Uncle Eddie had stayed the night next-door at Witek's house, so he came over for breakfast. He, Stella, Terry and I got bus to Gdansk, then train to Sopot which is by the sea. There is a lot of new construction work going on, hotels, apartments, tourist shops. Sopot beaches are very popular and its pier is the largest construction of this type in Europe, total length 511.5 metres. It was a lovely walk on the pier, looking back to the shore where many beautiful buildings can be seen, including the Grand Hotel, which before the War was the most elegant and expensive place in Sopot, as tourists came to “take the waters”, in mineral baths.
We then caught a bus to Oliwa, the “most beautiful district” of Gdansk, dating back to the 12th century. The Cistercian monks cultivated the area, building a dam and several buildings, including Abbott's Pallace, now a museum, and a beautiful park. The Oliwa cathedral is quite spectacular with its lovely chapels and altars and artwork. Its most precious treasure is its organ which has 7876 pipes and 110 “voices” which can imitate the flute, clarinet, violin, voices, rippling wind, animal voices and many others.
We then caught a tram back to the main part of Gdansk, which was an interesting insight into Polish peak hour. The tram was jam-packed and we were fortunate to have a seat (hard uncomfortable, but still a seat). Zbyszek came to pick us up to take us home via the cemetery so I could visit the graves of my grandparents and various uncles and aunts. The cemetery is beautiful and very well-kept.
At home, Malgorzata had made dinner next door so we had a lovely final dinner of delectable Polish foods, in Cedry with all the family – Uncle Eddie, Zbyszek, Stella, Witek and Malgorzata.
We then caught a bus to Oliwa, the “most beautiful district” of Gdansk, dating back to the 12th century. The Cistercian monks cultivated the area, building a dam and several buildings, including Abbott's Pallace, now a museum, and a beautiful park. The Oliwa cathedral is quite spectacular with its lovely chapels and altars and artwork. Its most precious treasure is its organ which has 7876 pipes and 110 “voices” which can imitate the flute, clarinet, violin, voices, rippling wind, animal voices and many others.
We then caught a tram back to the main part of Gdansk, which was an interesting insight into Polish peak hour. The tram was jam-packed and we were fortunate to have a seat (hard uncomfortable, but still a seat). Zbyszek came to pick us up to take us home via the cemetery so I could visit the graves of my grandparents and various uncles and aunts. The cemetery is beautiful and very well-kept.
At home, Malgorzata had made dinner next door so we had a lovely final dinner of delectable Polish foods, in Cedry with all the family – Uncle Eddie, Zbyszek, Stella, Witek and Malgorzata.
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