A Day of Wander and Wonder

We are only 15 minutes from the centre of Gdansk, and we have now walked through it at least three times.  Each time, there is something different and even more wonderful to see.  

Today’s first mission was to locate the train station and consult a very helpful lady who processed all of our tickets to Torun, Poznan, and then Dresden, all by rail, all cheap as borscht.  She frowned as she explained in her fragile English…. I will not issue you tickets from Berlin to Dresden.  Different country!  Way too much money!  She was right, it was far more reasonable to do it that way.

Remind me I said that in case this all blows up, right?

(No.   All is good).

We wanted to explore the park that is across the street from our lodging, and once in it, were delighted with a network of trails and pretty ponds.  We could hear some pretty raunchy music floating in from somewhere and, as is our nature, we immediately searched it out using aural technology.   A climb up a hill revealed a huge gathering and a rock style band revving up everyone for the start of a marathon.  The sight of pink balloons, pink ribbons and a lot of pink-haired competitors put a lump in my throat.  It was a “The Cure for Breast Cancer” race.   

Solidarity, my sisters. ✊🏻

Thrills today included a wander through the Franciscan Church of the Holy Trinity, whose history reaches back to the early 15th century, with the present great church completed in 1514.  It was absolutely full of artifacts and history.  We were the only ones there, and spent a quiet, meditative time listening to the organist practice.  What a privilege.  

 We wandered past the Wieza Wiezienna (Prison Tower) - and a heck of a formidable one it is - part of the Renaissance prison complex on Dluga Street.   And, we returned to St. Mary’s for a chance to see the amazing astrological clock, built by Hans Duringer of Torun (where we will be tomorrow!) in 1464.   It is too big to photograph in one shot so I just captured the top of it.  

The church of two saints - St. Peter and Paul, was a splendid Gothic church, embodying medieval Gdansk, the reformation, the scars of WW2, and Catholic history.  

It was, after all, the Sabbath today but we did work out some life balance with a stop at a lovely Italian restaurant beside the canal for a pizza ai quattro formaggi - the best I have ever had.  

And an Aperol, my first - and absolutely delicious.