Advertisement
Just few months ago, Gdańsk was absolutely unfamiliar to me. I had no idea there is a city with that name and that beautiful appearance. Now, I cannot take all the images and memories I have had about Gdańsk out of my mind. They will be there, forever. Gdańsk is incredible. It has everything: an old town, a modern centre, medieval streets, 21st century highways... I have never seen any city that mixes everything in a very colourful way as Gdańsk does. Being there only for 3 days but that’s enough for me to love this city.
Actually, my trip was a journey around the area of Tri-City (Trójmiasto), which includes Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia. A little bit information about this place: it’s located in the northern part of Poland, where the land meets the Baltic Sea. I’m not going to tell you about the long, complicated, yet heroic history of this city; but I’m sure if you have a chance to read about it, you’d be impressed as I am. The city itself has a big pride and after my trip I think its citizens should be proud of their city too.
I’m not just writing some flattering
words which may please my friends in Gdańsk, or Poland. I’m telling you my true feelings, at the moment I’m composing this text.
I don’t know what the best way to describe Gdańsk. Okay, imagine that you are lost in a town, and you wandering around it for a while.
You see a stoned street with the boat-bay on one side and colourful medieval houses on another.
You find a small way where people sell amber jewelleries with their wooden stands; behind them there are houses with incredible architectures which remind you of castles and palaces in France.
You walk through many churches which are so attracted that you almost forget beautiful parks around them.
You meet local people in a market, they’re buying fruits and breads and cakes and simple things, but the atmosphere is amazing.
Then when you realise, all the antique things disappear, you find yourself around modern office buildings, high-tech cinemas, flashy shopping centres…
You are now sinking into the modern side of that wonderful town.
You just don’t want to stop the imagination.
Simpler, why don’t you just visit Gdańsk?
Sopot and Gdynia, together with Gdańsk, create the Tri-City, as I told you.
They are very close to each other, on distance aspect; but totally different. While Gdańsk is combination of the past and the present, Gdynia is symbol of new Poland. My friend told me the area is considered luxury one, which is for rich people to live. I have to admit that, the neighbourhood there is extremely outstanding, with prosperity look and beautiful sights. I didn’t spend much time in Gdynia so that’s all I can tell you now.
Which I know deeply about is Sopot, where, believe it or not, I spent the whole day there. (When I told my Polish friends about this, they looked at me as if I just did something extraordinarily wrong.) Okay, maybe others don’t want to stay in Sopot for a long time, but I want to; what’s the problem? If you find something interesting enough to keep you stay, why don’t you, right?
Sopot is famous as a spa town, but as a student, I didn’t have a chance to experience that thing. Instead, I enjoyed wandering the Monte Cassino Street, where I saw a lot of restaurants, café, shops, and in the end of the road, the Molo (pier). This
pier is the longest wooden one in Europe: 515,8 metres. It’s very nice. In summer time, you have to pay 5,5 zlotys (about 1,25 euro) to visit the pier, which stretches to the Gdańsk Bay. There you may smell the rough and salty ocean air; may feel the sea winds blasting on your face; and enjoy the very best view of Baltic Sea.
Did I mention about the beach in Sopot? Where swans are swimming? Where people are sunbathing? And some of them go to swim with the swans too? First time in Europe, I can say ‘I’m on a beach.’ There are waves, there is sun, and there is everything that reminds me of Vietnam’s beaches. (Of course the beaches are much better in Vietnam but this is enough right now for me.) I sat on the beach for at least 2 hours. The time just passed and I didn’t notice. Just like that, I stayed in Sopot from the morning till the evening.
3 days in the Trójmiasto is something that I won’t ever regret. I have new good friends there, such as Adam, who hosted me; Ola, Adam’s girlfriend; Dorota, a cool girl I met
at a party; Rafal, the photographre; Andrzej, funny gentleman whom I had a beer with in Sopot; David, the ‘light man’ from Rumia; and much more than just so… My mind’s somehow widened; my life somehow gets brighter. I feel good. I feel great. I feel Gdańsk.
There should be at least one reason for you to urge a want to come back somewhere. I have so many. And because of that, I need to be back to Gdańsk. Soon.
TIPS: - Don’t forget to go to the top of the lighthouse in the Molo. You can have a great view of the sea. Standing from the Tourist Information will give you the same sight but not the same feelings.
- Public transportation is cheap (on perspectives of a guy has been living in Finland); however, if you don’t want to spend too much money for going around by buses, trams, or commuter trains, plan your trip carefully.
- Foods: you may be surprise with cakes and breads you find in the tunnel way in the main railway station. There are many shops selling them and the prices may shock you. I bought
a small pizza with 1,5 zlotys (around 40 euro cents). In Sopot, check a restaurant name Szeyk, where you can find a dish name sharam served with chips or bread. Prices are from 16 to 25 zlotys (4 to 6 euros) and it’s reasonable for a meal like that, in a restaurant like that.
- You can always have fast foods when travelling. In Gdańsk, there are McDonalds and KFC. If you go in pair, the best deal for McDonalds is the set including 2 cheese burgers and 2 french-fries at 9 zlotys (2,25 euro). Of course there’s no drink, you have to buy extra (5 zlotys for each). So, with the same money, come into a KFC’s restaurant, order Bigbox set, which includes a Zinger burger, 5 hot wings, 1 french-fries, and a drink. Plus point is that with KFC, you’re free to refill your cup, so that’s perfect for 2. And don’t forget to take a full cup before leaving if you want to please your thirst after that.
- Learn some Polish. It may not easy for you but it will help. I myself experienced a situation when I didn’t know which word is ‘arrival’
and which means ‘departure’. I tried to ask people in the railway station but they couldn’t speak English, even some young guys (perhaps they just didn’t want to talk). And guess what, the information lady couldn’t speak English too.
- Drink beers. Okay, I think I need not to explain this.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.108s; Tpl: 0.009s; cc: 10; qc: 49; dbt: 0.0612s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb