Raskršće prošlosti i sadašnjosti
Ana Špehar
Kad god osjetim da trebam kratku pauzu od gradskog života, pauzu od ulica u kojima se jeka prolaznika spaja tako savršeno sa svim zvukovima koje zaposleni grad nudi- alarmi na autima, vozila koja prolaze, razgovor, pjesma, svadja i dječja igra, znam savršeno mjesto.
U zadnjih 150 godina šetnica Marina Walk je bila omiljeno mjesto za mnoge ljude iz Corka da odu u šetnju, udahnu malo svježeg zraka, izgube se u tišini i povežu sa prirodom.
Kako iza sebe ostavljam Gradsku Vjećnicu, ne mogu si pomoći a da se opet ne divim prekrasnom dizajnu sa primjerima arhitekture osamnaestog i devetnaestog stoljeća, zgradi koja zaista dodaje puno gradu.
Tako je udobno, sa mirisom svježeg kruha iz lokalne pekarnice koji se miješa sa slanim povjetarcem rijeke Lee, i iako ne zvuči tako, ta dva mirisa si savršeno pristaju.
Uzbudjena sam jer znam da je samo kratka šetnja do spokoja i tišine Centre Park Ceste koja void prema Marina šetnici. Dok hodam kroz zeleni svod drveća osjećm kao da sam napravila korak iz grada i zakoračila u bajku. I dok je Centre Park cesta i dalje industrijska zona ipak ima mirnoće u sebi. Primjećujem kako buka grada postaje sve tiša i tiša i odjednom sve što čujem je cvrkut ptica i vjetar što šuška kroz grane. I drveće se pretvara u nježne zelene divove koji mašu svojim rukama nalik na grane i pozdravljaju me, pozivaju me u svoj svijet.
Nakon što sam napustila svjetlucave lampice Marina Marketa, šarenog igrališta koje udiše život sivilu okolne industrijske zone, kao da sam napravila korak kroz portal u prošlost, u neka tiša vremena. Bilo je zaista nešto čarobno izaći sa Centre Park ceste na Marina šetnicu. Ova zelena staza kraj rijeke Lee datira iz 1760. i originalno se zvala Novi Zid i Navigacijska Šetnica, prije nego je preimenovana u Marina 1872.
I vidim njihove sjene, kako plešu na stazi, tako nježno, u ritmu vjetra i uz glazbu prirode oko njih.
Putem prema Blackrock dvorcu uočila sam impresivni Pairc Ui Chaoimh, koji se izdiže iznad zelenog drveća da se možemo diviti njegovoj modernoj arhitekturi, kao divovska svemirska letjelica. Sa druge strane, preko rijeke Lee, ostaci prošlosti mi šapuću. Stare Viktorijanske kuće pomiješane sa modernima, a sve isprepletene prirodom. Kuće koje zamalo izgledaju kao Lego kocke ostavljene na mekanom zelenom tephu, koje je neko razigrano dijete zaboravilo pospremiti. Kuće koje izgledaju kao da su jako pažljivo smještene između različitog drveća, sa toliko nijansi zelene. Nastavljam svoju šetnju uz Atlantsko Jezero, tajnu, mirnu oazu daleko od grada koja se krije u sjeni stadiona Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Kombinacija slatke vode, okolnog šumarka i blizine luke Cork učinila je Atlantsko Jezero savršenim staništem za riječne, slatkovodne i šumske ptičje vrste, i samim time jednim od najpopularnijih mjesta u Corku za promatranje ptica. Osim što je mjesto gdje možete vidjeti kako Sivi heron radi svoje gnijezdo na malenom otoku usred Atlantskog Jezera također je i dom za mnogobrojne patke i labudove koji graciozno plove jezerom i strpljivo čekaju nekog prolaznika da se divi njihovoj ljepoti, i možda im dobaci koju sjemenku.
Ostavljam patke i labudove Atlantskog Jezera da čekaju idućeg obožavatelja i polako hodam prema Blackrocku. Drveće na šetnici stoji kao vojnici u redu, ponosno pokazujući svoje svježe, zelene uniforme i tragove na kori koji su nalik na medalje osvojene u nekim bitkama prošlosti. I vidim njihove sjene, kako plešu na stazi, tako nježno, u ritmu vjetra i uz glazbu prirode oko njih.
