Cars full of fresh runners, old friends and new meet at Rostok city hall to continue where we left off 10 days ago. The sun is shining, the grass is green, the air is getting crispier, though today it is a warm day. The city is sparkling with lots of smiling, waving people. With renewed inspiration, and lightness of step we enthusiastically run out of the beautifully architectural city together, kindly escorted by the police.

We are delighted that Salil, the World coordinator of the World Harmony Run, has joined the European team for a few weeks.

He was running the US run and will now be running with us, taking pictures, and helping with the writing of reports.

Hurray! To begin with here are some of his first impressions:

I’m always surprised that no matter how large the World Harmony Run can be there are times when it all boils down to one person carrying a flame. I guess it is a reminder that World Harmony really does begin in the heart of each individual. Today was my first day running with the torch on European soil, we began in the north German town of Rostok after a ten day break where the European Team toured Germany with Sri Chinmoy , the run’s founder who was offering a series of World Harmony concerts in eight German cities. As always re-entry into the pace of life on the road is a little bumpy but this was more than compensated by the beautiful scenery and wonderful people we had the good fortune to meet along the way. Being a non-German speaker gives me a new found appreciation for the international team members who were on the US run earlier this year. Many times today I felt like connecting with people who greeted us only to be confronted by the barrier of language. So tomorrow I’ll begin my immersion into learning the German language for the next six days. We are running through an area that is inundated with beautiful lakes and cool green forests, so watch out for some exquisite photos in the coming days. Salil

Thank you, Salil. Yes, our surroundings delight us. The nature is pure, fresh and beautiful in misty colours of green. Rolling fields, sometimes with dozing and grazing cows or majestic thin white power wind mills. A yard with gaggles of curious white geese. Bright, little towns, kept in tip-top condition, imbued with solid East German serenity.

Towards evening we see several flocks of geese grace the sky on their long journey south. Their formations are hauntingly beautiful in various shapes of V, which can undulate a little, and at times a part of the line diffuses into a bubble of birds, to later rearrange into the same impeccable line. Their squawking tells of the great journey they are on, covering a long distance, and with the vastness of a bird’s eye-view. Unerringly they fly to reach their goal, resolute, nothing can mar their determination.

Into the cobbled streets of Güstrow, Teterow and Waren we run to meet the cheerful deputy mayors of these picturesque towns, each time at the town hall. We get very warm and friendly welcomes in all places and it’s wonderful to see how the enthusiasm of the people spreads and grows, while we run, talk and sing. The World Harmony Run song rings beautifully in the crisp, early autumn air.

A brand new youth hostel is our abode for the night, surrounded by trees, near a peaceful lake. It is painted in pastel colours of light blue and light yellow. Towards night darkness sets over the town. A plethora of little lights from restaurants and boats glow happily along the lake-side. Above a clear star-lit sky. Peace reigns.

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