Fifth Journey Day 130: The River’s Breath Inside Me

"The River’s Breath Inside Me" — a quiet study of current and breath, held by Artvin’s steep valley.

Date: September 15, 2025
Location: Artvin, Turkey

In Artvin, Turkey, the mountains meet the swift Çoruh River, carving terraces and cliffside neighborhoods across the Black Sea region. Today’s entry settles into that valley air—pine-tinged, river-cooled—and listens for how water sets the tempo of daily life.

Arrival Along the Cliffs

Today I arrived in Artvin after a long bus ride from Rize. The roads hugged the cliffs, with the river always below, sparkling silver as it wound through the turns. When I got off the bus, the air felt colder and more open, with a slight smell of pine. My body felt the difference right away—each breath felt clearer, but it also made me work harder.

By the Fast River

I walked slowly toward the river and found a quiet place to sit. The river moved quickly, and its sound filled the valley. It wasn't a loud noise, but a steady rush. It was the kind of sound that gently pushes against your body until it becomes part of your own breathing. The water was moving and catching sunlight, which changed from silver to pale blue. A light breeze blew, bringing with it a cool feel and the damp smell of stone.

Choosing Stillness Over Sketching

I stayed there for a long time, not drawing, only watching. A man walked past with a fishing rod, his footsteps barely audible on the gravel. A child's quiet laugh could be heard faintly from the bridge, then it disappeared under the sound of the water. Time felt different by the river. It wasn't fast or slow, but continuous.

A Town Built in Layers

I thought about how the town seemed built in layers against the cliffs, as if people had found small shelves of space to live on. The houses slanted upwards, their red roofs standing out against the darker ridges.

Light Moving Through the Valley

As the afternoon light changed, I noticed how shadows moved quickly along the walls of the valley, making the river itself brighter, as if it was carrying the day forward. I felt small and steady, as though the water's steadfastness gave me a sense of calm. Tonight, I carry that sound with me—it never ends, but it's not overwhelming. It reminds me that sometimes, being still can also be a form of movement.

Travel Notes

• Weather: Clear skies, pale sunlight, cool air around 15°C; a light wind threading the valley, bright reflections on the fast river.
• Scents: Pine from the slopes; damp stone rising from the riverbank.
• Sounds: Steady rush of water; faint laughter from the bridge; soft crunch of gravel under a fisherman’s steps.
• Reflection: The river’s constancy made stillness feel like its own kind of motion—breath syncing with current.

Continue the Journey

You may also enjoy the layered bustle of an earlier city moment in Fourth Journey Day 157: Market Fragments, or linger with the echoing quiet of Fifth Journey Day 127: The Wall Listens Sideways.