A nature trip

I'm in the metro with Sally.
After she showed me how this whole online thing works, I want to show her some nature in exchange.

We're currently having some funny conversation, when Sally suddenly switches to a more serious topic.

You know, I might have been biased against you at first.
I'm sorry about that.

It's okay. That's why I'm showing you nature today, so you'll be able to understand how life without technology can be.

Yeah, I'm really glad about that.
But I still have some screen with me. We're not completely without technology.

I think that should be fine.
We don't have to use it, right?

I was actually hoping we could at least take some photos and short clips.

Okay, why that?

I just like to let my online friends know what I've been up to.

Actually, that sounds like a good reason.
Maybe I should also show the people who like my videos about nature.
Not sure how I would do that, though.

I can just send you the videos we make today.
And you can always ask me if you need help with that.

Thanks, Sally.

As the metro carries us closer to our destination, I'm already excited to be back to a more rural area again, even if it's not the place I come from.
I tell Sally about my hopes. I want to walk through huge meadows, put my feet into the water of small rivers, and relax in the shadow of a huge tree.
But Sally only asks what she could film there.

Let's just have fun, and when we feel like it, we can make a short video. What do you think?
Does it really need to be that fancy?

Maybe you're right. Most people I know haven't been to nature at all. They'll probably happy with anything we show them.
I just want to make the best I can, so everybody will be happy to see us.

I'll do my best to be funny, too.

Soon we step off the metro and are standing in the middle of a green area.
It's mostly a flat landscape, but a few smaller mountains are in the distance.
Huge meadows, a few single buildings, some paths, and the metro station.

The rail only is above the ground around the station.
It quickly goes down into some tunnel in both directions.

And when looking back, the city isn't visible.
Maybe the highest buildings of the outer parts of the city are visible in the distance.

The air also is much different to the city.
No artificial smells. Only the smell of grass and flowers.
And besides a few birds, it's rather silent.

Sally is already amazed as she looks around.

This place is incredible, Frieda!
I wish I experienced this much earlier.

I'm so glad you like it!
Let's just start walking.

Sally nods and we start moving.

But where do you even want to go?

I don't really have a goal. I'd just follow the path.
But we can also just walk anywhere else.
What do you think?

So we just walk around without a goal?
I don't really get the point.

If you want to go somewhere specific, just tell me.

Not really.

After walking for another minute, Sally looks at me insecurely.

Is it safe to go through the meadow?
I guess I'd like to run through this high grass.
But that would be weird, wouldn't it?

Not at all. Let's do this!

I just leave the path and run through the grass.
Sally follows me and quickly passes me, running ahead.
It's kind of fun. I haven't done this for years.
It might seem a little childish, but almost nobody is here watching us.

After running for some minutes we're pretty exhausted and stop.
Sally is a little ahead, so I slowly walk to her.

That was kind of fun.

I giggle.

So what do you want to do next?

I don't know. I still don't get the point of this.

I think I just saw a river over there at the mountain foot.
Maybe let's go there.

That sounds great.
Let me just make a short video.

She takes out her screen and holds it in a way that both of us are visible.

Hello, I'm in nature with my new friend Frieda today.
We're already pretty exhausted after running through the meadows for a while.
And next we'll be going to the mountain over there.

She stops recording and we continue walking, now at a more decent speed.

It seems like you like it here.

Yeah, I do.
But won't it take long until we reach the mountain without a vehicle?

Ah, definitely less than a hour. If we walk at a steady pace, we'll probably be there in half the time.

That's pretty long. This will quickly get boring.

You'll get used to it. And if we get bored, we can also play some games.

Okay.

As we continue walking, we talk about the landscape.
And I also tell Sally about my former life in my village.
Once in a while Sally makes a photo or a short video, usually without saying anything.

The closer we get to the mountain, the more amazed Sally becomes.
It's not a huge mountain, only a few hundred meters high.
But it seems huge to her.
Not many buildings in the city have a similar size.

And soon I see the river very well.

See? Here it is!

I start runnig, an Sally runs with me.

When we reach the river, we both watch it.
It's a rather shallow and small river. It should be safe to go in there.
So I immediately take off my shoes and socks. I already wear short pants, so they shouldn't get wet.

Sally is still is amazed as she looks where the river is coming from.
It starts at the mountain top.
There even is a nice waterfall.
She immediately takes out her screen.

You have to see this!
The river starts up there at the mountain!
And then it flows down to us!
Up here there's even a waterfall.
But down here it's pretty slow already.

In the meantime I enter the river an walk around for a bit.

Hey, Sally? Don't you want to join?

She packs away her screen and seems very reluctant.

Are you sure this is safe?

Of course. Everything is fine.

Sally takes off her shoes and socks, too.
Then she hesitates for a bit before she also takes of her pants, so they won't get wet.
Then she also enters the river.

Oh, it's cold!

Don't worry. You'll get used to it. It's pretty healthy.

After walking around for a little, Sally starts to like it.

Yeah, it actually feels kind of nice now.

I just sit down at the riverbank.
Then Sally sits down next to me.

As we are sitting side by side, Sally turns to me, a smile on her face.

Thank you for bringing me here, Frieda.
I never knew how much I needed this until now.

I'm so glad you enjoy it, Sally.

Sally reaches for her screen but then hesitates, her hand hovering over the device. She looks at me, seeming very thoughtful.

You know what?
I don't really feel the need to make any videos or photos right now.
I just want to enjoy the time with you now.
There's not even the need for a video for myself. I don't think I'll forget this moment anytime soon.

Yeah, sometimes just sitting there is the best part of some journey.

With that, Sally puts her screen away, and we sit in comfortable silence, feeling the cold river at our feet and watching the landscape.

Is there anything else you'd like to do?
I'd be fine if we just stay here for a while and then call it an end for today.

Yeah, I'm okay with that.
By metro we got here very fast.
I think we can repeat this soon.

Yeah, I agree. This was really fun.

It's not over yet. You know we have to go all the way back, right?

Oh...