by Ege Tugay Atay
PureTravel Writing Competition 2024
One winter morning, there was a weather that penetrated us like a cold breath. As we were preparing to go to our hometown with our family, we felt the heavy burden of snow as we left the house. The tracks and roads were covered with snow, and the surroundings were covered with a white blanket. The cold was freezing us at every step. But the warmth of the train was so impressive that we almost forgot this cold weather. When we got on the train, we forgot the harsh wind and cold outside; as soon as we stepped inside, we were enveloped in the arms of warmth and comfort.
When the train started to move, I sat in front of the window and looked out. The snow-covered fields, the white trees and the mountains in the distance looked like a painting. Everything was quiet and peaceful, a kind of relaxation in contrast to the chaotic city life we were living in.
During the journey, my parents were chatting among themselves while my brother was sound asleep next to me. I was immersed in my thoughts. I was getting away from the hustle and bustle of daily life in the city and dreaming of the peacefulness of the days we would spend in the village. At each stop, new passengers boarded the train and the train was slowly filling up. However, this crowd was far away from the chaos in the city; everyone was in their own world, buried in the depths of their own thoughts.
The best part of the train journey was not realising how time passed. When I cast my eyes outside, I started to see the silhouettes of villages and fields instead of the snowy landscape. As I got closer to my hometown, a wave of curiosity and excitement revived in me. More than seeing our relatives and spending time with them, I was looking forward to experiencing peace and tranquillity. I thought that I would find the peace that comes from getting away from the busy pace of city life during the time I would spend in the village.
When we arrived in our hometown, I was surprised at how fast the train journey had passed. Before we realised how quickly the time had passed, we found ourselves in a village square covered with snow. The cold air hit our faces as we got off the train, and suddenly the serenity that surrounded us made us feel the relief of being away from the city.
This journey gave me an inner peace beyond just travelling from one place to another. The unique rhythm of the train journey offered me not only a physical but also a spiritual escape. Looking out of the train window, feeling the peace in the snow-covered landscapes and silence reminded me of the simple but deep peace of the old times.
Travelling by train, where time slows down and tranquillity is experienced, has once again revealed the importance of calmness in my life. The stress and noise of the hurried days of city life are relieved to some extent by such journeys. I know I love calmness, but it is hard to find a place for it in my life. Things like the train, which remind me of this feeling, take me back to the past and give me the peace I haven’t had for a long time.
This train journey on a winter morning was an experience where both sadness and peace were intertwined. It was a sweet reflection of the search for an inner calmness and getting lost in the cold but beauty of winter. Although the chaos of city life and the cold weather had an impact on me, this journey reminded me of how fast life passes and how much peace I can sometimes find with just a journey. Such moments, as small escapes that nourish my soul and take me back to the past, remind me of the value of every moment of life.
Photo by Fabio Rosada on Unsplash
