Gdansk: Part 1

Tevye and I spent last weekend exploring Gdansk, on the Baltic coast of Poland. His father was born there in 1917 and lived until 1939 in what was then the Free City of Danzig (a post-World War I compromise to avoid incorporating the city in either Germany or Poland). Tevye had been before, in 2007, but went with his nephew as Rose was still tiny and I wasn't able to go. He wanted to visit again with me, so when we found cheap flights we took advantage of our neighbour's Rose-sitting offer and went for two nights. I fell in love with the city, despite rather cold and dull weather for most of the time we were there, and would love to go back. I have quite a few photos to share, so will split the into three or four posts.

This late medieval crane overhanging the river is one of the iconic - though not very pretty! - buildings of Gdansk. Looking up from underneath you can see the two large treadmill wheels that powered it and the hook used to load and unload boats. Our hotel was on the river, just the other side of the crane.

The crane is now part of the Gdansk Maritime Museum next door, which also had buildings on the opposite bank of the river.


Running westwards from the river is Dlugi Targ (which I think means Golden Market), then main square of the old city.


Underneath the building with the tower - now the historical museum - is the Neptune Fountain


And at the far end of the street is the Golden Gate (with no obvious gold that I could see!)


An oddity we stumbled across as we explored was this bridge, where lovers have placed padlocks with their names either written or engraved on them.


Here is a close up ...