An early morning walk

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went for a regular walk with my dog in an early misty spring morning, into the nearby forest. all was humid, with lush green leaves and fresh grass, tree trunks blackened with glazing dampness, the footpath through the wood soft and muddy

then this little fellow caught my eye with his fancy yellow blots and shiny black leathery skin

Salamander salamander, Fire Salamander or salamandra škvrnitá in Slovak, a beautiful, endangered amphibian that can live up to 20 years (in captivity for up to 50, apparently) and lives in deciduous forests only by the cleanest fresh water brooks

it was enjoying an earthworm (sorry, i did my best focusing with my phone camera, but rather failed)

i watched it for a while, then moved on

seeing one is considered lucky. they spend most of the day hidden away in darkness under the foliage and come out only in the evening and night. on wet, rainy days, they sometimes come out during the day, too, to feast on earthworms.

this was a good morning to be active for a salamander

one of the rewards of having a dog is that i don’t measure my walks into the nearby woods according to will or weather anymore. i go every day, early morning, before going to classes, sometimes for an hour, sometimes for two, then later in the afternoon for another round.

i feel healthier, calmer, having fresher mind in classes during the day. i feel connected.

not sure if i would find it in myself to have such regular lifestyle without my dog.

a small tribute to this warmhearted, unassuming creature, keeping me away from my own idleness

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