Kuće koje zamalo izgledaju kao Lego kocke ostavljene na mekanom zelenom tephu, koje je neko razigrano dijete zaboravilo pospremiti.
Riječno korito više nije tako mirno i sada mogu vijdeti pokoji brod, što ukazuje na blizinu luke Cork. I ako stojiš nekoliko minuta i strpljivo čekaš, možeš vidjeti kako je Rijeka bogata ribom. Ribe plivaju uokolo, možda kao i patke i labudovi Atlantskog Jezera, nadajući se da će im prolaznici udjeliti pokoju mrvicu. U daljini vidim Blackrock dvorac, tako star i veličanstven, stoji tamo kao kameni čuvar što nadgleda rijeku.
Nakon samo kratke šetnje stižem u Blackrock, predgrađe Corka koje odašilje seosku vibru, što duguje tome da je Blackrock originalno i bilo ribarsko selo. Sa rastom i razvojem grada uklopilo se u grad i postalo predgrađe. Maleni trg na ulazu u Blackrock poziva me k sebi. Tako je udobno, sa mirisom svježeg kruha iz lokalne pekarnice koji se miješa sa slanim povjetarcem rijeke Lee, i iako ne zvuči tako, ta dva mirisa si savršeno pristaju. Kafić na čošku pun je ljudi, koji uživaju u suncu, pogledu i svježem zraku. Vidim Blackrock dvorac, tako je blizu sada, stara utvrda koja stoji ponosno, prkoseći prolaznosti vremena.
Nakon što sam napustila svjetlucave lampice Marina Marketa, šarenog igrališta koje udiše život sivilu okolne industrijske zone, kao da sam napravila korak kroz portal u prošlost, u neka tiša vremena.
Blackrock dvorac datira iz 1582 godine i najstarija je struktura u Corku koja je još u upotrebi. Prije je bio Vojni Sud, svjetionik, signalna stanica i oružrnica a sada se koristi kao zvjezdarnica. Zvjezdarnica nudi mnoge sadržaje pa tako možete poslati email u svemirsku postaju, igrati razne igre i diviti se zvjezdama u Planetarijumu. DVorac Blackrock je mjesto gdje prošlost i sadašnjost postaju jedno.
Sve što treba je kratka šetnja iz centra grada i možeš se naći povezan sa prirodom uzduž Marina šetnice ili istražiti svemir u Zvjezdarnici dvorca Blackrock.
Crossroad of past and present
by Ana Špehar
Whenever I feel like I need a short break from the city life – a break from the streets in which the echo of the people passing by intertwines so perfectly with all the sounds a busy city offers – car alarms ringing, vehicles driving, people talking, singing, arguing and children playing, I know the perfect spot.
In the last 150 years Marina Walk has been a favourite place of many Corkonians to go for a stroll, breathe in some fresh air, get lost in the quiet and connect with nature.
As I leave Cork City Hall behind me, I can’t help but once again feel amazed by its beautiful design with the examples of eighteenth and nineteenth century architecture. The building really adds up this city.
I am excited because I know that now I only have a short walk till I reach the peacefulness and calmness of the Centre Park Road walkway that leads to the Marina Walk. As I walk through the green arch of trees it feels like I just took a step out of the city and into a fairytale. And while the Centre Park Road is an industrial estate, it still has some calm in it. I can notice how the noise of the city is getting quieter and quieter until all I can hear is chirping of the birds and wind flowing through the branches. And the trees turn into gentle green giants waving with their branchlike arms and greeting me, welcoming me into their world.
The houses almost look like pieces of Lego bricks left scattered on the fluffy green carpet by a playful child that forgot to put his toys away.
After leaving the fairy lights of the Marina Market behind me, a colourful playground breathing life into the greyness of the surrounding industrial estates, it was like taking a step through a portal into the past, into some quieter times. This leafy, Lee-side path dates back to the 1760’s and was originally known as the New Wall and Navigation Walk, before it was renamed to The Marina in 1872.
