Platea Spiritum Sanctum

The entrance

 I'm back from the wild. I must admit it was hard to leave the forest behind. Not because I got lost, I was holding on to the quiet and the greenery. Don't get me wrong. I spent in the forest five hours couple of Saturdays ago, so I haven't been living there past few weeks :) Just this memory stayed with me for longer, but it is time to return to the living. Re-immerse in Gdansk. And there is no better way to do that than with a walk.

Details

I found this article on the Internet about one street in Gdansk, I briefly read it and thought: "That's it". As it turned out I thought the article was about different street. I sadly must admit that I don't know the street names in Old-Town Gdansk. So if you ever come across me in the streets of Gdansk, for the love of God, do not ask me for directions. There is no telling where I could send you :)

Different perspective :)

As I said, when I read the article I thought is about different street, then I checked it on the map. When I went to take pictures, I realized I still thought of wrong street. Fortunately my phone navigation showed me to right place :)

Please don't eat the buildings

Before I start (whaaat?? didn't I start already? :) I just wanted to say, that this street might not be the most beautiful street in Gdansk, it might not be the postcard street, but if you are exploring Old Town, you just might want to stop there for a minute or two.

This "thing" is just too big the get it in one shot (The Royal Chapel and Basilica)

Since first mentioned in 1336 as Heilige - Geist - Gasse (Holy Spirit Street) the street went through transition few times. The street was named after a hospital that was located here. As one can assume, huge part of the street belonged to church (since construction of Basilica started in 1346 nearby plots were purchased and administer by church officials.

Meat Market; source: http://trojmiasto.gazeta.pl/trojmiasto/55,35612,8222458.html

What one might not know is that there was tremendous amount of traders and guild located there too. On this very street Brotmarkt (Bread Market) was located, where every Saturday one could purchase any type of baked goods and any baker could sell (even them, who weren't affiliated to the guild). And Fleischebanke (Meat Market), which in XVI was upgraded to Gothic-styled brick building and where over 80 butches of Gdansk guild were located. Many other trade was located on Holy Spirit Street (strawberry market, cloth market, and many more traders and works), but I regret closure of the meat markets the most.

Daniel Chodowiecki's Picture: Long Street, Gdansk

Apparently this street is also famous for having loads of famous people as residents :) However I didn't see any records of Madonna or Lady Gaga living there :) The list is long, so I will mention only few people: Paul Beneke who, I am sure Italians aren't very fond of for seizing Memling's triptych The Last Judgment; Daniel Chodowiecki - painter and printmaker; and probably most famous of them all - Arthur Schopenhauer.

No. 109

Although, in my opinion (and I think many people would agree) the eye-catcher of the street is The Royal Chapel. It was built 1678 - 1681, when Lutherans took over the Basilica. The build was initiated by polish king - John III Sobieski (hence the name:) The Chapel is kept in unusual for Gdansk baroque style. It does stand out for sure, but in my weird opinion, I think it complements the Basilica in some strange way :)

And finally, place to regroup :)

Night at the Museum

ESC and the Monument of Three Crosses 

This weekend I went for Night at the Museum. However there was no Ben Stiller, or exhibits coming alive at midnight. You might ask, how is that possible? The answer, as always, is simple. I went for the real Night at the Museum.

Emigration Museum and a ship as big as the building itself

Every year museums around Poland open their doors to visitors at night (from around 5pm to 2am). Not only the entrance is free (in majority:), there also are extra surprises that are one-off kinda thing.

You might see suitcases there

I had very ambitious plan. I wanted to start in Gdynia, at Emigration Museum as it was its opening day. Then I wanted to stop by European Solidarity Centre, as I never been since it opened. I also wanted to see Tower Clock Museum (who wouldn't! right?) and finish of at Westerplatte.

Or, a picture of modern supermarket

We got to the Emigration Museum around 6pm to discover a bubble-shaped queue in front of entrance to the main exhibit area . No worries, we got in in a blink of an eye (about 40 minute blink:). Main exhibit area reminded me of a maze, (the "road" was twisty:) each room was so different from the previous one. I did try to read about the exhibits and gain the knowledge of polish emigration, however I had others museums at the back of my head, so I read about 50% information, but I saw 100% of pictures :)

You definitely gonna see that and you will love it even more :)

By the time we got out the queue quadruple in size and transformed into a line, and I couldn't be more pleased with myself:) So I grabbed a bagel from food truck upfront and hit the road. The only problem was the time. It was 10pm already (how????). So, of we rushed off to European Solidarity Centre.

You might be able to leave a message here...

