Life depends on the eyes with which you look - it is a phrase I read on a wall in the town of Monóvar when I visited it about a month ago. And perhaps it can be accurately said of this town, which had its pretty little things, but also mediocre ones, or perhaps ugly things. Abandoned and left to their fate. Narrow, neglected streets, but they led to sun-drenched towers. Little paths that didn't whisper to me a lot of safety, but the sound of the church bell, the organ playing from within, and the singing of the few women who attended the evening mass guided our steps there, to peace and hope. It depends on how you look at it, right? I can say that my walk through Monóvar was... nothing special, disappointing, or the opposite, that it had its charm. Or both at the same time.
It also depends on whether I am going to compare it to other small towns in the surrounding area. But why compare? If we compare ourselves to other people who are more talented and charismatic, we would feel small and left behind. I can count just on myself in the way I am, which comes from my thoughts, feelings, and decisions; it is my path. Also, we can't compare ourselves to others because each of us has our own timing, walking our paths on our own rhythm, just like Monóvar, for example.
This town has its history, its people who lived here, shaped it, moulded it, some destroyed it, and others built it. Azorín, the writer who was born here, may be one of those who added more value to this little piece of land. Btw, I owe you a post about his museum, which I visited a few months ago, though a summary of that visit has never arrived here on my blog. The promise is now written on the blockchain - and will have to be kept one day!
Back to the streets. Well, look at them for yourselves. Some gems stand out, like the Casino, which is in the first three photos. Then these two houses with towers that I saw in the street in front of the casino. From here, we headed towards the town hall and its square.
I suppose these string lights, placed all over the square, are a nice sight when it is dark, in the evening. But my son and I were here one afternoon - we were still in the phase of taking afternoon drives, anywhere, just to practice driving as he passed his driving test in June. He needed and wanted to practice more, to get more experience and security.
You see... another narrow street, actually staircases, with a very neglected appearance. However, it led us to the tower at the top of this little hill.
Here is where I saw the wall with a drawing and the phrase that life depends on the eyes with which you look (La vida depende de los ojos con que se mire). And exactly here we see this phrase manifesting itself - whoever took the "freedom" to draw nonsense and impoliteness over this girl, probably sees life in a not nice way.
The tricolour cat was definitely a nice, very friendly, and cuddly detail in Monóvar!
A long shadow proved the late afternoon visit and our direction to the blue domes of the church. At every step closer to the church, we saw nicer details, leaving behind the neglected little street.
Once we reached the Church of St. John the Baptist, we entered the building. The little organ was playing a tune I know very well, and the women accompanied it with their singing. Another bright detail of Monóvar, as well as the little chapel right next to it.
My son found a bench in the shade of these palm trees while I was still strolling around. I think we can add this monument honouring a sculptor to the list of nice things we saw in Monóvar that afternoon.
Well, I don't know... it seems like the pretty details win out in the end, right? How do you see this small town? It has bright, but also dull corners... it depends on what we choose to see. 😉