Travel Writing Scholarship 2013 Entry

I had been travelling by train for over fifteen hours, and still had a further three hours to endure before reaching my final destination. I had started my journey the night before in Paris, travelling on the overnight train to Berlin, and I was now halfway through the six hour journey from Berlin to Wroclaw in Poland.

The Journey was proving to be an uncomfortable one. With temperatures soaring, and woefully inadequate air conditioning on the train, I knew I was in for a long, hot, sticky journey! To add to my misery, there was no buffet car on the train and I was fast running out of food and water.

However, at least now I had some scenery worth looking at. The industrial towns of modern Germany had now given way to beautiful lush green forests, picturesque farmsteads and tiny hamlets. Amongst the trees I could see the occasional cluster of wild Lupins, their vibrant pink and purple flowers creating a splash of colour to feast the eyes upon. Every now and then a horse and rider could be seen, winding their way lazily through the Polish countryside.

I got up from my seat feeling somewhat stiff and tired, from the enforced inactivity. In order to stretch my legs, I walked through the carriage before stopping by an open window to take in the view. With the warm summer air blowing gently on my face, I appreciatively took in the passing scenery. The smell of the forest was intoxicating, and I closed my eyes and thought of home. I was stirred back to consciousness by the sound of the train’s brakes, and the metallic smell of brake dust.

The train was slowing down as it was approaching a level crossing, one of several that cut through the tiny roads that ran through the dense forest. As I wistfully viewed the magnificence of my surroundings, my eyes, unexpectedly, met another’s. There before me, standing just a few feet from the tracks, on the very edge of the forest, was the most beautiful, majestic stag I had ever seen. This magnificent beast gazed up to view the passing train, unflinchingly standing his ground as the train passed slowly by. Our eyes met and a moment was set in time, a moment that I knew then, would stay with me forever.