Zakopane: A Transformation

By Elia Olson

This semester in Poland I have had the opportunity to travel twice to the small town of Zakopane which is nestled in the Tatra Mountains. The first time I came to this quaint town, it was alive with the bustle of a small Polish town. The street shops were all open and the mountains stood stately in the background of every picture. The Tatras reminded the town that while they were ominous and beautiful, they also brought much money to the town when the snow falls and also when the snow melts.

The next time I travelled to the small mountain town, it was bustling with a new energy. Snow was falling quickly and the green grass, blue sky landscape became foggy and white before my very eyes. In one evening two feet of fresh snow fell and transformed the small town into a bustling town full of skiers, hikers, and snow shovelers. As I stepped out of the comfort of the shops up and down the main street, I felt I was disturbing the peaceful state of this small village.

The first time I came to Zakopane, I did not have enough time to travel up the tram to view the city from up on top of a small peak. The second time I ventured to the city though I made it a point to see Zakopane from above. I was not at all disappointed. Zakopane looked like a picture perfect storybook of a winter wonderland. The snow was unbelievably white in stark contrast to the pine trees that covered the mountain. In simple terms, I witnessed the transformation of a cute little mountain town to a winter enthusiasts sweet dreams in the course of only one month. If you ever find yourself in Poland, make sure to travel to the small mountain town of Zakopane and witness this transformation yourself!