TAKE ME HIGHER!

ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, LONDON.

Steps, stairs, which lead us to a place higher than where we are, are quite fascinating.

They are such a  part and parcel of our life that we often do not see the beauty of these stairs. When they are outside a house they beautify the facade of the building. Broad, beautiful steps leading up from the garden look majestic. They give a very imposing look to the building. If there are two or three steps going up from the lawn, they look comfortable and cozy. If there are a number of steps leading up to the  building then they look opulent. 

When the stairs are inside the house and are meant to lend grandeur to the building then they are very broad and occupy as much space as a room. These stairs can be found in palaces in Europe. These steps are indeed majestic. They are not only used for travelling up and down, but also for allowing the person using the steps to come down in style to meet and greet those who are waiting at the bottom of the steps. 

Spiral staircases occupy less space and are to be found in castles and towers. On these steps one comes down cautiously. There is a bit of foreboding when using these steps. One wrong step and one can go down spiraling very fast and hurt oneself quite badly, as I once did.The most fascinating spiral stairs are at the Qutab Minar at Delhi. I always feel that spiral stairs are meant for the nimble footed. Somehow they  conjure up the image of a princess running down surreptitiously to meet someone.

RODEO DRIVE L.A.

Wide, wide steps like the Spanish Steps in Rome, lays open a huge vista in front. These are beautiful steps which makes one feel very unbound with the feeling of free space. Steps in the open make one want to sit and look at the world go by from a distance. Space, distance, comfort, grace, romance, everything is there in these steps.

ATHENS GREECE- 400BC.

The steps in the ancient theaters of Greece are fascinating. How well made were they! Everyone could sit and watch the plays from anywhere. The acoustics too were so good that without microphones and amplifiers people could hear the artists.

Steps on the ghats of the rivers give a feeling of life flowing by leisurely, continuously . One can sit on the bank of the river on the steps and feel calm. The flow of the river, the sound of the river and boats plying slow and steady with nothing but the sound of oars is very soothing.

METEORA GREECE-GOING UP TO THE SKY?

What is it that makes stairs so fascinating? Is it because they lead us somewhere? Somehow, whenever I think of stairs they only seem to be going upwards. I never visualise them as going down. Although stairs are never one way. They take us up as well as bring us down. Perhaps because looking up is always a better option than looking down!!

Looking up gives the feeling of aspiration, soaring up higher in the sky, moving out to freedom, going towards infinity. Just going higher, higher, higher!