Please note: The following text is an interview or story from a previous year. Please do not draw any conclusions from it about currently taking place events or statistics etc.

Spreewald Journal Issue: September/October 2017

Interview with trainee and photographer Marta Regieli: "I really like the mystery and history of the old Spreewald houses."

Since September 2016, Marta Regieli has been supporting the various areas of responsibility of the Spreewald Tourism Association as a trainee (businesswoman for tourism and leisure). As a native of Poland, she is thus involved in a holiday region that is also becoming increasingly popular among her compatriots. The enthusiastic photographer revealed to us in a nice conversation what ties Marta herself has been able to forge in the meantime with her new adopted country.

Marta, can you still remember the first impression the Spreewald made on you? My first trip was to the open-air museum in Lehde and I really liked the fact that it reminded me a bit of my grandparents' country life. I'm also pleased that after my time here there are still many new things for me to discover. Is there anything that really surprised you about the region? That there are so many different things going on here. You can do something every weekend. Tourists visit the region all year round - and especially in winter I would not have expected that. In the course of your work at the tourism association, the topic of "foreign marketing in Poland" plays an important role. What do you think makes the Spreewald so attractive for Polish guests? The water hiking and cycling paths here in the Spreewald are much, much better developed compared to Poland. Discovering the landscape in the region is really fun. The wellness offers here are also very varied. I wish more Polish guests would visit the Spreewald Therme in Burg, for example, because they can relax there in the typical Spreewald atmosphere. I particularly like the modern facilities in combination with the traditional components. What do you find exciting about your tasks that bridge the gap between the Spreewald and your home country? I am very happy that we provide Polish brochures in the office of the tourism association, some of which I translated myself. We're also working on a great project that I think Polish guests will really enjoy. It involves the development of an audio guide. Whenever you find the time, you are out and about with your camera. What are the most attractive motifs for you here in the region? I really like the mystery and history of the old Spreewald houses. In the summer, I'd like to move into one of them to learn even more about life back then. And, because I prefer photographing people, I would like to photograph a traditional costume festival or a procession to capture the tradition.