Yesterday, Pijus, our 2m tall driver/guide came at 9.30 and we set off in an Audi for Gdansk a distance of about 560 km. Where possible we stuck to minor roads and did not reach Gdansk until 6.30. The country is undulating and we drove through lots of forests and past lots of lakes.There were a few fields of rape: a lot of baled and wrapped hay/silage and other crops - wheat?/beans?.
Our hotel in Gdansk is lovely. We look out over the old harbour and apart from the boats going up and down there is a constant stream of people along the esplanade in front of the hotel.
This morning we toured the old city of Gdansk and the adjacent cities of Sopot and Gydnia.
It is a lovely warm sunny day so this afternoon we cruised the harbour on a pirate ship.
Birch tree
Mistletoe
Our lunch stop
Pijus and I outside the cafe.
Post and rail fence Polish style.
Polish school crossing sign.
View from our room in the Hanza Hotel.
New apartment blocks in Gdansk
Today was a public holiday in Poland -Corpus Christi. When we arrived at Oliwa cathedral, mass had started and the large church was packed with people standing in the aisles.
The organ is very melodious and the sound is excellent.
After mass there was a procession of hundreds of people.
Another church tower.
the famous Neptune fountain.
Ornate facade near the Neptune Fountain.
Sunbathing on the white sandy beach at Sopot with the long pier (over;500m) in the background.
More sunbathers
Typical Gdansk facades
A sunny afternoon and a good opportunity for a harbour cruise
And every pirate ship should have a parrot (or macaw)
The great crane on the waterfront In use from the 14thC until 1945 when it was destroyed by the Red Army.
It has been well reconstructed. It was powered by men in a treadmill.
Gdansk street art
Looks like a Soviet era monument.
Pagan sculpture
A lovely view from your hotel, hope you are getting nice sea breezes to keep you cool. I noticed lots of mistletoe while we were away. I never knew it grew like it does in the trees.
ReplyDelete560km is a long drive for one day! But I expect it was very comfortable in an Audi.
ReplyDeleteThe pirate ship is fantastic, and the school crossing sign is intriguing.
I imagine Pijus had to fold himself in two to get in the car! It looks like there has been quite a lot of reconstruction, post war and post soviet.
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