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Main street in centre. Typical Hanseatic architecture, much influenced by the Dutch style. Totally, but totally rebuilt after WW2.
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Gdansk, famous for the birth of Solidarity, the ship buiders trade union which started the challenge to the Soviets and the eventual collapse of the Warsaw Pact. These are the famous shipyard gates, which have now become a memorial to those killed in the uprising against the Soviets. Note the pictures of the past Polish Pope and the present Pope.
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The memorial to the shipyard workers killed in the uprising. Located just outside the shipyards themselves.
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The memorial stone on which the names and ages of all those killed are recorded. Note their ages.
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Gdansk is still an active shipyard.
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Typical city view. Unprepossesing buildings surrounding impressive churches and public buildings. Almost the entire city centre was flattened by allied bombing during WW2. Remarkably the historic centre has been rebuilt to its original appearance.
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Churches and their spires are everywhere. All churches built of characteristic red brick.
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Poland is a Roman Catholic country. Many of their church interiors are heavily Baroque in their decoration.
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The top of towers often have unusual decorations, showing off the variety of wrought iron work to be found throughout the city.
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The town hall.
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Town Hall and more wrought iron.
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The lizard, a familar feature of decorations.
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Shop sign
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Typical Dutch-influenced design - narrow and tall, with something special on the highest point.
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One of the old city gates.
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Outside the central area, the Commuists built large numbers of blocks of flats for the workers. These are typical across the old Eastern Europe.
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This building has deliberately not been either demolished or rebuilt. It is the army barracks located on the Wester Platz, which sustained the first shots of the Second World War. The German battleship Schleswig-Holstein, on a peace visit to the port, opened fire without warning on the garrison at 4.45 on the morning of 1st September 1939, and thus began the war. Note the bullet and shell holes.
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Outside of Gdansk is the seaside resort of Sopot, famous for its hotels, lovely beach and long wooden pier. A sunny day has brought out the locals, all well wrapped up against the bitterly cold Baltic winds.
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A typical town-house in Sopot.
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Outside Gdansk, about 50 miles away, is the massive Teutonic fort of Malborg, the largest fort in Europe. It is built entirely of brick, and has been extensively rebuilt following damage during WW2.
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Caught in a wood outside Gdansk - a woodpecker.
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