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.