Gdansk to Vilnius through Augustow

From Gdansk we needed to make our way to the Baltic States to catch our flight home. We found a direct overnight bus from Gdansk to Vilnius, Lithuania; however, for various reasons we avoid overnight travel as much as we can, especially buses. After much research, we came up with a rather satisfactory alternative, given we were not in too big a hurry.

In the morning we caught a train from Gdansk west to Elk, 5 hours, a rather comfortable ride. From Elk, after a 40-minute wait, we took a 50-minute bus to Augustow, where we over-nighted. We chose Augustow because it is a lake town where people vacation in the summer, i.e. plenty of accommodation. We both imagined Augustow to be so tiny hamlet in the middle of nowhere, and were rather surprised to find the town teeming with activity by local people and visitors, rather prosperous looking, and pretty. No wonder people want to vacation here in the summer. Judging by the mountains of firewood, winters must be forbidding.

The next morning we caught a through bus, which started in Stuttgart and ended in Tallinn, right off the main square. There was minimal border check. In Kaunas, Lithuania, those of us going to Vilnius were put on a different bus. By 14:30, we were in Vilnius, losing an hour to time zone change.

The train from Gdansk to Elk passes Malbork Castle. We get another view which I capture with my phone.


View from the train of western Poland. Starting to see some hills after many days of flat.


The view out the back of the last car.


We were surprised to find a large, leafy main square in Augustow. Not to mention the very helpful Tourist Information Office.


If you can judge a small town by its church, then Augustow is doing well.




Augustow is a resort and spa town, with many opportunities for water sports and bicycling and more.








And tourists come to take a lake cruise.


Sun-Ling cooked us a tasty dinner in our apartment. And there was beer.


An example of the many large firewood piles we saw around town. Cold winters I'm sure.


And the sun sets behind the Lidl supermarket next to our apartment.


And the morning we are off to Vilnius, Lithuania. Here's the view from our seats on the bus as we cross the Poland-Lithuania border.


First views of Lithuania.




And here is our Eurolines bus at a rest stop near Mariampol, Lithuania. Note that it's equipped with 220V charging, streaming media, and Wi-Fi. Nice!


In Kaunas, Lithuania we changed buses for the trip south to Vilnius while our first bus continued NE to Riga, Latvia.

Gdansk - Part II

The Tuesday we were in Gdansk, several of the museums were free from 10:00 to 13:00, so we plotted a route.

But first, some shopping at the market.




Apparently, every school outing in Poland includes an ice cream break. And how about those vests and kerchiefs?


The Gdańsk History Museum is located in the Town Hall with its ceiling paintings.


The center painting features scenes from the city of Gdansk. Note the Hebrew script at top and city scenes throughout.


The museum also has an exhibit on the destruction of Gdansk by the Soviet Army in the closing months of WWII, and its subsequent reconstruction. These are obviously images not taken by me.




Nearby is Artus Court, a large building that was a meeting place for merchants with a splendid meeting hall, ship models, and a very tall stove.






Then up to the Uphagen House, the only townhouse along Dluga Street that, after WWII, was completely restored inside and out to its original state. The other townhouses, all devastated in WWII, had only their facades restored; their interiors are modern.






Then to the Amber Museum and Prison Tower; however, the Prison Tower part with its implements of torture is not open on free days it seems, only the Amber Museum was open. Bummer; but the Amber Museum was interesting enough as amber was a part of the economic fabric of Gdansk dating from way back. The historical stuff was informative.


Guitar made of amber.


Mariacka Street and its porches is an amber and cafe gauntlet during the day, quiet at night.






Inside St Mary's Church, the spiritual center of Gdansk. It can hold 20,000 folks. And has an astronomical clock.






On our way to the Gdansk shipyards and the Solidarity Museum, officially the European Solidarity Centre, we stopped in St. Brygida, the home church of Lech Wałęsa.


The famous front gates of the Gdansk shipyards. This part of the shipyard is no longer in operation and houses the European Solidarity Centre (seen behind the gates).






With the monument to the 1970 uprising in front...Growing up during the Cold War and being a shipyard worker in the late 1970's myself, I found this ground to be particularly moving.


Sunset.

Gdansk - Part I

Gdansk, Poland is the birthplace of the Solidarity Movement in 1980 that lead to the downfall of the Soviet Union in 1990. We spent 4 nights in Gdansk. One day we visited the almost adjoining cities of Sopot and Gdynia. Another day we day tripped to Malbork Castle; about hour southeast by regional train. And one day we visited sights in Gdansk (see the next blog post).

We liked Gdansk a lot, partly because we booked an apartment that was between the train station (easy day tripping) and Dluga Street (the Royal Way); that is, almost in the shadow of St Mary's Church. But mostly because Gdansk is interesting, romantic and fun. I'm sure we'll be back.

Even though the walk from our hotel in Torun to the station was 2 kms, the view back to town from the bridge was worth it.


In Gdansk, the old Armory was just around the corner from our apartment, and its facade became an old friend.


The busiest tourist spot in Gdansk, especially when a cruise ship is in port, is the Royal Way/Dluga Street.






Lunch at Vegetarian Restaurant on Dluga Street.


Just off Dluga street is the new, black brick, Shakespeare Theater.


The Old Mill.


The spire of Old Town Hall.


The Old Town waterside.


The so-called Green Gate from 2 angles.




Evening waterfront strollers.


The atmospheric Mariacka Street looking to St Mary's church.


View of Gdansk Glowny Railway Station as we head there to catch the train to Sopot.


Sopot is a seaside resort town right on the Baltic Sea; a 20-minute train ride north of Gdansk with mansions, old hotels, the longest wooden pier in Europe, and many miles of beach. Here are some photos.








The Grand Hotel Sopot.




And just a few more minutes north by train is the port city of Gdyania with some Modernist buildings and its own pier.




We spot a Green Way vegetarian milk bar in Gdynia and each have a set lunch meal. Tasty!


How did this vintage Ford Mustang convertible get to Gdynia?






The Aquarium.


The ORP Błyskawica, a Polish destroyer of WWII vintage.


The Gydnia Market Hall.


Catching the SKM commuter train back to Gdansk.


The Gdansk Market House; outside and inside.




Our late evening stroll. First the Prison Tower.


Practicing my panning technique. Not quite there yet.




Looking down Dlgua Street.






Malbork Castle is about an hour by train southeast of Gdansk. It's said to be the largest brick castle in the world, and was the seat of power of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights. Here are some shots from our day trip to the castle.....While waiting for our regular-speed regional train, we spotted this sleek fast train at Gdansk Glowny Station.












Heating ducts in the castle.


Touring school groups in the Middle Castle courtyard.


The courtyard of the High Castle.


The Castle Church.




The Grand Master's seat.;-)