The World In Color
Do you ever look around and realize the color palette of your surroundings? As cliché as it may sound, I am a designer who thinks about color every day. While I mostly dress in monochromatic tones, I do love indulging my eyes in the bold and eclectic colors that the world around me offers. My bookmarked sites are filled with eccentric blogs and photography, my shelves are adorned with books on colors and color theories, and now my camera roll is packed with pictures of pastel-colored buildings and brightly bloomed flowers.
I had the privilege of embarking on a European adventure at the beginning of summer. It was my first time in Europe, so my eyes were wide open to new sights and my feet were ready to endure blisters and bruises, all in the name of exploration of course.
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It started in London. Expecting a dull and grey city, I was lucky enough to witness blue skies contrasting its architectural beauty. The weathered slats of brown wood on an English Tudor-style pub transported me to the olden times when furniture would be knocked over during wild drunken nights. The best part of London was its inhabitants. It was difficult to distinguish locals from tourists, but those clad in distinctive outfits stood out the most. There was a punk man at Camden Market dressed in various textures of black, a group of ladies at Covent Garden in coordinating spring florals enjoying lunch, and glimpses of personality peeking through everyone's uniform trench coats. Street vendors showcased trinkets in every variation possible. Coffee shops vied for attention with their millennial pink and Gen Z yellow painted exteriors. On the other hand, the outskirts of London were a blur of green grass. I ran through a field full of tall weeds and wildflowers (weary of poison ivy but still frolicked) and came across a property where a gentleman rode his horse. I savored Indian cuisine that was as fragrant as it was vividly orange and yellow. I didn’t stereotype London as grey anymore, it was a mash of everything.
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The next stop was Switzerland, a bucket list destination for many Filipinos I know. I had dreamt of visiting Switzerland ever since I saw countless posts about it on Accidentally Wes Anderson, and solidified it as my next trip when I saw the hit TV show, Crash Landing On You. It was an absolute feast for the eyes. The bodies of water surrounding me were all sorts of serene shades of blues and greens. I constantly found myself in awe of the brightly painted trains, funiculars, and cable cars that stood out against their surroundings. In the small town we stayed in for a few days, the homes of the locals were adorned with kitschy knick-knacks and whimsical decorations that were both functional and charming. Their homes perfectly complemented the natural elements surrounding them. Swiss flags waved proudly, symbolizing the nation's pride. At 7 AM, children wearing neon yellow high visibility vests collected recycling from the entire town. Geese accompanied me during my morning and evening strolls along Lake Brienz, which was lit by sunrises and sunsets. To be completely honest, it felt like I was living in a simulation of a virtual reality game. The scenery I had never witnessed before caused a glitch in my small-town girl brain. I had to snap myself back to reality and carry on. Zurich was our last stop in Switzerland and, as you know, I love to observe people the most in cities. Working adults were conservatively yet confidently dressed. Cherry-red bikes and sunflower-yellow Vespas zoomed through every corner of the city. Groups of friends enjoyed meals alongside the Limmat River while electric boats passed by. Switzerland exuded pure serenity and ease, which I could readily witness just outside my window.
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The grand finale of my European trip was Italy, where I attended my sister's intimate coastal wedding. The train ride was hazy, but I remember transitioning from the calming blues and greens of Switzerland to the warm tones of red and orange that Italian homes and buildings offered. Cinque Terre was my final destination on this train ride, and it immediately left me in awe. You know in animation films where they turn up the saturation and contrast to evoke the intensity of the emotion they want you to feel? No? Just me? Okay. Well, that's exactly how I felt when I woke up, opened the window to Vernazza's village square, and gazed out at the Ligurian coast. The view epitomized summer and more. In the early morning, I could hear locals sweeping the square, taking out the recycling, and setting their tables to prepare for the surge of tourists for the day. What really put the icing on top were the sunny umbrellas that wrapped around the square. Each restaurant had its own rainbow of umbrellas, providing shade and as bright as the buildings that filled the entire village. The locals matched the town in personality—friendly, casual, and charming. Pastas in reds, greens, and creams were an abundance by nighttime and accompanied by wines, spritzes, and desserts. Every corner was filled with souvenirs featuring illustrations of lemons, sardines, cats, and other obligatory Italian imagery. We ventured to the other four towns and discovered that each possessed its own liveliness. Despite their individual personalities, it still felt like a cohesive color palette to the eyes. Walking shoulder to shoulder with fellow visitors, I wondered how Italians could ever be tired of such vibrant living. I'm saying this as a mere tourist with limited exposure, but still, how is it possible? Coupled with their carefree perspective on life and their passion for good pasta and wine pairings (I ate and drank to my weight in both), what more could one ask for?
Before embarking on this trip, I asked everyone I came across for their opinions, advice, and recommendations. But one conversation stood out to me that kept ringing in my ear and inspired me to jot my thoughts in this way. My former manager, Marge, reminded me to truly absorb all the sights, jot down noteworthy moments, and above all, draw as much inspiration as possible. As creatives, we are often given the seed of an idea that can blossom into something greater. Europe, she said, offered a plethora of colors that I could never have imagined finding elsewhere. And indeed, I experienced colors I had never seen before on such a grand and realistic scale.