Mariacka Street and Many Gargoyles

We spent a happy few hours wandering Mariacka Street this morning, strolling through medieval Gdansk.   Much of what we saw had been painstakingly reconstructed after the devastation of 1945, when Gdansk’s historic centre was very badly damaged.  It’s remarkable how authentic it still feels.  There were lots of tourists, but it is, after all, Saturday.

We stopped at St. Mary’s Basilica, only to find a service in progress, and an outstanding baritone singing the hymns.  He was accompanied by an organ so powerful you could feel it in your chest.  One of those unexpected travel moments that you couldn’t have planned.  Because the service was underway, we couldn’t get close to the 15th century astronomical clock, and we will return later today or tomorrow to see it.   It dates to 1464-1470 and is an extraordinarily medieval mechanism.  

 Mariacka Street will take some exploring, as it is somewhat reminiscent of La Ramblas in Barcelona - lots of people-watching, restaurants, vendors, shops and people everywhere, but on a much more intimate scale.  A place to stroll slowly and stop often.  And a beautiful sunny day to do so!

For now, a large pan of roasted veggies is busy caramelizing for dinner, and more creative planning is underway for the travel legs ahead.