Sopot - Kamienny Potok

I haven't written way too long. Weather wasn't right, I was busy, I didn't feel inspired. Excuses as always :). But I am here now, writing about one of the TriCity's beaches, and that is what matters :)

Last week I went to beach at Sopot Kamienny Potok at what could have been first and last of summer here since this week is raining almost all the time and at peek we have 15 degrees Celcius. Back last week was 30 (I know, how come??). Maybe I should perform some kind of dance for heat as they do for rain? I am getting desperate now as chill in my bones is settling :)

Since I knew the weather is going to be nice last weekend I made momentous plans to get my tan on. Unfortunately my companions firstly decided to go to the beach at 6pm and secondly sat in shade :) Also getting there proved to be a challenge. I was surprised to see that much traffic on Sunday at 6pm, finding available parking spot also was a task :)

The beach I choose to go to is located between main Sopot (that is where the Pier is) and Gdynia Orlowo. To get to the beach once must go through park. Nicely maintained park I must say. There is a bike path and foot path there, so you can actually go for a walk or cycle around if you'd like.

Kamienny Potok is a district of Sopot named after a creek that runs through it - Steinfliess.. Also the placed is filled up with hotels, guest houses and camp sides.

The beach itself is not very big, long ( I don't know how one measures beaches). Most of it is taken by nearby Bar/Restaurant/Club, which is very convenient for people who come to the beach unprepared :) Also as a guest of said establishment once has access to sunbeds, tables and Hawaiian-styled umbrellas.

Also there is a miniature version of the pier on the beach, where you can enjoy the view of the actual pier :) It is really more of a deck, but I think naming it "pier" adds a little bit of oomph :)

I think that Kamienny Potok is a nice alternative for people who like to sunbath in Sopot but don't quite appreciate the crowds and loudness that comes with it, but still like the conveniences of nearby food and drink facility.

Winter in the City - TriCity

On the way to Ski Land :)

Long time, no see :-) Unfortunately I have experienced close encounter with not one, but two dental surgeons. As a result, I am growing bruise on my cheek and haven't had any solid food for a week :( Only comfort I have at the moment is that I can catch up with my ice cream eating :-) My biggest worry is that this Thursday is Fat Thursday and i won't be able to eat donuts.

Train stop covered in snow - it is winter time!

Anyhow, back when I looked like myself I wanted to explore more winter activities that you can enjoy in, or around TriCity. As I wanted to get out of the city I decided I will go skiing. Actually I decided I am going skiing about 2 months ago. It just took that long to moan somebody into coming with me. Fortunately volunteer was found before all the snow melted.

Winter landscape, what else would you need?

There are few ski slopes around TiriCity, with the closest being around half hour drive to about hour. (there is one ski slope in TriCity, more specifically in Sopot, but due to TriCity microclimate, might be closed if winter is not very wintery :) All of the ski slopes offer ski rental, tutoring and i am pretty sure all of them have bar or some kind of facility to eat in. Also, some have more than one slope and are artificially snowed, but all of them have some sort of skilift.

Winter branches

I choose to go to the closest one, not only because it is closest, but also because it seemed to be the least crowded. I did brag how I skied when I was a child in order to find somebody to come with. But truth to be told I had skis on one time in my life before and was skiing on a hillock so small that you wouldn't know that it was a hillock if you weren't told. However I didn't expect it to be any difficult, after watching all the winter adds where everybody is a professional skier, even cartoon characters. I was convinced is easy as pie.

Icy road, and sunbathing dog

It is nice to get out of town once in a while, especially in winters. TriCity has a special microclimate. Everywhere around is winter, but in TriCity is autumn, or if we are lucky - spring :-) so I really enjoyed the drive and the views. However when I got to the ski slope my heart stopped and I was ready to run back home, and if it wasn't for my pride I would. The slope looked much steeper and higher than on their website, it was also much busier than I expected.

Ski slope from the bottom

Let's just say that I turned out to be the best at putting shoes on and off, the other stuff - not so much. Just to get to skilift I had to use help of everybody and everything around me: fellow skier, their ski poles, wooden fence, workers, plastic fence. At one point I wished i could crawl. And all of that before I even got to the top of the slope.

Ski slope - the middle

Once I got to the top I was even more scared. It was much higher that I thought it would be. As I proceeded down I almost skied of the slope path into a ditch, also whenever I wanted to stop I was only gaining speed. The only way I figured out how to stop was to throw myself on the ground.

Ski slope - the top

As a result after 20 min of me trying ski I started to feel as if I went swimming not skiing. Not only all my cloths were wet. I had wet hair and was getting wrinkled skin of my fingers from constant water. I can truthfully say that 5-year-old skis better than me. After making that observation you cannot wonder that after one downhill ride I was done and ready to go home.

Funny enough, when that trip convinced me I am clearly not made for skiing, everyone wants to go skiing :-) Go figure!

The Crooked House

The Crooked House, Sopot

Unlike animals and all wildlife I feel awaken by winter. Finally after autumn-ish christmas, and snowless New Year's, temperature dropped closer to zero than ever before (this winter :) The snow didn't melt for a week now, and I feel inspired :) (just hoping quietly that for couple more of weeks of winter, it would be truly great:).

Panorama of inside of the Crooked House

So my inspiration took me to Sopot, to admire one of the most popular buildings of modern architecture. This piece of architecture is called "Krzywy Domek", which translate to "The Crooked House". I think that this building is one of the most recognizable landmark of Sopot (right after the Pier). Mostly because, you just can't pass by this building without noticing it.

The Crooked House at Night

So to give you the background of its origins: the project was inspired by children book illustrations (no surprise there :) of Jan Marcin Szancer, and Per Dahlberg - swedish artist, who lived in Sopot, among other cities. The project was created in 2001 by local architects - Szotyńscy.
The building was completed in 2004.

The Wall of Fame

If you look closely at the front of the building you might notice little stones attached to wall. If you know your stars, you might notice that they form constellations (I am not constellation expert, but I found  Great Bear on the left side of the entry).

The Crooked House inside

I know that the building is called "The Crooked House", but if it was up to me I would call it smiling house, or cheerful house. When I look at this building I feel that it is genuinely happy.

Even the gate is smiling :)

The building itself is quite long. I even feel like it wasn't that long when they first made it. Inside you will find coffee shops, restaurants and - at higher levels - clubs. But further down the building you can find a little shopping centre.

The "other" entrance to The Crooked House

In 2008 "Village of Joy" announced our beloved Crooked House to be no. 1 of Strange Buildings of the World list. However same year the list was reviewed, and shortlisted. The Crooked House was placed at no. 4 of Top 10 Strangest Buildings in the World. Tough luck. Despite all that we love you Crooked House and are happy you enrich Sopot streets.

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

Welcome All - TriCity or Not :)

TriCity is a city that has great potential and huge capacity to wow a person that comes visit. Both of my parents were born here and spent most of their lives here, unlike me. I couldn’t be further from them when it comes to this place. I barely spent any time here growing up. Even more I never wanted to live here. In my mind TriCity was awful, ugly city that had nothing to offer. But when I was forced to move here I started to look at the cities in different way. I started liking the charm of them and appreciating what they have to offer. Of course by being the local I do not visit the tourist cites and probably most of them I have never visit before either. That is why I decided to write about TriCity and the beautiful places here. In way I am trying to discover the place myself and appreciate it even more. Well we would have to see what would be the outcome of that. At this stage I’ve decided to do 2-3 sites a week – don’t want to exhaust myself J and see if the feeling I have for this place is going to continue, would grow, or diminish. I am curious myself J