Gdansk, Poland
Thursday, September 5 – Wow, I woke up to the church bells striking 7–that is quite late for me! Fortunately, we had a relaxed agenda for the day, so plenty time for my morning jog. No sunrise photos, at that time, I was out with the commuters, the guys power washing the streets (makes the cobblestones clean but extra slippery), and moms taking young children to school.
Breakfast selections today still included the herring, but not the granola, which was unfortunate. However, I still had more than enough options to choose from to fuel my day.
Today’s major event was a visit to the World War II Museum. It is new (2017) and huge and its exhibits are state of the art. I am not sure I would call it a WWII museum as it barely touches on the Pacific Theater, Battle of Britain, the campaign in North Africa/Italy or the Allied Invasion at Normandy. However, as an examination of the War in Central Europe, particularly Poland, it is fascinating. We definitely learned a lot–much of it very sad and sobering.
I am definitely glad we went, though our enjoyment was somewhat tempered by a school group where the teacher insisted on shouting his commentary at the top of his lungs. Buddy, technology exists that eliminates the need to scream, give it a try!
Also, adding a codicil to my previous commentary re: men 55 and older–if they are wearing white New Balance sneakers, stand clear. If they are also wearing jorts, just run away. You will thank me later.
Dan decided to hang at the hotel after lunch so I did a bit of a wander. No specific route, just went down streets that looked interesting. Poked my head into a couple of churches, found some old mills, just enjoyed being out and about. Met Dan back at the hotel for an al fresco coffee/tea break before cleaning up for dinner.
As it is our final night in Gdansk, splurged on dinner. Did some research and found a great seafood place off the tourist route, but still a reasonably short walk from our hotel. Shared a bottle of red and had a huge pile of seafood. Perfect evening to dine outside, and a lovely denouement to our time in Gdansk.
A final nighttime stroll around the waterfront, and now it’s time to pack up for our next stop. If thinking about a visit to Poland, I heartily recommend Gdansk as a stop on your itinerary!
27,405 steps; 14.6 miles
Hotel:
- Fama Residence: https://www.famagdansk.pl Highly recommend, friendly staff, located in heart of Old Town, excellent breakfast.
- Museum of the Second World War-https://muzeum1939.pl/en:
- Purchase timed ticket on line in advance, saves time waiting in line to purchase at museum.
- Same with audio guide — additional fee, order on line in advance. Gets you right to the exhibits!
- Check website for days and hours
Museum of the Second World War. Newer museum (2017) and quite large, it boasts modern exhibits, with a particular focus on Poland and Central Europe.
While not comprehensive, it clearly gives an American tourist a focus not typically covered by US History classes.
There do seem to be a lot of school groups visiting, some are more courteous than others.
However, well worth a visit while in Gdansk!
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the hotel was again excellent!
Lunch:
Amare Gusto:
Along the riverfront, so you pay for the view, but an attentive waiter and delicious salad and cheeseboard to share made for a perfect light lunch.
Dinner:
Gambas Seafood and Meat:
Easy walk from hotel, friendly, casual vibe, outdoor tables across from the restaurant entrance. We shared one of the seafood platters (which was HUGE) and a bottle of wine. Very pleasant evening
Dinner Location
As stated above, WWII Museum is definitely worth visiting, though it in no way covers all aspects of the conflict. However, you are reminded of the devastation the war wrought, as well as the suffering of the Polish people, who were pawns between the Germans and Russians.
Also, not mentioned previous, the Fama Residence bar provides a lovely spot for an afternoon respite — when I would go wandering, Dan would sit out at a cafe table, watch the world go by and enjoy some tea and a snack. Upon my return, I would join him for a relaxed break in the day and an opportunity to sort through the day’s photos and start composing my thoughts.
This was our final day in Gdansk and we both felt it should be on the itinerary for anyone planning to visit Poland. The four night stay allowed us to both see the sights and soak up the ambiance.