From September 22 to 25, 2023, under the grayest of skies, took place perhaps the most memorable gathering in the style of a gypsy party. It was… how to put it… both absolutely wonderful and absolutely terrible at the same time. Because of the weather! The weather was such that all you wanted to do was hide in a sleeping bag and never come out. But no one hid. No one.

Everyone came. With all their children, dogs, trailers, tents, tea in thermoses, and dreams of fun. Because they knew — there would be a celebration. A real one. Warm. Even if cold.

And then it all began. With the fair. A real one. There was honey — sticky, fragrant, so good you just wanted to eat it by the spoonful. And bread — the kind with a crust you break off even before getting home.

And then? Then he arrived. The jockey. On a horse! A horse! In the pouring rain! And all the children (and adults too) rushed to him. Everyone wanted to touch, pet, take pictures. The horse stood there, looking with wise eyes, clearly thinking, “Well, people, you’re certainly something.”

For the first time, we played Bingo. BINGO! Listen to that word. It’s old-fashioned, almost forgotten. But it turned out to be perfect. Everyone was shouting, laughing, searching for numbers. And the prize? Who cares what the prize was! The most important thing was the process itself.

Fishing. That’s a whole chapter. Some caught fish, others simply sat by the water, listened to it, breathed in the air. But it was important. It was the moment.

And there was also the spa zone. With a sauna, with a hot tub. You know, that feeling when you step out of the sauna, pour icy water over yourself, and there’s rain and cold all around, but you stand there, so happy, as if everything in life is exactly as it should be.

Lunch? Lunch was a masterpiece. Pilaf, cooked by a master of his craft, smelled so good that even those who weren’t hungry wanted to eat. And those who were hungry ate twice.

The night discos. That’s a different kind of magic. Music, dancing, bonfires. Everyone dances. Even those who “don’t usually dance.” Because it’s impossible not to dance when the atmosphere is like this.

And finally, the highlight. The gypsy camp. A real one. With songs, dances, balls, and flowers. It was like something out of a movie. No, it was better than a movie. Because it was right here, with us.

There was an animator for the kids. A real magician, who knew how to captivate everyone — both the little ones and their parents.

And now, when we look back on it, we realize: yes, the weather was awful. But it was our best gathering. Because what matters is not how the sun shines. What matters is the warmth inside.