Discovery of the Baltic
The Rinair board was delayed, therefore, the arrival in Gdansk at 00:00, which caused some confusion, as they were counting on public transport. Yes, and they didn’t really figure out where to look for it (it all became clear on the way back).
I had to call a taxi "Bolt" through the application downloaded at the airport via local Wi-Fi (works a little further than a couple of meters from the walls of the building, but plows). "Bolt" took the order and immediately fell off. And we had to rush about for half an hour in search of him, periodically comparing the picture on the screen and our position on the map. It was later that I read that Bolt refused, but I didn’t know (the Internet was only at the airport, and roaming did not start from the first kick). Therefore, after jumping on the street for an hour, Uber braked and for 80 zlotys they arrived at the point of permanent base (by bus 3.5 zlotys).
Transport is very fast, trams rush about like crazy. The cost is PLN 3.5. You can buy tickets from vending machines at some stops or from the driver (more expensive).
In the morning there was an acquaintance - on foot - with the city, and since the base is far from the center, a couple of hours of walking along the main street led to the railway station (the goal is to buy tickets to Kaliningrad, the main goal of the trip is Forts of Koenigsberg post).
In the morning, we missed the time on the ticket and were late for the departure of the bus from the bus station, so we had to pay cash to the driver a second time, and withdrawing cash from an ATM there is a nightmare interest, and changing the currency is another quest (considering that there are five minutes before departure).
The journey to the center was interesting. We wandered into the local university, organically built into the old buildings, and into the huge park at the university. Photo below.
The first day did not impress, tiredness and a feeling of alienation in this small Babylon affected. But it turned out to wander around a piece of the center and take a look at the perfectly preserved buildings of the ancient times.
But after returning from Kaliningrad, we had a day and a half and we spent it to the fullest.
A visit to the Baltic Sea, the Museum of the Second World War, the central streets of artisans, similar to mature stalls, rushing up and flaunting their facades in front of each other. Hike to the sea along the bay on an imitation of a four-masted caravel. Small restaurants. Delicious food.
About food. Late in the evening, realizing that we had not had dinner while running around, we began to find out from our girls where there was a restaurant or another kind of tavern. "Only in the center, it's already late. " I had to stomp to the "Super", where we bought several nutritious-looking bags and vessels. Have you eaten hot coals? I - yes! After spitting, I saw on the label of one of the packages a warning that this was Indian cuisine. You don't have to eat this!
The Baltic Sea - icy water, seagulls, crowds of active people rushing around screaming (you see, some kind of race), the remains of coastal defenses and a walrus splashing nearby.
Museum of the Second World War. It is brilliance, emotions, style and thoughts. Separate post.
Sailing on a ship. Everything is simple here. Asking the uncle, who was standing in the hood, something like "havmach from IT", he heard in ours: "You can do it in Ukrainian, and you can do it in Russian, don't bother. "
We were lucky that we got just on the retreat and for the next hour and a half stuck around on the captain's bridge, turning the fake steering wheel and photographing the masses of serious ships that clogged the shores.
In the bottom line: Experience. Impression. Memories. Architecture! Conclusions about history - or rather its interpretations by us and by them. In general, everything is very friendly, civilized. Kindness and warmth. Looks like whoever is looking for something finds it (but it's better to come in the summer).