As I make my way towards the Blackrock Castle I spot the impressive Páirc Uí Chaoimh, rising above tall green trees, for us to behold its modern architecture, like a giant spaceship parked among the trees. On the other side, across the river Lee, further remnants of the past whisper to me. Old Victorian houses mixed with the modern, and all intertwined with nature. The houses almost look like pieces of Lego bricks left scattered on the fluffy green carpet by a playful child that forgot to put his toys away. They are all safely placed between all the different trees, of many shades of green.
The trees on the walk are standing like soldiers in a line, proudly showing off their fresh leafy green uniforms and marks on their bark which look like medals earned in some battles of the past.
I continue my walk next to the Atlantic Pond, a secret, tranquil oasis away from the city that hides in the shadow of Pairc Ui Chaoimh. The combination of freshwater, surrounding woodland and proximity to Cork Harbour make the Atlantic Pond a perfect habitat for coastal, freshwater and woodland bird species, making it one of the popular places in Cork for birdwatching. Besides being a spot where you can see the Grey Heron nesting on the small island in the centre of the Atlantic Pond, it is also a home for many ducks and swans, which gracefully slide on the water of the pond patiently waiting for someone to pass by, admire their beauty and maybe throw them a fistful of seeds.
I leave the ducks and swans of the Atlantic Pond to wait for next admirer and I slowly walk towards Blackrock. The trees on the walk are standing like soldiers in a line, proudly showing off their fresh leafy green uniforms and marks on their bark which look like medals earned in some battles of the past. And I can see their shadows dancing on the sidewalk, so gently, in the rhythm of the wind and to the music of the nature around them.
The riverbed isn’t so peaceful anymore and now I can spot a boat or two, which indicates the closeness of Cork Harbour. And if you stand still for few minutes and wait patiently you can see the fish swimming around, perhaps just like the ducks and the swans of the Atlantic Pond, waiting for people passing by to throw few crumbs their way. In the distance I can see the Blackrock Castle, so old and majestic, it stands there like a stone guard overseeing the river.
After just a short walk I have arrived to Blackrock, a Cork suburb with a cosy vibe, which it owes to the fact that Blackrock was originally a fishing village. With the growth of the Cork City it became incorporated into the city and became a suburb. The small square at the entrance to Blackrock makes me feel so welcome. It is just so cosy and inviting with the smell of fresh bread from the local bakery that mixes with the salty breeze from the river Lee, and although it doesn’t sound like it, they go together so perfectly. The coffee place on the corner is full of people, enjoying the sun, the view and the fresh air. I can see the Blackrock Castle, it’s so near now, an old forth standing proud, defying the passing of the time.
This leafy, Lee-side path dates back to the 1760’s and was originally known as the New Wall and Navigation Walk, before it was renamed to The Marina in 1872.
Blackrock Castle dates back to 1582 and it is the oldest surviving structure still in use in Cork City. Formerly an Admiral Court, a lighthouse, a signalling station and a gun battery the castle is now used as an observatory. The observatory offers many different activities so you can send an email to the space station, play games, admire the stars at the Planetarium. Blackrock Castle is a place where past and present become one.
All it takes is a short walk from the city centre and you can find yourself connected with nature among the green of the Marina Walk or explore the universe at the Blackrock Castle Observatory.
Ana Špehar is born in 1983 in Zagreb, Croatia and lives in Cork for last six years. Most of her poetry is love-themed or with the theme of Ireland, as she finds both to be endless inspirations. Her work was published in several magazines, such as ‘Boyne Berries’, ‘A New Ulster’, ‘Qutub Minar Review’, Good Day, Cork and poetry anthologies ‘A Journey Called Home’, ‘Cork Words’ and ‘Blue Mondays Poetry Anthology’. She was invited to share her work at the ‘Winter Warmer’ poetry festival, ‘Many Tongues of Cork’, at the ‘Hidden Stories’ for Life FM, made a poetry video for Waterstones for Irish Book Week and curated a poetry video for Culture Nights 2021 for Cork City Library.
Ana is also interested in other writing genres, so she wrote a song for children published in ‘Around the World in a Song’, and at the moment she is writing a series of interviews with poets of Cork for the City Library Blog called ‘Cork in Verse’ and is currently working on a collection of short stories.
