Germany                         Wörlitz                     24 June 2024


   Today, I had the day off because I work remotely for a Cypriot
   company, and it's a public holiday over there.  On such days, I
   usually try to get out of my flat and visit a place I haven't been to
   before.  Today, I decided to be spontaneous and just took a train to
   Dessau to see where I could go from there.  I spotted an amusingly
   tiny train carriage on the first platform, heading to a town called
   Wörlitz.  Without much thought, I decided to hop on.

   The journey started delightfully.  There wasn't a conductor; instead,
   the driver performed that role.  He merely asked if I had a
   Deutschland-Ticket, and my "Ja" was enough for him.  He then
   retreated to his tiny driver's cabin, which is quite compact.  This
   allowed space on its left side for passengers to stand and look
   straight ahead as the train moved.  Unusual and beautiful.  The train
   moved slowly, almost like a guided tour, through dense green forests
   and golden fields, occasionally passing through small villages.

   The trip from Dessau to Wörlitz took just half an hour.  During the
   journey, I managed to look up interesting places in Wörlitz: it turns
   out there's a beautiful landscape park, and it's only a 15-20 minute
   leisurely walk from the railway station.  Despite the town's
   relatively small size, I found a grocery shop and bought some ice
   cream.  It was scorching hot today, so the ice cream was a much-
   needed treat.  The town seemed as deserted as the one I currently
   live in.  On my way from the train station to the park, I encountered
   just one person, apart from those who walked with me from the
   station.

   Finally, I felt I'd arrived.  After walking down a narrow street
   towards a nearby field, I found a path leading to the heart of the
   park.  I didn't continue right away; for the first time in ages, I
   felt the genuine aroma of nature's grasses and heard the whispers of
   the wind nearby.  Not the usual noisy gusts but actual whispers.
   It's hard to describe in words, but at that moment, I was utterly
   captivated.  For the first time in a long while, I felt truly alive.
   A long-forgotten and unfamiliar sensation.

   The wind seemed to invite me to continue, so I followed the path.  To
   my right was a golden field full of ears of grain, and to my left
   were small trees that were clearly planted not too long ago.  Ahead,
   I found a few steps leading down to a lake with ducks swimming in it.
   A bit further, I discovered a rise that led to yet another golden
   field.  The beauty was indescribable.  I then wandered into a forest,
   where I found a small wooden cabin, perfect for cooling off and
   recovering from the sun.  After that, I continued my journey.

   The park turned out to be remarkable, possibly one of the most
   beautiful places I've ever been to, if not the most beautiful.  For
   the first time in ages, I wasn't in a hurry.  I wandered leisurely
   along various paths, stumbling upon clearings, old buildings, and
   lakeshores.  It felt like one could wander in this park forever and
   never get bored.  Surprisingly, there weren't many people around.
   That's a good thing.  Altogether, an extraordinary place, and I
   highly recommend visiting it.  I will certainly return, probably more
   than once, and I'll bring friends along.  Feel free to email me if
   you'd like to see photos from my walk.





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