When the new year of 2008 finally arrived after months spent in the big city tracking down surreal art trails, I felt that I needed to slow down and return to a place I associate with absolute peace. My heart beat faster at the thought of West Pomerania once again, so I packed my summer dresses, tucked my digital camera into my bag, and hopped on a train. Returning to these familiar parts in the middle of a scorching summer turned out to be the best decision I could have made. Although I love discovering secrets hidden in the woods and walking along the suspension bridge, this time my main goal was total, undisturbed relaxation right in the heart of the town.
Looking for shelter from the burning sun, I discovered the perfect sanctuary, which turned out to be the renovated city fountain in the Walcz market square. Relaxing by the fountain on a day like this is absolute poetry for the senses and exactly what I was missing during my intense life on the go. Standing close to the refreshing stream of water that dances playfully in the air and shimmers in the sun with all the colors of the rainbow makes you instantly forget about slow internet, addictively checking blog comments, or annoying lines. The sound of falling droplets is almost hypnotic, completely drowning out the city noise and creating a small, private oasis of peace around you, perfect for reading a book or just mindlessly catching a cool breeze on your face.
Looking back at my first post from a year ago, I realize how much my travel philosophy has shifted during this lazy afternoon. I used to think traveling meant running from one landmark to another with a camera in hand, but today I see that the ultimate luxury is just pausing to breathe. Walcz is giving me pure serenity this season, showing that the most beautiful days are the ones spent doing nothing but sitting on a park bench with a cold lemonade. If you find yourself in this part of the country during the summer, make sure to stop by the market square, shut down your screens, and just enjoy the calming sound of the water.
