The road a little too travelled

That urge to get outside hits. The sunlight outside strong and beautiful, perfect for some photography and videography. Perfect to explore old environments and capture whatever history remains for the time-being. I really want to get outside right now. But today is a day in which I can't really go on those adventures. The road has been a little bit too travelled. Over the past week I feel like I've been walking endlessly, and I feel it. The shoes I wear daily now feel flat, and I can see they're starting to break up a bit as the wear really appears. Blisters appearing, aches in the feet. It's one of those days where I just have to try to accept that I can't spend the day roaming. The ground beneath my feet varies in its textures. Either old cobblestone with the odd misplaced brick. Or rocky pathways from the many construction sites that are appearing around a heavily former industrial zone. It's a tough landscape. And with the sun shooting down with such intensity lately, it's only harder to spend many hours out there beneath it. Even the wooden flooring of my apartment feels unforgiving, hard and uncomfortable.

That itch to just bandage up the blisters and get back out there remains. A thought constantly in my head as the minutes go by and the day progresses. I think of these environments I have discovered recently and how much I want to get out there and revisit them more, to find what lays dormant waiting to get its revival in time. To be seen and appreciated. Yesterday on the walk home a hidden building revealed itself, tucked away from the modern creations and little homes by the road of the former decades. A type of banner in the window called to me; I knew it was something rare. A general translation of its Armenian text speaks of debt, realising your worth. I don't know the exact translation as it seems a bit confusing with some wording missing and faded over time; but a general idea would be that it's a propaganda poster that reminds the worker of their debts to society, to realise their worth within society by being a confident and ideal worker through their contributions. Look at it, sitting up there, looking down at me. Inviting me inside to see what else remains.

Another day, I found a nuclear bunker in my area. I am yet to venture inside. I have been doing a little bit of scouting to ensure it's not something that'll get me in trouble. It's unlocked, again, it sits there tormenting me with its little treasures inside. And nearby a clear bunker repurposed. It's many levels and rooms turned into parking. An odd experience to roam through, to see it had no relation to the contents that sit above it. That cold stone and concrete smell lingered. It was clear that this was once something else, that each level would've served another purpose. Little rooms for storing various items. Where huge steel doors would've been there are now little gaps in the flooring, entrances and exits with different stairways leading elsewhere. But all these things will have to wait for another day.