Gdansk, Poland
Following on from a most pleasant night’s sailing, the National Geographic Explorer berthed in the outer harbour of Gdansk. As we arrived we had excellent views of the nearby Westerplatte Memorial which was built to honour the memory of the garrison of Polish soldiers who were attacked by the German battleship, the Schleswig-Holstein. This event began on the 1st of September 1939 and signalled the beginning of the Second World War in Europe. The 182-strong garrison surrendered a week later and the granite block memorial stands atop some of the original ruins of the fortification as a testament to their courage.
A busy morning began with walking tours through the Old Town area of Gdansk. Almost the entire area was heavily damaged towards the end of the Second World War but was subsequently painstakingly reconstructed to its former glory. It was a delight to stroll along the narrow cobbled streets and to view the attractive buildings which bear witness to the town’s erstwhile mercantile-based affluence. Visits to the Maritime and Archaeology museums, both of which highlight an impressive array of items, had been arranged.
The town itself dates back to the 11-12th century when the first trading settlement was established. The timber-framed buildings had to be constructed on large wooden pilings that were hammered down into the soft earth of what was then a marshy area. Excavations in the Old Town area over the last couple of decades have revealed numerous examples of these in addition to the foundation remains of a number of 14th-century granaries. Tens of thousands of artefacts have been recovered and a representative selection of them are now displayed in the recently opened new Archaeological Museum, which many of us visited this morning.
Our lunch began with a traditional soup known as Zurek. This consists of sausage, boiled egg and flour and is served in a “bread bowl.” This is a genuine medieval dish and was eaten daily in medieval times during the autumn and winter months. This was followed by a main course of fish and potatoes and apple pie. Simply put – it was delicious!!
Many took the option to be taken back to the ship by Zodiac with a cruise through the world famous Gdansk shipyards. Once a thriving hub of ship building and engineering works, much of the infrastructure stands mute although at present over 3,000 are employed.
The highlight of our day in Poland was a presentation in the lounge by former President Lech Walesa. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 he was pivotal in the foundation of the Solidarity Movement. A charismatic person, he shared his personal insights and experiences of those troubled days and his hopes for a peaceful future in our modern world.
