Let's see... How do I explain this? Valencia is the name of the capital of the state where I live. My city is not too far from there, and I could say that with some regularity I walk the historical streets that once meant so much to me... I am just noticing the neglect and the passing of time in a place that should definitely look very different from the way it does... This post is a journey through my old memories and how words as disparate as happiness and disappointment are related....
Generatively, cities are a story in and of themselves. They tell us how their streets were treated, or what is the importance that their citizens have on their care and preservation... And with these parameters, I was able to notice a terrible generalized oblivion among the population? I was accompanied by my 9 year old daughter, and she was supposed to be taught in classes about the history and culture of our state, not to mention this specific city. And to no one's surprise, everything I showed her as we walked around seemed not to matter to her.
“They're just buildings, mommy”.... And there goes the memory of a city more than 400 years old. A municipal theater, in fact. Image and likeness of the Théâtre de Paris. More than a century old and preserved in its entirety in the middle of 2024, and with temperatures that never fall below 32 degrees in the shade... The streets of the Historic Center of Valencia, which used to be the very origin of Venezuelanness, but people just don't seem to care at all? Even I, once in a while, activate the “automaton mode” and simply walk without paying attention.
The difference? Today I was accompanied by my daughter... And she has not the slightest interest in the traces of the historical past of our essence.... And like her, I think hundreds of thousands follow her way of thinking... It's a pity, you know, I don't know if it's nostalgia or if I just refuse to accept that I'm getting old, but I do treasure and still keep in my memory precious memories of Downtown Valencia. Together with my mother, holding hands and sharing some drink or educational conversation about every street, every centuries-old church and its cobblestone streets....
There is no culture if we deliberately decide that we no longer care about the historical ground we walk on, nor about its streets, buildings, places of recreation or educational centers, such as the State Library... I will not lie to you, I am a little worried about the apathy and idleness with which the younger generations inexorably live. It is not only my daughter, believe me, it is much, much more... Personally, I am fortunate to keep my perspectives and my photographs on what I (still) consider important. A journey that has taught me more than I thought. Perhaps, part of the teachings that the posts leave, lies in this kind of reflections.... They only arise when writing and detailing.