Merry Christmas

A giant glass ball - a promise of Merry Christmas

As the Christmas is coming to an end, so it is my little break. As always I wish happy holidays as they about to finish, it does happen that I wish people happy birthday 2 months after, so quite a good timing this time :)

Not so wintry view from my window

I so wanted to go and explore one more place before the holidays, but my head was empty and I couldn't think of place to go. Maybe it was caused by pre-holiday stress (as I read around half of my great nation suffers from it ) or I had a case of blues caused by horrific autumn weather this winter (who can stand constant rain for two weeks?). But I guess it's always a little sad for me when there is no snow for Christmas. Unfortunately IT happens more often now than before (two years ago I saw around Christmas time blooming flowers).

Spring is coming :)

As I read multiple headlines claiming that whole Poland is covered with snow, I look outside of my window and see little puddles. Most amount of snow I saw this year was on top of a car parked outside :( Well, the hope still remains that snow will arrive, and also would disappear before Easter :)

A touch of winter

In the meantime MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!! Hope this Christmas was all you wanted and wished it would be :)

Merry Christmas

Sopot: Beach and the Pier

Panorama of  Pier in Sopot

The time has come to visit another TriCity beach. Upon a friend's request it's going to be Sopot beach and the famous pier. First time I visited the pier I was around 8 years old. The whole family was sitting at my grandparents, who lived in Sopot at that time, when my parents realized that I have never been to pier. To rectify that embarrassing fact they ordered my older brother to take me there ASAP.

I remember my brother carrying me on his shoulders all the way to the end of the pier, and I think it was the longest shoulder ride I ever got :)

Spa House in Sopot

As I was heading out for the pier I didn't expect to be the only person that would be there, especially that it was very sunny that day. But the amount of people taking a walk surprised me. I haven't been to pier for two years and within that time it became really popular.

Crowds on pier in Sopot

Even the birds seemed to noticed that as they crowded for food from strollers.

Inspired by "The Birds" of Hitchcock

Undouptedly Sopot's pier is a tourist spot, but it is also one of a kind place. The structure is completly made of wood and mesures 511,5 meter. Threrfore it is the longest wooden pier in Europe.

The Pier ; source: molo.sopot.pl

The pier has been built in 1827 and at first measured only 31,5 meter. Soon after it grew to more impressive 315 meters. The shape of pier that we can see today has been formed in 1928. As I was reading the pier was build to serve a purpose of support deck of nearby baths that were part of spa build there by Jean Georg Haffner. Soon though it became an attraction and place of social importance, and it is till this day :)

Towards the end of the pier there is a cafe that looks like a ship. As a child I remember there was a mini Madame Tussaud museum with wax statues, but hey, can't have everything :) The ship is ok. Especially that you can climb on its deck and admire the pier and the sea. For person on my height it does make a difference :)

View from the deck of pier's ship

View from the deck of pier's ship

 

In 2011 next to the pier was built a marina. In summer time that place is packed with people. There are plenty of benches around marina, that make it perfect place to sunbathe while enjoying the hussle and bussle of the pier.

Once finished exploring the pier, you might want to go down to the beach and enjoy the sand and water. And close company of birds:)

Sopot beach

Sopot beach

Under the pier

The Crane

Panorama of the Crane

As always, today's entry isn't what I initially intended to write about, but the place I wanted to visit was closed. As it turns out I don't really know my city well enough. I should probably assume that during off season every place that requires entering anything is closed. In that way I won't be disappointed when I find out it is closed :)

Distant view of the Crane

The Crane - view from the front

Any who, today I would like to write about the Crane, one of the symbols of Gdansk. Funny enough, when I was a child I had no idea what the Crane was and where it is located. I did know the other symbol of Gdansk though, which is Neptune statue of course. Nowadays the Crane is one of my favourite building. You just can't find that oddly shaped buildings everywhere anymore :)

 

Inside you will find a museum that portrays Gdansk days of glory, which were between 16th and 18th century. Back then Gdansk was a hub for traders having all important shipments coming in from far lands. The museum has a rustic feel to it, and it's nothing like them new age museums with interactive games, toys and whatnot. Certainly there is a charm there with tiny rooms and narrow staircases.

The building initially was made entirely of wood. As I read, first time it was mentioned in 1367. But as all wooden structures, it didn't take long to for the Crane to be burn down to ground. Fortunately for us people decided to rebuild it in upgraded wood-brick structure.

The Crane, like most of the buildings had somewhat defensive function at first, along with crane duties of course. But in 1605 the building was transformed into residential place, at least part of it. The rest was still used to unload the ships and putting up masts.

The motor of the Crane was a giant hamster wheel filled with people, not, like I heard today's explanation, powered by horses. To be quite honest even if they wanted to use horse as the power source they would have to lift them up there with the Crane as no horse would be able to walk though the narrow staircases and sharp corners inside. Just the thought of it brings smile to my face :)

Giant hamster wheel

the Lockers :)

Outside the building you can find mini version of it made of bronze. It has been placed for people visually impaired, so they also can enjoy this weirdly shaped building.

Bronze replica of the Crane

As we all know the Crane is one of the symbols of Gdansk, it has been photographed multiple times. The front of the building anyway. The back is pretty ordinary and it looks like any other tenement house around.

