Grand Gdansk

Buckle up again - it's another long one.  We sailed into Gdansk, Poland at noon on Thursday.  We sailed past the big monument an into the amazingly beautiful port!

A cold front was coming through so the weather was not great upon arrival.  We waited until after 3 pm to take the shuttle bus into Gdansk.  Once there, we did what we love to do most - just walk around and look at the highlights of the city.  So, here is a sampling of what we saw.

As we were getting ready to go back to the ship, we passed the Golden Gate again.  You can see what a difference the sunlight makes by comparing photos.

It was an overnight stay in Gdansk and we had to decide what to do on day 2.  Our son David's friend Val had suggested 2 options - Malbork Castle or the seaside resort city of Sopot.  We eventually decided that we had seen enough castles and opted for the beach!  We took an Uber from the port and were there in 25 minutes.  We walked through the town, making the obligatory stop at a church before making it to the waterfront.

At a stop for coffee and a pastry, we found the birds of Sopot to be very friendly.

At the waterfront the seaside resort reputation became obvious.

We then walked out on the pier - the longest wooden pier in Europe at over 500 meters in length.

It was then time for lunch.  Linda picked the restaurant - Blekitny Pudel, the alleged oldest pub in Sopot.  She had pierogis (it was Poland after all) and I, of course, had the fish soup.  It was all good though I think that Linda is getting tired of the local beers (or of me making her pose with them!).

                                                                

It turned out to be a really nice way to spend the day.  I guess we miss being by the beach.  And it was good to see so many families out enjoying the seaside.

As I am writing this, it is Saturday and we are sailing away from Gudhjem, Bornholm, Denmark.  It was supposed to be a tender port but the conditions (weather and, apparently, the condition of the pier) prevented them from safely operating the tenders.  So, it's a sea day!

Poland was country number 13 and we are getting very close to the end of this cruise.  It's amazing how fast the 7 weeks have gone by.

On our sea day, I might even get in some reading.  I haven't done much on this busy cruise.  Which also brings to mind the Rule of Civility Number 18:

Read no letters, books, or papers in company but when there is a necessity for the doing of it you must ask leave: come not near the books or writings of another so as to read them unless desired or give your opinion of them unasked also look not nigh when another is writing a letter.

Peace, blessings, and wonder,

Linda and Larry