With Love From Visby
iPhone photography: city walls Visby
Here’s my letter from my journey to Visby on Gotland, my snapshots, my postcards, some of my thoughts and visual inspirations. A letter from “the island of roses and ruins”.
iPhone photography: blue cottage with roses, Visby, Gotland
This adorable cottage covered in roses is one of many in Klinten, the upper part of old Visby. So picturesque that it’s almost surreal! And yet, Klinten used to be a poor part of town. Today, these properties fetch a high price.
iPhone photography: ruined cathedral, Visby, Gotland
In the old part of Visby there are so many ruined churches from the 11-13th centuries that you can easily lose count. But why are the ruins still there? Why, in all these centuries, didn’t anyone tear them down? These ruins in the middle of a city that played such an important role? Because all ruins start off as derelict buildings, and it isn’t until hundreds of years later that we can appreciate them as ruins and even think of them as romantic.
Some sources claim that after the churches were abandoned, they were used to keep cattle in and that the city by then was so poor that they couldn’t afford to pull down the buildings. It’s intriguing. And to think if there will be any ruins left from our time? To imagine people in hundreds of years, strolling through ruins built in our days, snapping photos and imagining our time…
iPhone photography: poppies
On my way to the beach to gather my thoughts, I came across these poppies and I snapped this shot before wandering along the seashore.
iPhone photography: the baltic sea
I was thinking about cities, and how they grow with time, how the patchwork of different times gets stitched into the weave of the city and how it reminds me of growth and “imperfection”. Memories living on the same doorstep as day-to-day life. That a city evolves much like a human, with bits and pieces from different times, with scars, additions, broken parts, victories, plans, dreams and losses. That all these layers of truths, or identities, each as valid, blend into the identity of the city. Or the person.
iPhone photography: purple poppy
As I cut through the Botanical Gardens, I took a photo of this purple poppy. When I got back home I was struck by the serendipity of it! What happened? Where did the glow come from? I don’t know, but it looks magic.
iPhone photography: flowers on patterned table cloth
At the crêperie in Visby I’m taken aback by the combination of romantic flowers in a vase and a bold, modern, black and white pattern on the table cloth.
iPhone photography: peacock pattern
Café Krönet has the most amazing view of the Baltic Sea as well as the most imaginatively designed restroom with this fabulous peacock pattern on the wallpaper as well as framed as a picture.
And finally, another serendipitous photo, this time of a poppy. Ordinary magic.
iPhone photography: poppy
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Tags: iPhoneography, layers, patterns, travel
Wow Kate – How beautiful your letter is, I would so love to visit Visby it does look magical! :D
Dear Kate, it looks like you had a fantastic trip to Visby!! I love all your photos. They really capture its historic and natural beauty. What a relaxing and inspiring place! Thx for sharing :)
those poppies! I can’t believe their beauty…the one that glowed for you, the orange ones that are brought to life by their close proximity to the purple flowers. Thanks for sharing all of these photos, The framed wallpaper is great, and those flowers against the black and white background is stunning.
I love the thought of people strolling through our ruins, imagining our time.
It’s as if I have been there now, you are an artist with words as well as visuals Kate!
I have often wondered about which of our buildings will be someone’s ruins. I look around and I don’t see any as beautiful or historically rich as those cathedrals. I suppose only the passing of time can make that transformation happen. Cities as a living being—I love that, and it’s so true.
Your purple poppy is certainly trying to tell us something important! Either that or your iphone is capable of detecting auras. Do you have an app for that? ;-)
I loved, loved, loved this post—muchas gracias.
i don’t know anything about visby, but it sure looks pretty! :)
All this beauty and wonderment makes my heart sing… Thank you for this wonderful post, Kate! Visby is on our list of must-see! It’s great to be back here catching up with you after being away some days and unwell–on the mend now, I think… Happy Summer Days ((HUGS))
Thank you for your kind comments! :) I really appreciate each and every one!
Even though I am feeling like crap today…your pictures always brighten my spirit. You are very gifted and I am so happy to have you in my life :)
I really enjoyed are these pictures. I love poppies, too. It looks so lovely there.
Thanks for the virtual vacation! I love to look at flowers and patterns, too!
Oh my goodness, those pictures. Just yummy!