Letter in a bottle sparks hunt for Polish teens after being found on Croatian beach
A Croatian woman has launched a hunt to find two Polish teenagers after finding their letter in a bottle over seven years after it was hidden on the holiday island of Pag.
Barbara Lazar had gone for a New Year’s Day stroll with her children along the island’s beach when she spotted the bottle lying between rocks and logs of wood.
Barbara Lazar had gone for a New Year’s Day stroll with her children along the island’s beach when she spotted the bottle lying between rocks and logs of wood.
Seeing a piece of paper inside she decided to open it, later telling Polish media: “It was a half-litre bottle of mineral water with a letter inside.
“This was a lovely surprise, we were thrilled."
After introducing themselves, the girls explained that they were in Pag and enjoyed the time so much that they swore an oath that they would return there together.
Dated 31 July 2015, the letter began: "I am Marysia, and I am Monia. We live in Poland, near Kraków."
The girls explained that they were in Pag, the fifth largest island in Croatia and the one with the longest coastline, with their parents and brothers.
They also mischievously wrote about 'carrying out a plan that no one should know about' and said that they would hide the bottle, return to the island and place a new letter in it.
They enjoyed their stay on the island so much that they swore an oath that they would return there together.
The piece of paper enclosed in the bottle was their 'solemn vow' in which they pledged not only to return to the island in a few years but to do some of the things they enjoyed most on the island, including riding on the carousel in the town centre, eating the local seafood in an exclusive restaurant and sunbathing on their favourite rocks.
They also mischievously wrote about 'carrying out a plan that no one should know about' and said that they would hide the bottle, return to the island and place a new letter in it.
Three years later, Marysia returned to Pag, found the secretly buried bottle and added another letter, saying: "It's us again, meaning me. Monika is unfortunately not here with me."
Bidding goodbye to the island, the girls wrote: “We will greatly miss our craziness and fooling around among the waves."
Three years later, Marysia returned to Pag, found the secretly buried bottle and added another letter, saying: "It's us again, meaning me. Monika is unfortunately not here with me."
In this second letter, Marysia added more details about themselves and their lives in Poland. "Things have changed a bit over these three years," she wrote, adding that Monika had turned 18, gone to college and danced in several musicals.
In the second letter, Marysia added more details about themselves and their lives in Poland.
Marysia, on the other hand, finished high school and then went to music school, where she studied singing.
The letter ended saying: "We have not changed our character (silliness is still kept at a high level). We have been growing up, organising our lives and planning what will come of it all. See you soon!"
Barbara Lazar, who lives in Varaždin on the Croatian mainland but had been staying on the island with her family when she found the bottle, told local Croatian news outlet morski.hr: “Basically, the kids were playing, we were clearing our heads, and among the drifted pieces of wood and twigs, there was a half-litre bottle of mineral water with a message inside. This discovery was so sweet for us.
Barbara Lazar (pictured), who lives in Varaždin on the Croatian mainland but had been staying on the island with her family when she found the bottle, said: “Marysia and Monika may still live near Kraków, and if they are reading this, let us know. We are waiting for the girls, we would like to spend a vacation with them.
“Marysia and Monika may still live near Kraków, and if they are reading this, let us know.
“We certainly expect a continuation and a return to Pag. And who knows, maybe some new friendships will be born.”
Inviting them back to Pag, Lazar added: “We are waiting for the girls, we would like to spend a vacation with them."
