Trójmiasto

After a 10 week stint in work without a break ( :-( ) Easter finally arrived a brought a 6 day respite along with it. I spent a few days visiting Poland's Trójmiasto, otherwise Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot.  The three cities could easily be one huge place; they are quite distinct from each other and all have some different to offer but they are so close and well connected by a rail network that constantly runs from place to place, you can see all three in a day no problem.

Gdańsk is the obvious 'jewel in the crown.'  The centre is really beautiful and big and buzzing, but full of tourists and therefore very expensive.  I nearly fell off my seat when a few beers, two ice creams and a soup came to 77zl, this place is not Polish wage friendly.

Gdańsk was also the birthplace of the Solidarity movement, when an electrician made a speech at a shipyard that led to the eventual overthrowing of communism and the Soviets, he was Lech Walesa.  One stop from Gdańsk central on the train you can see the exact place that that happened.

I spent a day in Gdańsk a few years ago and my first impression was that it was some kind of Eastern Disneyland, it could be one of Poland's most beautiful cities.  It was destroyed and reconstructed after the war but for me it hasn't lost any of it's charm.

Gdynia in comparison is perhaps one of the least touristy cities in Poland.  It's a nice place, home to the Polish navy and seemingly a good place to live, but it's difficult to find anything to say about it beyond that.  We took a walk down the marina and had a look at the huge ships, some still used and some old relics, and had a gofry z bitą smietaną - mniam mniam!  We didn't stay long in Gdynia, Sopot is only ten minutes away by train and much more attractive on a sunny day.

Sopot is one of the most popular seaside and spa resorts in Poland.  It's easy to see why; beautiful beach, huge pier (the longest in Europe by the way), clear sea and a lovely town centre.  Unfortunately the lovely town centre is currently undergoing a huge reconstruction, but it's going to be great when it's finished.  Being so popular it's another place that's a bit out of budget for the average Polish wage but it's a great place full of cafes, restaurants and bars and really made for a perfect break.

The sea around Sopot is sheltered by the Hel peninsula only about 30km away by sea so the water in Sopot is warmer than most other places along the Baltic coast.  Not only that but the sea in between the two is only about 150 cm deep so it's popular for watersports and could become a tourist walk in the near future.  Hel is a huge tourist attraction, although how much of that is based on the name I've no idea.  I didn't make it to Hel and back this time but it's an excellent excuse to visit the area another time and see a bit more of what it's got to offer.  With pleasure.