Wisloujscie Fortress - part 1

Panorama of Wisloujscie Fortress

Wisłoujście Fortress - this is what I wanted to write about on my last entry. Why did I write about it then? Well, the answer it pretty simple - it was closed. So why I decided to write about it now? Because I can't wait four months for it to reopen. Sadly the place is closed offseason. As I learnt stearing at the door's opening hours board. Nontheless I will write about the fortress again, when it reopens:) If I only came there two months  ago :)

Panorama - up close - of Wisloujscie Fortress

Let's start with that it was my first time there. All I knew was that the fortress is located close by Westerplatte. The way I imagined it was as a kind of lighthouse. Kinda tall round whitish building and that's about it. As stupid as this sounds, I had no idea what twierdza, which is polish word for fortress might be used for. For me it could be just a plain building that a person would barricaded himself. Only when I translated this word into english it all started to make sense to me. When going there I had to push myself not to turn around as I was convinced that I am going to end up in the middle of nowhere. Since my car is a little bit unstable these days and shuts on me for any reason I didn't want to be forced sleeping in bushes or worse.

Wisloujscie Fortress - right wing

There is no good directions on the way so I was guessing which turn to take (fortunatelly there weren't that many:). Since this area became kind of industral with port being nearby, don't be suppried to pass by slag heaps and factory building that to some might seem to be abandond, I think they are just run down. However it's not about the journey there, but the place itself. 

Drive up to Wisloujscie Fortress

I must say I was quite suprised when I saw it, and in good way. The thing is huge. There is lighthouse looking building as I imagined, but it is surrounded by massive walls that have lawn as a roof. It reminded me of my hobbit houses on Hail Mountain. It turns out I love any building that has lawn on the roof :)

View of Fortress on the other side

 Since my car didn't survive the trip and I had to left it at car mechanics, I think next time I come visit the place when they reopen in may I would be coming by public transport. I just don't want to risk it ;) Luckily I was able to borrow a car and drive across city to take pictures of Wisloujscie Fortress from the other side, since the ferry rans only during weekdays.

Wisloujscie Fortress on the map

I did try my best to see what secrets the place holds. Luckily I was able to find a whole in entrance door, so here is the sneak peek of what is coming next (in sixth month time). Hope you like it :)

Mistery of Wisloujscie Fortress

Stogi Beach

I wanted to write about something else today, but as usual it didn't work out. Don't get me wrong. I planned to write about Stogi Beach as well, but not today. Actually I want to write about every beach that you can go to in TriCity, because despite them being so close to one another they tend to differ.

Stogi Beach is one of my favorite beaches in TriCity. It is set a little bit of the side, and since there is a port and Vistula river, it is one of two beaches that aren't connected with the others.

So, why is this one of my favourite beaches? It's pretty simple. Since it's not linked to other beaches and is not located in the touristy part of the city it tends to be less crowded. However during hot summer day it still be a struggle to find nice quiet spot.

Although, if you decide to go relax on weekday you might experience some noise coming from nearby port. But for me it adds to experience, and surely I prefer that to screaming kids and loud disco music.

Also the sand here seems to be more soft and white. It's funny that sand at every beach in Tricity is a little bit different, even though they are so close to one another.

Between the beach and entrance area where all bars and restaurants are located is something that is called "Coastal Strip", this part off limits, as it's an area protected by law where the wild life, especially plants, is left to be. So be wary as you can get fine when caught strolling there.

There is one more thing that differentiates Stogi Beach from the others. It is the distance from the Stogi district (populated area). Other beaches are located about 5 minutes walk from busy city streets, some are even closer. To get to Stogi Beach you must prepare yourself for a walk of around 30 minutes through wooded area. However if you are eager to get to the beach as soon as possible, you can hop in tram, or a car to get there. Both of the transportation options would guarantee you travel time of no more than 5 minutes.

Election day

So this day has finally arrived. The Local Elections day. I promised myself that I will vote this time and for weeks I have been looking forward to this day. However, one thing is promising myself to do something that is weeks away and another to actually do it, when the time comes. As the day gone by I was preparing myself to drag myself to the voting station. Less than two hours before closing of the voting stations I managed to pull myself together.

It took me all of two minutes to walk to the voting station. There is was, I managed to conquer the hard part, getting out of the house :) Another two minutes and I was done. Ofcourse I had to take a picture of me putting my vote into the voting urn to show of in front of my family as none of them gone voting :( Then, to celebrate me taking part in election day I went down to store to buy myself some chocolate :)

There is the proof, I did vote :)

On the way to store I passed by one of my favorite spots, that comes to life after nightfall. I call it "a little amberland". Essentially they are luminescent stones that have different objects embedded in them. Whenever I show this spot to anyone for the first time, they always behave like little children getting exited to see what is embedded in which stone and guessing what that object might be :)

Little amberland

To sum up, I know, that local elections it is not such a big deal. I know that nobody's life depends on me going to vote, but there are so many people that complain about local government, yet when they have chance to do someting about it, they decide to stay home and do not partake.

Here we have a padlock

Oh well. When I got back with my chocolate, I put on live transmission of the voting poll to keep my exitment going :) And since I voted today, I can wake up tomorrow with firm belive that I did all I could to provide better future for my future children :)

And here we have a fish