Gdańsk Główny - Railway Station

View of Gdansk Glowny

As weird as this might sound I will say it :I like railway stations. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that as a child I rarely travelled by train despite living by a train station. Well, it is hard to explain why I like train stations, I am not a train fan after all. I think it has to do with ambience of each train station. Luckily for me TriCity has one of the prettier railway stations in Poland :)

Front of the main station in Gdansk

Lets start our railway station journey with Gdansk Glowny railway station. I always knew that the building is old and quite well known. But I was surprised at some things I read about the history of not only the building, but main train station of Gdansk.

Front of the Train Station

As I read the first train station of Gdansk was maybe not in totally different place, but in a bit of a distance from present station. To give you some kind of idea of the distance: it takes around 10 minutes drive from existing station to the first ever train station, that doesn't exist anymore. The fist railway station was build in Gdansk in 1852 and it was called "Dworzec Brama Nizinna" or "Leegetor Bahnhof", which could be translated to "Lower Gate Train Station".

Dworzec Glowny Gdansk :)

In 1967 on the ground of todays main station, a small station called Highland Gate Station was open (apparently the station was accessible from one side only, as there was still moat that was a part of early modern period fortification of Gdansk). However in 1894 it was decided to expand the railway station, therefore the works have begun by buring the moat and demolishing of western bastions. The style of the building is apparently Gdansk renaissance. I didn't know that Gdansk had its own architectural style, but it is fine with me :)

Main window of main railway  station

The central building was to be called "Empfangsgebaude" which means reception building. Grand opening was scheduled on 30th of October 1900. When I think about the design of the building station and amenities planned, all of it seems to me so proper and even exotic.  Maybe it is just caused by my imagination, because when I read that reception hall with ticket office along with luggage storage, phone booths, police station, telegraph office and waiting rooms (separate for first and second class, and third and forth class) I imagine women walking in big dresses and carrying umbrellas with them, policeman bowing at the sight of women. And most importantly waiting rooms looking like luxury lounges rather than room filled with dirty benches with graffitti on them.

The tower of Railway station

I think that most impressive feature of the whole building (that of course I found out about now) is that the clock tower served as a water tower and clock tower, with electrically powered clock at the same time. Naturally nowadays the tower has sole purpose of being clock tower since all trains run on electricity.

Gdansk railway station, early 1900. source: http://gdansk.fotopolska.eu

Train station, early 1900, source: http://gdansk.fotopolska.eu

Shortly after the building work was completed, the whole area was transformed, hotels were being built practically overnight. The area became one of the most desired areas in whole of Gdansk. As I wanted to write that the train station was burned down after II WW and the original design will remain unknown, I managed to find few pictures of the building from early 1900. Therefore we know that replica of the building is very close to first one.

Train station from the back

Unfortunately close proximity of Hail Mountain prevented expansion of the railway station. I am not so much saddened by it, though :)

Tracks of railway station

Beach on the Western Hills

Entrance to the Beach

After a long break I decided it is time to get a grip and do something productive. So despite harsh weather I set of the visit another beach. Not only this beach is one of the further once from city centre, it is also one that is very secluded.

Walk to the beach through forest

The beach is located in area that is called Górki Zachodnie, which translated to Western Hills, however I didn't notice any significant hills around. There is only one road that leads to that place. However if you can get there by water tram if you like. I've only been here couple of time, therefore I know only one entrance to the beach, and it is entrance number 21 :) .

Path leading to the beach

  Let me start by saying that Western Hills started as a fishermans village, there was also another settlement at the island called Neufährer Sandkathen. However since 1914 this area was included in city limits. As in many TriCity beaches there is forrest on the edge. But this forrest is much bigger than the other ones. Here it takes around 10 minutes drive from residential area, and by residential area I mean handful of houses, not more, to makeshift parking area. 

Walk to the beach

I guess that is the reason why this beach is one of the cleanest I have ever come across at Gdansk Bay. Small grained sand of beautiful sandie color and not that many people. Although when I visited this beach in the summer I had an impression that everybody knows everybody. But maybe that is just me :)

And finally the beach :)

One of the reasons why I decided to head out to beach today was this strong wind that we have been having for past few days. I was hoping for a proper sea storm. I saw storm once and it was breathtaking so I very much wanted to experience it again. Unfortunately I was very much disappointed, because the wind did close to nothing :(

Waves on Western Hills beach

Only when I arrived I realized that Western Hill beach is sheltered from one side by port...

The Port

... and breakwater from the other side.

The windbreaker

In my opinion this is perfect beach for people who prefer peace, quiet and nature.

Entrance to the Western Hills beach

The waves :)

I hope to return to Western Hills beach when weather improves. This time I was almost running back to car in rain and with numb fingers.

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.