The story of the efforts to get John Paul II to visit Zakopane and the idea of Homage to the Polish Highlanders, told by Adam Bachleda-Curuś, the then mayor of Zakopane, and at the same time the most involved in the implementation of the events. We will find here many details regarding the organization of the Pope's pilgrimage, but also behind-the-scenes arrangements and treatments, both on the church and Zakopane sides, which few of us know about. All with archival, private photographs.