By Anemona Hartocollis for The New York Times

WORLD | REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

Traveling in Europe’s River of Migrants

Tens of thousands of migrants and refugees, mostly fleeing unrest in the Middle East and Afghanistan, are pushing their way through the Balkans to Hungary. From there, many are continuing their desperate trip to Germany and other countries in northern Europe. A team of New York Times journalists is documenting their journey.

How the Migrants’ March Toward Germany Began

Soon a line of young men began trailing after him, carrying blanket rolls and other possessions. The line grew, and within a few minutes this Pied Piper of Keleti was leading about 200 people out of the train station and down Rakoczi Street toward the Danube River.

The march was spontaneous.