On the dike, from the river navigation agency, today’s Workers’ Home, to the ferry house at the corner of Svetozara Miletića Street, it was a promenade from spring to autumn. It was truly enjoyable to stroll along the dike, admiring the beauty of the Tisa and its forested banks.
One could revel in the fresh evening air and be enchanted by the beauty of the sunset on the Tisa. The sun reflected in the water, giving it the color of molten metal, and as it neared the sunset, it gleamed like gold scattered over the surface, sparkling on the gentle breeze, just like how ducats would tremble on the neck of a proud Bačka beauty during her noble walk. A person would unconsciously hold their breath, as if to hear the clink of those ducats lying on the water of the Tisa, or to not disturb the magical moment of nature’s richness. Here, everyone is simply captivated, not knowing what to invoke to interpret the emotions stirred by the beauty they are witnessing. Every blink of an eye reveals a new and even more beautiful image.
As the beauty of the sunset fades, new ones emerge with the onset of twilight. A heavenly silence descends upon the river and the entire shoreline, with only the distant barking of dogs and, from an even greater distance, the croaking of frogs, like muffled music. From time to time, this silence is disturbed by the church bells tolling the quarters and hours.
Soon, this tranquility is complemented by the rhythmic clattering of the "big boat's" paddles, whose sounds grow louder and louder as the boat approaches the dock. Suddenly, the eyes of the walkers on the dike will be fixed on the direction from which this monotonous yet pleasant sound comes. All the walkers slowly move toward the dock, and after the bell announces the arrival of the boat, almost everyone gathers at the dock to greet the boat and its passengers.
The boat does not stay long, and everyone is ready to wait for its departure, following its gradual disappearance into the darkness of the quiet summer night.
After the departure of the "big boat," the mesmerizing calm returns, prompting one to listen to what can be heard from the distance. We admire the reflection of lights from the numerous barges anchored at the Novi Bečej dock, and the calm, smooth water reflects and doubles the number of lights.
The voices of the sailors on the barges are likely echoed and amplified by the smooth water, almost as if they are ringing in the air, piquing our curiosity to follow their conversation, which can be easily heard despite them speaking at the normal volume of a household conversation.
Sitting on the dike benches at that time, enjoying the fresh air and the silence that is almost intoxicating, contemplating the beauty of life, was a true delight. Surrounded by this natural bliss, we would let our imaginations wander, and almost everyone would regret that it was time to leave the dike and head home.
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