Katara in the Details: Snapshots and Simple Thoughts

 

As I was walking through the narrow alleyways of the Katara district, I caught sight of this large prickly pear cactus tree. I was so excited to see it.

When I was a child, we had one too — of course, much smaller. It was one of the first words I learned in the “houseplant” category. I was surprised at how different its name is in English compared to Hungarian.

medvetalp =

• medve = bear

• talp = sole (of the foot)

“bear’s sole” vagy “bear paw”.

The English name refers to the fruit — “prickly pear” — while the Hungarian name focuses on the plant’s shape: the flat, oval pads resemble the sole of a bear’s paw.

Isn’t it beautiful?
Two different cultures — two completely different images of the same plant.

One emphasizes what it gives.
The other emphasizes what it looks like.

The same plant — yet two different perspectives. And that’s what makes the world richer.

The other thing I captured through the lens was a beautiful nostalgic-style drinking fountain. In this climate, public water sources are often private initiatives. Providing water to passersby is not just a simple public service; it is often a religious, charitable act.

Old villas were built so that a stone bench  and a drinking fountain would be located next to them on the street.

In Europe, wealthy individuals often erect a stone cross by the roadside; here, charity takes a much more practical form.