18 Comments
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Cassandra Davis's avatar

You had me at triptych! (No, seriously, my brain immediately recalled what I'd learned in "Medieval Art History" way back in college.)

Have you been to Delos? I experienced similar awe at the scope of human experience standing among the many temples of that island.

Karena's avatar

Thanks, Cassandra!! Did the triptych writing style work for you? I'm test running the concept.

And thanks for the Delos recommendation. We did Samos and Paros, but Delos will now have to join that list. It looks amazing.

The triptych idea came about because I bought a triptych at the monastery on Paros, and it sits in my bedroom. And trip ... trip-tych ... trio ... you get it!

Linart Seprioto's avatar

Oh my gosh and what a remarkable post and feat this is. You inspire me Karena. Congrats on Issue No. 250!! 🔥🎉

Karena's avatar

Thanks, Linart - and for the more detailed and just as exuberant voice message!! I really liked what you said, that the truer value of my posts (which you may not have the bandwidth to read each week) are actually as signposts for future you, when you need to come back and get advice!!

Adelaide Dupont's avatar

The hinge is the column.

Karena's avatar

!!! Yay! I hope you enjoyed all three stories, Adelaide. Seeing patterns repeat - across centuries, across eras, across oceans - has helped me develop a sense of resilience.

Adelaide Dupont's avatar

I did enjoy all three stories, @Karena , and the graphics/images too.

The benefits of pattern vision and pattern repetition do stretch out across humanity.

And I like that you say “a sense of resilience” as opposed to “resilience”. I think too that there is a state/trait distinction.

Karena's avatar

Are you a pattern watcher too?

Adelaide Dupont's avatar

I try to be Karena!

I like to make patterns.

Kathy Karn's avatar

Great travel stories Karena!

Karena's avatar

Thanks for that, coming from a veteran travel writer!

Rick Lewis's avatar

Ok, but the 25,000 seat arena is by far the most fascinating of the metrics to me. Like you said, it's incredible to think back and see the through line of the human need and desire to gather and to co-witness story, or I presume that was it's purpose? Orators?

Karena's avatar

"Story tellers" under any name, in any technology, in any era. Isn't the thirst for a good story an enduring part of our humanity?! I did find it tremendously grounding to pull myself out 2,500 years for context so that the 2-month iterative cycle of AI releases would not subsume me.

Rick Lewis's avatar

Yes, a wise restoration of perspective indeed Karena.

Karena's avatar

Someone (who?!) said "History doesn't repeat, it rhymes." When you cycle out long enough, I begin to understand the wisdom in those words.

Kat's avatar

Thank you for mentioning me! I feel truly honored. Hugs, Kat

Karena's avatar

Thank you for that timely post and invitation to step outside our zone, Kat! Travel has helped shape the worldview I write about, so I sometimes include little vignettes in my Substack. But rarely have I written at this length!

Have others tried this "trip-tych" format before? I tripped over it while searching for a reflective way to write about our years' travel and analyze its subsequent impact on our family's behaviour and traditions. In some ways, I want to time travel my way through my stories!

Good luck with your writing, and continue to inspire others.

K