Prewentorium

There is an object that I wanted to enter since two years. I’ve discovered it by accident on one of my road trips. It made me think of a sanatorium. It is a huge building, clearly not in use but in a good state. So good that there were no possibilities to enter without picking locks or breaking windows. And good that I didn’t try because I learned later on, the building is alarmed.

Last year I’ve booked a room in the same town as this building. While talking with the owner, the topic of the conversation went towards this sanatorium, which turned out to be a Prewentorium. The owner, Kasia, who bakes divine cheesecake, said that she could ask her mother who had a friend who knows the caretaker of the place

To cut a long story short, it was not possible to have access that weekend. Several months later I managed to get an appointment with the care taker however he didn’t show up because he forgot about it. And today, two years after I’ve found the building all pieces felt at the right place.

I’d texted Kasia on Wednesday, On Thursday she told me that the appointment was set for the next Friday at 10. Thank you Kasia!!

Now when you are anxious for such a long time to see something, you also get the fear for disappointment. I really had no idea what to expect. And I can tell you now, that I’ve found there the most unexpected things.

The care taker appeared to be a very nice man who refused the chocolates I’d bought the day before. His trust went so far that after he had switched off the alarm he gave me the keys and showed me the place where to hide them once I was finished with my pictures. The language barrier had been solved by his son in law who had been translating over the phone.

So finally all set and off I went. I must say the place was not as spectacular as I’d hoped for. It was nice, it was huge but the metal framed beds I had imagined were not there. Wooden boxes with a mattress inside it functioned as beds. No medical equipment or whatsoever but plenty of very small chairs. And sinks mounted 50 cm from the ground. I realized now what is a Prewentorium. It is a place where (small) children spend some time to recover from whatever. And as their stay can be long (like several months) there are classes and teachers and everything. But there are mainly long corridors with many doors to small rooms where the children slept.

I’ve been strolling through these corridors until I reached one end of the building. A door with small windows separated me from what looked like a gym. “This is more like it”, I thought and I pushed the door open…. and let it close again immediately! We both got frightened like hell. This huge bird of prey and me… The bird panicked and I got excited. In his panicked stated the bird flew against the windows of the gym in an attempt to escape. The poor animal. I sneaked in and I tried to calm down the bird. “My God, this is weird”, I thought. “How do you calm down a panicked buzzard? How to talk to a Polish bird of prey”. I looked around and I saw there was no way to escape for the animal. Plenty of windows there but all closed. One window was broken but the hole was to small to let him out. I wondered how he ever got in. I took my camera from the tripod and took a few shots. Such a beautiful animal. Still I had to let him out. He was still throwing himself against the glass. Terrible sound. I began checking windows. Double glazing. I could open the inside window. The outside one was blocked.

Next window. Also here, inside window opened. Outside window was missing a handle this time. Next window, third attempt. Again negative. Only after 6 tries I found a window that could open both in- and outside. Of course in the opposite corner of where the bird was still hitting the window.

So in panick (photo with iPhone)

Next stage. Get the animal to the other side of the gym. Slowly I approached the corner where he was sitting, leaving him enough space to escape from me. Taking advantage of this and taking a few shots of it.

And then it took off.... To the other side or the gym. This is so cool to see this bird flying inside! from so close by. Majestically it crosses the space. And majestically it flies full speed against another closed window. Ouch. That hurts. Him and me. I keep on talking to the animal. I’m happy I’m there alone. Thinking what to do when he’s somewhat dizzy sitting on the ground. I want to take it, hold it and bring it to the open window but I realize his beak and claws are sharp. I feel so pity for him. Suddenly I hear chirping. I look around and see a great tit (No not that! The bird!!). Now this guy must be really wetting his pants! Two enemies for him! I decided to deal with this feathered friend later. First mister buzzard. He flew off again to his own corner so I had to repeat the thing again. Finally, after several hard meetings with closed windows, he found the one I’d managed to open. He landed on the windowsill. Cautious. As if he expected also glass there. I stopped moving towards him. I was happy that this was going to end well. I could finally admire this beautiful creature. Took a few more shots. He looked back at me. Then he took off. Again majestically…..

Epilogue

I managed to get the great tit out as well. And another one in another part of the building. This place is a huge bird trap. I also found several dead ones. Starved to death. Sad.

This little great tit was saved as well