us is like this palace that waits for its visitors to appreciate it, then we have to open our eyes to the things around us we find ordinary and value the artistry that is hidden inside them.

 Those thoughts open a new door! If I was in the mood to see and admire the beauty of art I didn’t necessarily had to go to a museum. I could very well open a book from my bookcase, watch a movie or the more difficult go for a walk at the nature and seek this special form of art that it is not man made, but nevertheless waits for us to go and admire it.      

 As some of you may have noticed, I kind of abandoned my blog but it was not without reason.

 I so wish I could tell you that my life was full with weeks of fabulous activities that didn't left me any time at all for writing. The bitter truth is -although I did have a nice time and occasionally a very entertaining and fun time- that the muse we call inspiration refused to pay me a visit. 

 So I went to search for her. I saw plays and movies, I read new books and reread old favorite ones, I went for drinks with friends and for walks alone -that's where I took the above picture- but it was all for naught. Did the world around me had stopped inspiring me? That was a depressing thought!

 It was on one of those ''missions'' for search of the unattainable inspiration that I stumbled upon something Picasso once said: 'Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.' That made me realize that I hadn't picked up my pen once. I was just in a staring match with my notebook and loosing! I could certainly not admit defeat from a blank piece of paper..

 So I lifted my pen, felt its weight, passed it through my fingers, I even started doodling on the page. I did everything I could thing of in order to jump start my creativity. All the while wondering what did all those authors, writers and bloggers do when they hit the wall? I assumed that everyone has at some point of their lives experienced the dreaded 'writer's block'. Since I had no one to turn for this kind of advice, I thought that I needed a new adventure, something to take my mind of this situation and hopefully give me material to write about.

 It took me more time than I am proud to admit to realize that I was thinking so inside of the box that I couldn't see the solution that was in front of me all along. I was thinking the lack of writing as a problem instead I could think of it as a new adventure. One I had never encountered before. And I did just that.

 I turned the page of my notebook and started chronicle this new predicament, and you know what? The words started flowing through my mind and into my pen. Even if someone sees this post as the dullest thing he/she ever read ( I mean I am writing about not being able to write) I really don't care. I just hope that with my work I might be able to ignite even the tiniest spark in the mind of someone who has found itself in the same position.

 We've all been there, some for days, some for weeks, some for years. But I refuse to believe it is because we have nothing left to say but because we are afraid to say what we want for fear of judgement or rejection. The truth is that, it could happen either way, even if we stay silent. So speak, write, express yourself, do whatever sets your soul on fire. The right people will be by your side ready to help you keep your fire alive. 

 Or so I desperately hope.

KISSES!

E.