When you love a city and have explored it frequently on foot, your body, not to mention your soul, gets to know the streets so well after a number of years that in a fit of melancholy, perhaps stirred by a light snow falling ever so sorrowfully, you'll discover your legs carrying you of their own accord toward one of your favourite promontories
In Orhan Pamuk's "My Name Is Red," the narrator expresses a profound connection to a city that one loves deeply. With years of exploration on foot, both the physical body and the soul become intimately familiar with the city's streets. This familiarity creates a sense of belonging and nostalgia, leading to moments of melancholic reflection, especially in serene settings like falling snow.
The quote highlights how this emotional bond can evoke a compelling desire to revisit special places within the city. The innate pull felt by the legs to wander towards beloved spots illustrates how a city becomes intertwined with personal history, memories, and feelings, creating an enduring relationship between the individual and their environment.
