All About You FRIDAY – Awash in Beauty

“Please remember we live here.” That was a sign placed all over a picturesque town of 900 inhabitants nestled in the heart of the Austrian Alps. Hallstatt (pronounced HALL-shtat) is reported to have been founded around 7,000 years ago with evidence of the original salt mining activity in 5,000 BC. But nobody really paid attention to it until 20 years ago.

“Social media put it on the map,” our tour guide said in his strong Austrian accent. “Someone took a picture and posted it online and now three million tourists a year descend on this place, sometimes as many as 10,000 in one day.” I couldn’t tell if his tone was one of pride or despair. Austrians can be very neutral in their expression.

It took about 15 minutes to walk from one end of the village to the other, passing small wooden houses with simple curtains and flower boxes. I could see how people would be tempted to peek into windows or walk into gardens. It resembled an outdoor museum. We walked to a spot called the “Point of Silence” which is where I took the picture above.

Breathtaking, isn’t it? But that point was anything but silent. I jockeyed for position amongst the Instagrammers posing for a shot that might get them the most likes. I eventually wandered up the mountain to the Catholic church grounds where the view was equally spectacular and natures sounds were louder than the humans. And I looked over the Hallstatt See (lake), I felt my brain shift and my body exhale. Something happens in your brain when you witness things of grandeur and beauty.

I’m glad I got to see Hallstatt, but I want to tell you another story.

Later that evening, I walked through the rain from our hotel to the Mirabell Palace in downtown Salzburg, an 11-minute walk that I turned into 20 minutes as I meandered through Mirabell Park and walked quietly amongst the trees and fountains. The crowds of the day were gone and I had no need to photograph it, as I’d walked through there several times before. I was alone as my better half wasn’t feeling well. And so, I walked in silence.

I arrived at Mirabell Palace and climbed the grandiose marble stairs to the Marmorsaal, the great marble hall of the palace where I was attending a performance of a local renowned string quintet. I took my seat to left of the musicians, taking in the sight of the gold painted trim and ornate ceiling.

The musicians took the stage and from the first note, I was carried to a different place. There is something to be said for being awash in beauty. Without saying a word, the musicians told the stories of Hayden, Mozart, Bizet and Vivaldi. They told them with grace and humility, as if they were honored to be playing the music of the great composers. And not a squeak was heard. From the audience or the violins.

Have you ever tried to play a violin? You should once. Just run that bow over the strings and you will realize the hours and years it takes to master that instrument so it doesn’t sound like a dying cat. I was sitting close enough that I could see the second the bow touched the strings and I was in awe of how it immediately sounded like singing. Like a voice wafting to the ceiling of that grand room, bathing us all in a few moments of heaven.

From the masters who built that room, to the ones who crafted those instruments, to the musicians who lent their time and talent to playing the music of great composers—that was a night to remember. It was as if the great masters of architectural and musical talent decided to do a great dance.

And nobody took a photo during the performance.

Vienna has launched a campaign called Unhashtag Vienna, calling travelers to stop living their lives through Instagram, stash their phones and experience their city and country sensorially. It would be difficult for me to not take any travel photos, but I learned my lesson.

That day, I experienced two very beautiful things. One will sit with me and transcend me to a different place every time I think of it. It will be my instant vacation in the middle of my stressful days. I will hear it and feel it and smell it.

And I don’t have a picture of it.

You don’t have to go to Austria to be bathed in beauty. I think if we started an Unhashtag Life campaign, we just might find the beauty that surrounds us.

It’s been a long week. Stop. Breathe. Unhashtag. And don’t forget to celebrate.

Until next time…