Today post will be about all those times I’ve spent by the sea ever since 2014. I mean that’s when I saw the sea for the first time in my life. It will be not only about nature but also about amazing cities you should visit if you’re planning to go by the Polish sea this year. This first post is about Gdańsk.

The first place by the sea that I’ve ever been to is Mielno. This town is placed between the sea and a lake in the middle of Polish shore and as I’ve mentioned above, I was there when I was 16. I couldn’t find any photos that I’ve taken back then but happily, I’ve published few on my private accounts. Let me give you just one but it’s my fav anyways.

It’s a little peaceful and beautiful place. If you simply want to rest, then it’s just perfect.

The second time when I went by the sea is 2016 and I was a high school student then. I mean it was a school trip just like the one to Milno. I went to Gdańsk for the first time in my life and I absolutely fell in love with this city. It’s so multicultural and colorful when it comes to architecture, it’s much older than Warsaw and it’s simply beautiful.

Next three times were private trips and I truly got to know those cities (Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia), better than before. Because you never go inside when you go with school or organised groups. And in fact I could see them for real for the first time. It’s so different when you get more time to spent in such places, when you can go where you want to and simply learn more. Let me show you pics that I’ve taken in 2020 and 2021. I can’t find any photos from 2016 and 2018! I don’t know what happened to them…

Gdańsk

This is the river Motława. You can go for a cruise here, you can visit the museum-boat Sołdek and see the Maritime Museum in those three granaries. Next few pictures were taken out there and I truly recommend it if you like such aquatic topics and history. Oh, and prepare for a lot of walking!

The next place that you must go to is the Old Town that is actually one long street. Well, it’s typical for post towns. And here you have many places to visit again. When I was there for the first time, I was truly enchanted but it didn’t even come to my mind that there may be any museums open for visitors. You can go to the Main Town Hall to learn about the history of Gdańsk, Artus Court in front of the fountain and the Uphagen’s House. The last is the bourgeois apartment.

This is the biggest brick church in Europe!

And here is the oldest building from 1520. There is a hotel now and a little room with souvenirs that belonged to Nicolaus Copernicus. I haven’t seen it yet but I would love to stay there one day! I mean you can’t see those souvenirs if you’re not staying in this hotel.

And now let me show you the Museum of Science. There is the collection of clocks, the first pulsar clock in the world, a clock mechanism with the longest pendulum, bells and you can see the beautiful city views from the top of the tower. Oh, and it’s called the museum of science because it’s also about John Hevelius who was a scientist from Gdańsk. He lived in 17th century and he had an observatory on the top of his building.

Now it’s time to show you The Museum of Amber. We’re by the sea in the end!

I would love to have an amber guitar. Why not…? Yes, that’s what you can find there!

It’s Hammer Forge at Oliwa. Beautiful place, indeed.

And now I must say few words about the World War II. In the end that’s where it’d begun. Well, it’s the Museum of the Polish Post Office. It’s one of first places of defense. But well… Westerplatte was the first attacked place. I was there on 1st September so there was a picnic then.

Well, there are so many ruins but you can visit the only place that survived – Guardhouse no 1.

This caption says ‘No more war”. Well… It’s so sad to read these words today…

Westerplatte is also one of the prettier places of Gdańsk. Just look at these breath-taking views!

This is the Museum of World War II. It’s a very modern and huge museum and I totally recommend going there. Also, prepare for a lot of walking as well! And the building looks like a ship, right?

The next place to visit is Wisłoujście Fortress. I told you there is a lot to see!

And now the last part – Oliwa. It was a separate town once and now it’s a district of Gdańsk. This cathedral below is the oldest building of Gdańsk and well, it looked endless inside…

This cathedral is known for these organ. I’ve been to such a concert in Frombork… That’s truly amazing to hear known songs in such an version. I totally recommend it. And yes, these both places offer such shows and both are famous for its organs. You will learn more about Frombork in the next post about the sea.

Oliwa is also an Abbot’s Palace, beautiful park, one of my fav that I’ve been to, and the peaceful stream. This place appears few times on history pages as well. I talk about the signing of the peace treaty in 1660. It ended the Polish-Swedish war.

Well, at the end let me finish this post the way I started – the sea after the sunset! It gets colder in such moment but it’s always worth it…

So, the next part of the trip by the sea will come out asap but tomorrow I’m going back to Riverdale. And yes. Writing this post took me… 4 days!

See ya tomorrow (get it?)

A.A.