How much we wish sometimes to have some rest from the hustle and bustle of city life, to leave the maze of concrete bedroom communities, and eventually to stop thinking about a stressful job! And to have some days to spend in another world, free of mundane matters, with our spouses, children and mother-in-law. To breathe in a lungful of lead-free air and experience a space wider than that of a claustrophobic elevator. To become elated by a tree, a river, to climb a pike by ourselves and to reach the foot of a lime rock. To pay a visit to a small, historical church, to show a castle to an infant babbling in a pram - a castle which is larger and more impressive than a sand castle built in the beach or in the sandpit.

Over there, in the dreamy land of rest, you will find everything a townie may desire. The green of meadows and forests, warbling chirping sounds emitted by birds and insects, a gnat crushed on your forehead and a bee buzzing around your ear. Over there, you can take a cycle way and pedal away to discover unknown areas; on your route, you can stop over and pay a visit to a hospitable inn and taste cheap village food, far and away better than shrimps, oysters or lobsters. Wow! Those beloved golden scraps, leaven bread, that fantastic village bigos (stewed dish of sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, meat and mushrooms), tripe, chitterlings and goulash!

Do not try to find this land on globes and last pages of geographical atlases. This land is next to you. It's name is Ogrodzieniec. Be my guests!

Andrzej Mikulski

The Mayor of Ogrodzieniec