U subotu ujutru, Marko se probudio ranije nego obično. Sunce je već sijalo kroz prozor njegove male sobe. Marko je protegao ruke i rekao sebi: „Danas želim da napravim mali izlet.“ Već nedeljama je radio mnogo i osećao je da mu treba promena. Prvo je skuvao kafu i seo za sto u kuhinji. Dok je pio kafu, razmišljao je gde bi mogao da ide. Sombor mu je bio najbliži grad, samo četrdesetak minuta autobusom. Grad je bio poznat po velikim drvoredima i mirnim ulicama. Marku se to dopalo – nije voleo gužvu. Oko devet sati Marko je izašao iz kuće, zaključao vrata i krenuo ka autobuskoj stanici. Vazduh je bio svež, ali prijatan. Na ulicama je bilo malo ljudi jer je još rano jutro. Kada je stigao na stanicu, autobus je već čekao. Marko je kupio kartu i ušao. U autobusu je bilo pet-šest putnika. Svi su sedeli tiho i gledali kroz prozor. Marko je seo pored prozora i pustio muziku na telefonu. Dok je autobus napuštao Apatin, Marko je video Dunav u daljini i nekoliko čamaca usidrenih blizu obale. Kada je stigao u Sombor, grad je bio miran i sunčan. Marko je krenuo prema glavnom trgu. Ulice su bile široke i pune visokih drveća. Lagano je šetao i posmatrao stare zgrade sa lepim fasadama. Primetio je malu pekaru iz koje se širio miris svežeg peciva. Ušao je i kupio jednu kiflu i jogurt. Nakon doručka, Marko je rešio da poseti gradski park. Park je bio ogroman, sa dugim stazama i mnogo klupa. Na jednoj klupi sedela je starija žena i čitala knjigu. Na travi su se igrala dva psa. Marko je seo na klupu i malo odmarao. Uživao je u tišini i zelenilu. Posle pola sata, odlučio je da obiđe i Muzej u Somboru. Muzej nije bio velik, ali je imao zanimljive slike i stare predmete iz ovog regiona. Marku se posebno svidela slika konja u galopu. Podsetila ga je na detinjstvo, kada je često išao kod dede na selo. Kada je izašao iz muzeja, Marko je osetio da je ogladneo. Pronašao je mali restoran u jednoj tihoj ulici. Seo je za sto napolju i naručio supu i piletinu sa krompirom. Hrana je bila jednostavna, ali ukusna. Dok je jeo, gledao je kako ljudi prolaze – neki žure, neki šetaju polako, a neki vode decu u kolicima. Popodne je polako dolazilo, i Marko je odlučio da se vrati kući. Vratio se na autobusku stanicu i uskoro stigao autobus za Apatin. U povratku je bio umoran, ali zadovoljan. Gledao je kroz prozor, razmišljajući kako mu je ovaj mali izlet mnogo prijao. Kada je ušao u svoj stan, Marko je skinuo jaknu, seo na krevet i nasmejao se. „Trebalo je ovo da uradim ranije,“ rekao je sam sebi. Nakon toga je uključio laganu muziku, otvorio prozor i pustio da svež vazduh uđe u sobu. Veče je stiglo brzo. Marko je napravio čaj od kamilice, seo u fotelju i zapisao u svoj dnevnik kratak opis dana. Osećao je da je vikend konačno počeo kako treba – mirno, jednostavno i bez stresa.
Weekend in Sombor On Saturday morning, Marko woke up earlier than usual. The sun was already shining through the window of his small room. Marko stretched his arms and said to himself, “Today I want to take a small trip.” For weeks he had been working a lot and felt that he needed a change. First he made coffee and sat at the table in the kitchen. While drinking his coffee, he thought about where he could go. Sombor was the closest city, only about forty minutes by bus. The city was known for its long tree-lined streets and quiet atmosphere. Marko liked that – he did not like crowds. Around nine o’clock Marko left the house, locked the door, and walked to the bus station. The air was fresh but pleasant. There were few people on the streets because it was still early morning. When he arrived at the station, the bus was already waiting. Marko bought a ticket and got in. There were five or six passengers on the bus. Everyone sat quietly and looked out the window. Marko sat by the window and played music on his phone. As the bus left Apatin, Marko saw the Danube in the distance and several boats anchored near the shore. When he arrived in Sombor, the city was calm and sunny. Marko walked toward the main square. The streets were wide and full of tall trees. He walked slowly and looked at the old buildings with beautiful façades. He noticed a small bakery from which the smell of fresh pastry was coming. He went inside and bought a roll and a yogurt. After breakfast, Marko decided to visit the city park. The park was huge, with long paths and many benches. On one bench sat an elderly woman reading a book. Two dogs were playing on the grass. Marko sat on a bench and rested a bit. He enjoyed the silence and the greenery. Half an hour later, he decided to visit the museum in Sombor as well. The museum wasn’t large, but it had interesting paintings and old objects from the region. Marko especially liked a painting of a galloping horse. It reminded him of his childhood, when he often visited his grandfather in the countryside. When he left the museum, Marko felt hungry. He found a small restaurant in a quiet street. He sat at a table outside and ordered soup and chicken with potatoes. The food was simple but tasty. While he ate, he watched people passing by—some in a hurry, some walking slowly, and some pushing baby strollers. The afternoon was slowly approaching, and Marko decided to return home. He went back to the bus station, and soon a bus for Apatin arrived. On the way back he was tired but content. He looked out the window, thinking about how much this small trip helped him relax. When he entered his apartment, Marko took off his jacket, sat on the bed, and smiled. “I should have done this earlier,” he said to himself. After that, he turned on some soft music, opened the window, and let the fresh air into the room. Evening came quickly. Marko made chamomile tea, sat in an armchair, and wrote a short description of the day in his journal. He felt that the weekend had finally begun the right way—calm, simple, and without stress.