Gdynia & the Tri-Cities - Poland 6/7-6/16

Posted from: the 9 hour train ride from Gdynia to Prague

The first leg of what I expect to be an 8 month long trip that will take me through Central Europe and much of Asia begins in Poland. Over the next 5 weeks, I’ll travel around the country with stops in Czechia and Slovakia.

Gdynia

After a 14 hour long travel day from Seattle, my dad and I arrived at my grandma’s fifth floor flat in Gdynia, Poland. Located a 20 minute walk from the beach with views of the sea, this would be my home base for the next 9 days. Gdynia is a peaceful coastal city on the Baltic Sea, known for its modernist architecture and lively promenade along a beautiful stretch of beach. Together with Gdánsk and Sopot, these make up the Tri-Cities. I was happy to find that not much has changed in the 11 years since I was last here. Besides a handful of day trips to nearby towns, I spent the next several days wandering around the city with my dad and grandma before leaving them behind and continuing my travels on to Prague.

Gdańsk

Founded over 1,000 years ago, the city of Gdańsk has a rich history. This was the site where Germany first invaded Poland in 1939, marking the beginning of World War 2. We spent an evening walking through the Old Town which was meticulously rebuilt to recreate its pre-war Gothic and Renaissance architecture after being 90% destroyed during the war. Today, the city boasts a lively market and several museums, along with St. Mary’s Basilica whose tower reveals spectacular views of the city from above.

Sopot

Next up was an evening of bar hopping in the coastal resort town of Sopot. A 10 minute train ride away from Gdynia, Sopot is known for its nightlife, natural beauty, and having the longest wooden pier in Europe.

As we worked our way through some of the best bars in town, I listened to my dad and his childhood friends’ stories about their teenage years and the difficulties of life under the oppressive Communist regime of the time. Eventually, we stopped at a pub to watch the Polish national soccer team’s abysmal performance against Finland in a 2-1 loss while my dad’s friend’s son and I compared our experiences growing up in Poland vs. the U.S. We finished the night with a 2 am kebab before heading back home.

Toruń

The medieval town of Toruń was founded on the banks of the Vistula River in 1233 by the Teutonic Knights during the Third Crusade. Toruń is known for being the birthplace of astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus and its well-preserved architecture and city walls.

Following a three hour train ride south from Gdynia, we spent a few hours walking through the cobblestone streets, stopping every so often to enjoy some of the city’s iconic freshly baked gingerbread. I then spent about 2 hours standing on the train ride back home as every seat was taken. Note to self: don’t book train tickets last minute.

Other Highlights

• Fresh bread rolls for breakfast every morning from the bakery down the street from babcia’s flat

• Can’t beat being able to walk to the beach every day

• POLISH FOOD

Notes

• Everything’s smaller in Europe - it feels like I’m constantly ducking down to avoid hitting my head on a light fixture or a doorway

• You have to pay to enter every bathroom??

Bangers of the week

• Savana - Chris Lake

• The Wave - MOTi

• Save My Love - Marshmello