Fifth Journey Day 116: Circle That Dripped

"Circle That Dripped" — A quiet echo of water wheels and sunlit riverbanks in Hama.

Date: September 1, 2025
Location: Hama, Syria

In Hama, Syria, the Orontes River moves to the measured rhythm of historic wooden norias—water wheels that have lifted river water for centuries. Their steady turning, a warm breeze, and the late-summer scent of figs shaped a day where listening felt like the truest kind of making.

Listening to the Norias of Hama

Today I sat by the Orontes River and listened to the norias turn slowly and make a groaning sound. Their sound was not harsh, but rhythmic, like something that had always been there. The wheels lifted water, and they did so with a kind of persistence that felt more ancient than mechanical. Each rotation was hard, but it was consistent, and the water that splashed back into the river seemed to make the heat of the day feel less intense.

Life Along the Orontes River

I stayed under a tree, watching light bounce across the water. The river carried dust and brightness, flowing slowly but with purpose. People passed by now and then. There were children running, men on bicycles, and a woman balancing a bag of bread. The city seemed to be naturally attracted to the river, drawn to its coolness even in late summer.

Choosing Stillness Over Sketching

I didn't draw much. I drew a few lines in my sketchbook: loose circles that might one day become something else. But the act of watching felt more complete than the act of capturing. The smell of ripening figs mixed with the damp scent of water. It made me realize that just noticing something doesn't automatically mean you have to create something. Sometimes it is enough to sit still while something continues to spin.

What Lingers: The Sound of Turning

What we remember most tonight is the sound. A deep creak, followed by the rush of water falling. It felt relaxing, like the steady beat of a place. I think the feeling of the wheels will stick with me longer than the image of the wheels themselves. Today felt less like arrival and more like entering a circle that was already moving and being allowed to sit within it quietly.

Travel Notes

• Weather: Warm and dry; around 32°C by midday. Clear sky with a faint dust shimmer and a steady, slow breeze carrying the scent of river water and earth.
• Scents: Ripening figs, damp river air, and sun-warmed soil; a passing hint of fresh bread near the banks.
• Sounds: The deep creak of the norias, the rush of water falling back to the river, children’s footsteps and laughter, soft bicycle bells.
• Reflection: The day’s rhythm suggested patience—work that feels older than machinery—and reminded me that being present can be its own finished piece.

Continue the Journey

You may also enjoy the previous day’s quiet reflections in Aleppo: Fifth Journey Day 115: Bread-Scented Breeze, or linger with another moment from Syria in Damascus: Fifth Journey Day 114: Breath of the Courtyard.