Podróżnik (Traveller)
A globetrotter in his own right. Although dwarfs are accustomed to long-distance travel, there is no one else like him.
In his short life he has already seen a lot, but still, driven by his undying curiosity about travel, every now and then he packs up his suitcase again and sets off on another journey into the unknown.
His love of adventure, courage and curiosity about the world, as well as tact, familiarity and innate gentleness are his main features. From an early age, he showed unusual curiosity, pestering his parents with all sorts of questions. He climbed trees, explored rabbit holes and travelled Wrocław's network of underground corridors. In a word, he did everything that no decent young dwarf should do. Over time, his curiosity pushed him further and further away from the city. He would then pack a small bundle and disappear from the house for a few days. His dwarf mother often wondered what her unruly son would grow up to be. One day the young Podróżnik (who only became known as Podróżnik years later) announced to her that he was taking a trip to Poland with rafters. He packed his belongings and we was gone. From time to time he would send home postcards assuring his parents that he was well, in good health and safe during his adventures. When his parents once received a letter with a foreign stamp, they already knew that their son would not be coming home soon.
They were not wrong. Having visited all of Poland, Podróżnik decided to explore the world. He wandered from country to country until Europe became too small for him. He went to Africa for a few years to sail from there to South America. He visited the United States, toured Asia and set out to conquer Australia. Every dozen or so years he would come to Wrocław for a while, bringing home countless souvenirs and interesting stories. He quickly became the favourite of the dwarf youth, who listened with excitement to his anecdotes and often chilling stories. Barely had he greeted his family, unpacked his suitcases and entertained his friends with stories, and already he was starting to plan his next escapade. Two years later he stated that he had “overstayed”, politely declined all invitations and disappeared again.
The little traveller aroused so much interest among dwarfs that whenever he came to Wrocław for a while, he immediately received a huge number of invitations. Everyone was curious about his unusual stories and souvenirs brought from all over.
Rumour has it that he spent the most time in the British Isles, where he goes back to from time to time to visit old friends. It is said that he acquired his refinement and aristocratic accent there. In fact, it is fair to say that after years of travel, there is nothing left of the young, unruly rascal. Although always smiling and friendly, he has become much more serious and considerate.
When, after decades of travel, there was no more room in his family home for all the souvenirs he had brought with him, he decided to move into a hotel. It comes as no surprise that he can most often be found on Kiełbaśnicza Street, next to the Art Hotel. He appeared there quite recently and there are many indications that this time he will stay for longer. Well, at least longer than usual... He decided to write the first part of a guide to Europe, describing its most interesting corners. There are, of course, plans concerning all the other continents, and later a multi-volume series of memoirs. Of course, he will interrupt the writing of each subsequent part to make a little “trip into the world”. So no one should be surprised if one day he is not found outside the hotel...
