a grey old day as we dock at the polish port of gdynia
it's also very industrial so the expectations are not high
plan is to taxi to the town centre then catch a train to gdansk
we walk past the many excursion buses and into the taxi driver rabble
we resist one then accept the offer of a fixed price go anywhere full day hire
into the back seat of the s series mercedes benz with stephan in charge
his english is limited and makes some assumptions about our interests
a number of very impressive looking shopping centres are pointed out
as are the dealerships for every known european car marque
one point taken though - this place seems to be bouyant
we are feeling quite comfortable with our choice of transport
set controls for an outer suburb of gdansk called oliwa
research suggesting the cathedral there well worth a visit
get the timing right and there's an organ recital to savour
we're an hour early so plenty of time to investigate in and out
inside - simple plastered brick construction - very tall and long
prayer rooms, the confession booth, a surrounding passageway
pope jean paul 2 honoured - of course - he was polish
there's paintings, sculptures, flags bearing coat-of-arms
outside - the cathedral backs onto a beautiful park/domain
grounds for the neighbouring palace and now national museum
easy to fill in time until the scheduled organ recital
beautiful gardens, ponds, waterfalls, bird-life, etc
back in the cathedral the place has filled up
the large organ at the rear bursts into life
the hallelujah chorus and 5 other tunes played
there's angels playing coronets and other movement
so a visual as well as an aural treat - necks are craned
the final tune brings in an organ at the front of the church
we're hearing loud and energetic organ music in stereo - very nice
20 minutes of recital and back into the merc and delivery to old town gdansk
map in hand and a bit of wheel-spinning then traction and we are off
following a recommended walking trail through the heart of town
starts at the ancient gate, down the main street and out the other end
an hour or so spent soaking it all up - we can feel the history
overcast, brisk, busy, so much to look at and read about
we pass under an archway housing lech walensa's office
hang a left and grab a fried smoked cheese delicacy - yum
along a canal to the crane - an huge ancient ship building pulley
powered by a couple of large wheels driven by humans in hamster mode
then on to st bridget's cathedral to view the famous amber virgin mary
back to the starting point of our walk and into st mary's cathedral
this place is unbelievably large - it can hold 25,000 people
the pillars reach up and up and up - likewise the stained glass windows
there's an option to take the 400 steps up to the top of the bell tower
an initial claustrophobic climb up a very narrow circular granite staircase
before opening out into a darkened wooden stair well inside the main tower
a little bit scary actually - the hunchback of notre dame comes to mind
but it's all worth it as we come out on top and look out over gdansk
pick out the various places we have already visited and snap photos
descend and collapse into the back seat of our chauffered limo/taxi
friday afternoon traffic now in place so a slow ride to the shipyards
kaput now according to stephan but the solidarity monument is there
we pay our respects to lech and the workers then head out of gdnask
there's time for a cruise around the streets of the seaside resort of sopot
a popular summer destination for the richer europeans it would appear
plenty of brand name hotels, tennis clubs, restaurants and large homes
we dip out toes into the baltic sea washing up on the sandy beach
then it's a bit of a rush trip back to the cruise ship
our driver (or us) out by an hour on delivery time
a stroll back on board and agreeing - great day
gdansk will require a return trip - some time
