When I left Poland for Wales, I didn’t come to make my life better, at least not in the ‘standard’ way. I came for an adventure. I came to travel and to photograph. I had a job in Poland that was perceived as ‘good’ from the perspective of others. To me, it was a soul killer.
I made my decision after a lone week in Prague. I am going to the UK. At first, I meant to go to Inverness in Scotland, but life took me to Cardiff instead. As I was getting ready for my travels I got a Polish edition of ‘Islands’ by Norman Davies. There, I read about the early history of Wales. About the droids’ Island. About Anglesey.
It was the first place I wanted to travel to after I’d organise my life in Wales enough to enjoy such retreats.
It took me 18 years to travel to Anglesey.
I have done many other things, visited many other places in every country of the United Kingdom, and travelled to half of Europe and three African countries. I got married, and have two kids, I studied and then studied some more. I have done a few things that I am proud of and some that I am less proud of, but I still didn’t set foot on the Island.
That changed yesterday.
It took burnout and support from my brother to get there.
This was the first time this year for me to pick up my camera and take pictures.
The day was amazing. We were laughing, remembering the old days, talking despite the gloomy weather. We set for the Conwy Castle, but stopped where we wanted and diverted where we pleased. This is how we ended up at Burn Cells Ddu. On the way back seeing a sign for Harlech, we turned in its direction. The castle was closed but very impressive.
I missed travelling in this way. I missed taking pictures of things I have never seen before.