How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. – James 4:14

Friday morning dawned extra cold and also foggy. So when I took my walk along the Vistula I could feel frozen particles of water bounce up against my face, and a light film of iced mist covered the ground. The air felt brittle, as if I could break pieces of fog off with my hand.

Visually the effect was surreal, mysterious, with everything a little out of focus. I could imagine medieval travelers rounding the bend to see the massive castle looming out of the mist, reminding them they must approach with caution and with respect.

It is a beautiful setting and now the fortress attracts rather than repels visitors. The medieval “Old Town” – the part historically enclosed within the ancient fortifications – is now defined by a beautiful park created after the Napoleonic Wars. The city demolished much of the wall and filled in the moat to create an eight kilometer long green-space now filled with trees and flowerbeds and walkways.

But for today my focus is on the river and the beauty of the freezing mist.

Sometimes, if we want to see and experience things that are more substantial than the quick tourist “in-and-out” (just for the selfie in a cool location), we have to get up early, walk a mile or so by the river, lose most of the feeling in our hands and freeze a little in order to fully understand exactly where we are.

And where we are is magical. I am so grateful – DEREK

a few more images along the river and through the park: