Being timid, crystals, and Opera

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Timidly, I pulled open the heavy wooden door. Before me was a barren hallway with what looked like a storage room at the end. Not a single human in sight. Spying a door on the left, partially open, I decided I might as well continue. I had gone this far. I was not about to abort this venture at this point.

The room behind the door was filled with, as promised, glass cases protecting the Swarovski jewels worn by Maria Callas (one of the great Divas) during her numerous Opera performances. What had brought me here was a Xeroxed poster tacked to a large wooden door on a side street promising this exhibit.

A snapshot of one
of the displays.

The exhibit was amazing. As I was alone, I took my time soaking in the breathtaking beauty of these works of art. For each Opera in which she sang an exquisite set of Swarovski jewels were designed. Hopefully I’ll return to Salzburg, Austria and be able to find this exhibit again.

A recent visit to the Gem exhibit at the Smithsonian National History Museum triggered this memory. At the NHM’s exhibit the Hope Diamond and other fantastic jewels wow you. It can become overwhelming. At what point do you become habituated to such brilliance? This exhibit is wildly popular and even on a slow day it is busy. Do include it in your visit to DC.

Of course one checks out the gift shop. There I saw a pair of earrings made of red Swarovski crystal and cubic zirconium that were calling my name. When I wore them recently to a social event they drew oohs and aahs.

The exhibit I encountered, quite by accident, in Salzburg, Austria was hidden in an obscure building on a side street infrequently traveled.This was not something I was aware of from any tour book.  I merely wandered by. I was exploring Salzburg. Nothing had directed me there. I was merely open to experiencing my environment. I often think about what I would have missed had I just walked by or let myself be intimidated by what I saw when I opened that creaking wooden door.