As we entered from side door and headed upstairs to the exhibition rooms I was amazed and very happy that there is no queues. Until we were stopped at top of the stairs and directed to cash desk to purchase tickets. Then I saw it. The queue writhed like a snake. Estimated waiting time: 1,5 hrs. As the bets on waiting time started rolling in a miracle happen: a lady came over and offered her tickets. I almost lost the tickets as I was so surprised I didn't respond to her and there were plenty of people that were more than happy to take advantage of the offer. Thankfully the lady had her heart set on me, for which I am more than grateful :)

and enjoy show here.

The next thing we did was speed touring. Even with our almost running pace it took us around 2 hours to walk though all the exhibition rooms. However I am not sure if I got them all, as I got a little bit lost in the meantime. I guess it doesn't matter as much, as I would have to come back because I got around 5% information and 40% pictures.

Resistors

Purposefully I am not describing any exhibition pieces and I don't want to spoil the fun for those of you who will go see it. For anyone interested in history, especially polish history both of the places will be interesting. Otherwise go to the beach instead:)

And you can admire rooftop view :)

Although I didn't "make the plan" I consider this year's Night at the Museum as successful. Did you ever got to experience the real Night at the Museum yourself?

Forest. Run.

So what did you do this weekend? I got lost in a jungle. Well, almost :)

Swampish river

I decided to try one of them orientation walks. Silly as I am, I imagined something in terms of a childhood game, I loved and played when I was young - Paper Chase. I found an orientation walk that offered different difficulty levels, to not be cocky I signed up fo the easiest one. The boot message said to bring compass, so I downloaded one on my phone (although I am not convinced it really works, but I don't know how to work a compass, so it was fine by me:).

Other "gamers"

Luckily for me, I managed to find "volunteer" to tag along. As we arrived I was full of enthusiasm, that unfortunately decreased by the minute (we got lost on our way to the starting point :(

Berry bushes

I determined to do the walk and come back alive. Even when at starting line I asked if I can be explained the rules of the game and was told that the remaining 5 minutes to my start wasn't enough time, or when I saw advanced team map in a shape of a thong (and as wide).

Our map

Time... Start! So off we went (in the wrong direction) about 10 meters away. I had no idea how to read the map we were given, there was no mark indicating where we (except start/finishing line circle). I'd just say: thank heavens for my partner and GPS! Half the time I didn't know where we were.

Polypore

According to the rules, we had 3 hours and 12 points to find. It took us 1 hour to find first point. Beginner's pace I guess:) I didn't mind though. I love forest, I grew up around it, played in it, so I was happy.

Intersection

During our 5 hour walk we saw rabbit hole, wild deer, duck and a terrifying wild snail. My partner lost his shoe twice, we ended up at swamp couple of times and most of the time we were pretty lost.

Can you see the duck? It is there.

Overall, if you like spending time outdoor and always say yes to an adventure, I'd say: Go on orientation walk! I explored Tricity Landscape Park, but there is plenty to choose from: bike orientation, night orientation or kayak orientation.

Feeding station

If you feel it's not your cup of tea, but still enjoy outdoors, I'd say: Go to Tricity Landscape Park. There is plenty of paths for both biking and walking. I was actually surprised how many people go to the park and take advantage of the peacefulness in the city.

Highway

But remember! Whatever you take with yourself take it back with you. Do not leave any rubbish in the forest! Ever!

Let's go to war

T34-76

Today's post is about monument that isn't described in any tourist books. If it is I will be greatly surprised. I would like to write about a tank that stands by main road in Gdansk - Victory Avenue, and is the best known tank in Gdansk.

The tank

Let me just say that this is a hands-on type of monument, I would even say all limbs-on type:) It took me few trips to take pictures of the tank without dangling kids of the barrel :) It doesn't take much for the adults either to let their imagination go to war and jump around the tank as if they were under attack. Believe me, if I had a kid with me today, I would "play war" too.

Wow, don't shoot :)

Don't get me wrong. The tank doesn't work. Although it still has engine inside, it lacks other components inside that are needed for driving (like driving wheel or equivalent:) Despite it being closed shut and completely not working I think it is nice to have it there.

Tank track

I mean, how many times have you seen a tank? How many times have you sat on one? How many times have you played war with one? How many cities in the world have tanks in their centres?

Hope on!

Apparently it isn't even an ordinary tank. I read that this is quite rare type of tank  - T 34-76 (most of them have been destroyed during war). It was build in 1941 in Stalingrad (today's Volgograd) or even further away past Ural Mountains and was equipped with F-34 barrel of 76,2 mm calibre.

Busy tank :)

The tank arrived in Gdynia on 27 of March 1945. According to sources this tank was the first one of allies tanks to arrive at Tricity. The tank driver was lieutenant Julian Miazga. Unfortunately the tank was bombarded soon after entering the city.

Unveiling of the tank, 1946

Lieutenant Miazga was the last one to drive the tank, as he drove it to the place of it's destiny in 1946 where in the first anniversary of the end of the war the tank was unveiled.

Happy anniversary, Tank :)