We arrived in Chautauqua, NY around 6 p.m. One of the first things I did once we settled in to our apartment was go for a walk around campus to remind myself of the uniqueness of this place. If someone were to ask what Chautauqua was, it would be challenging to provide a clear answer. A brochure describes Chautauqua as “A summer center that encompasses the arts, education, religion and recreation; a place, removed from the day-to-day world, where some of the leading thinkers of our time come to speak to the concerns and issues of today; a place where music, dance, opera, theater and the visual arts create the “Chautauqua Mix” that draws 170,000 people each summer. Chautauqua Institution is a festival for the mind, body and spirit.”
The Chautauqua season runs for nine weeks every summer. Each week a different theme is the focus. This week, Week 5, the theme is “What Makes Us Moral? An Abrahamic Perspective.” Each morning at 10:45 a different guest speaker gives a lecture that focuses on the weekly theme. Tomorrow morning, Elie Wiesel is the guest speaker.
During my evening walk, I absorbed the scene around me: turn-of-the-century homes lined up along narrow roads that don’t allow a lot of traffic, if any at all. Wrap around porches with Adirondack chairs and swings. It’s as if I walked onto a movie set.
I know I’m not doing justice to the explanation of Chautauqua. It’s pretty much indescribable. It may sound like a place that focuses too much on religion, like some people think when they first arrive. But it’s really a place that encourages you to discuss your opinions openly if you choose to discuss them at all. It’s a place where intellectuals gather to enlighten their minds and their spirits. Or it’s a place where you can come and just relax.
My first trip to Chautauqua was in 2005, and I couldn’t wait to come back. Back them I stayed on my friend’s farm twelve minutes outside campus in a town called Ashville. This time I’m excited to actually get to stay on campus during my stay.
One of the reasons I decided to come with my friend great Char was to get away to a quiet location and focus on my writing. One of my goals this week is to blog every night about my experiences at Chautauqua. Maybe then I’ll be able to paint a better picture.
On the agenda for tomorrow:
· Elie Wiesel’s lecture
· Writing class: How to Profit at Writing and Marketing Your Non-fiction Books and Magazine Articles
· Yoga-Latte: yoga and Pilates combination; no free latte like I’d hoped
· Ballet performance with my friend Tim conducting the orchestra
Talk to you tomorrow.
Sounds wonderful, wish I was there
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