It's just over a year since I stayed in Warsaw and encouraged by the news of that visit, Alan and Russell are keen to join me this time. We opt to fly to Gdansk, the port city that has changed hands between Germany and Poland several times in history. Our hotel is a former industrial building, probably a warehouse, that has been kitted out nicely for the 21st century and is impressively spacious. Gdansk suffered badly in WWII, so it's hard to tell which of the Dutch-influenced buildings in the old town are original and which are reconstructions. The overall effect however is very pleasing. Not to be overlooked is the old shipyard, scene of a different type of conflict, Solidarity, in the 1980s, and now undergoing gentrification.
The railway station is a superb tribute to the age of steam. Outside is a monument commemorating the rescue of hundreds of Jewish children from the Holocaust. For us, it's the gateway for several day excursions. Sopot is a fairly upmarket beach resort north of the city (eat your heart out, Blackpool!), while Malbork is a medieval castle which didn't escape the ravages of the 1940s. Another good day out is to Gdynia, which happens to be running an Iron Man (or Iron Woman, in some cases) triathlon on the Sunday we are there.
Back in Gdansk, we try some of the local refreshments. PG4 is a brewpub near the station with half a dozen beers to wash down the good Polish cuisine (pierogi, or dumplings stuffed with meat, are among the best).Read more
Speak, WorldWonderful! I never stayed in Gdansk,, although I was all over the southern parts of Poland. I’ll be so interested to see where you go next.
TravelerAbsolutely; it's almost a different country. In the old days people used to queue for essentials (bread, soap etc.) but now they queue for boutique pastries that they found on social media!
July 15 in Poland ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Speak, WorldWonderful! I never stayed in Gdansk,, although I was all over the southern parts of Poland. I’ll be so interested to see where you go next.
Speak, WorldWonderful photographs. Poland certainly didn’t look like that the two times I went in 1988 and 1989!
TravelerAbsolutely; it's almost a different country. In the old days people used to queue for essentials (bread, soap etc.) but now they queue for boutique pastries that they found on social media!