Zurich & Gdansk

June 11-16, 2009
Jun 11 LO42 YYZ-WAW, LX1349 WAW-ZRH,
Jun 13 LX1352 ZRH-WAW,
Jun 14 LO3831 WAW-GDN,
Jun 16 LO3830 GDN-WAW, LO45 WAW-YYZ

Much like Yosemite, this trip to Poland was a bit of a repeat of our fall trip; however, this time we went to Northern Poland.  As we really enjoyed our previous trip, we had high expectations for Gdansk and it did not disappoint.  The trip itself was inspired by a fare mistake on LOT Polish Airlines to Zurich that was too good to pass up, but having already toured most of Switzerland, I got creative on our routings.  Although we did spend a day in Zurich to qualify for the fare, our trip was more about getting to see Gdansk and the surrounding area.  However, we did have some beautiful summer-like weather in Zurich, and although we hadn’t expected much were very impressed by the vibe of the city out to enjoy a couple of beautiful sunny days.  Flying on LOT was an experience of its own:  after the stampede for the gate, the highlight was us pushing off from the terminal in Toronto (albeit on time) with 20 people still out of their seats, trying to stow their luggage.

Jun 11
Travel to Zurich via Warsaw. 

Jun 12
In Zurich

Playing with a water sculpture on Lake Zurich

Grossmunster church and the Lammat River

Old town and the Lammat River at dusk after a nice dinner

Some Swiss Chocolate in the window of a candy store

Jun 13
Zurich and flight to Warsaw

Surprised to find a Duff beer (straight out of The Simpsons)

An interesting structure along the river with natural swimming areas in the center

Fraumunster and the rest of old town, as seen from the top of Grossmunster

Exterior of Swiss National Museum

Blue Angel hanging from the roof of the Zurich train station

One of the many boats along the Limmat River through Zurich

Jun 14
After a night in Warsaw we fly to Gdansk

After a train ride to Malbork, we tour the castle

Part of the interior of the 13th century castle, the largest brick castle in the world

Some of detailed sculptures on one of the doorways

St. Mary’s Church roof finally being restored after WWII damage

More castle exterior

Full view of the castle from across the Nogat River

One of the more interesting bars on Sopot’s main drag is called the Crooked House

After a train ride to Sopot, St. George Church at the top of Monte Cassino Heroes Street

Looking out into the Baltic Sea and the Molo (Pier) from a lighthouse viewpoint

Some swans on the beach under the Pier (apparently Europe’s longest wooden one)

Jun 15
Gdansk

Gdansk main train station opposite our hotel

The interesting architecture and cobble stones of Gdansk’s Royal Way

The Main Town Hall on the Royal Way

The Galleon Lew tall ship along the Mottawa River in Gdansk prior to our boat tour

The monument at Westerplatte (the site that Hitler attacked first, to start WWII) from our boat

The main Gdansk shipyard, still a major European shipyard

The Gdansk Crane along the river front (the largest medieval port crane in Europe) 

Looking through the Green Gate to the Royal Way

Astrological Clock inside St. Mary’s church dating from 1464-1470

Gdansk from St. Mary’s tower, an active construction site

Working our way back down the tower stairs

An interesting monument to the fall of communism outside the Solidarity Monument

The famous shipyard gates where the Lech Welesa lead the start of the solidarity movement

After a nice dinner, we walked along the river

Neptune statue along the Royal Way at sunset

Jun 16
The morning in Gdansk before going home

Wood panels that hung outside the shipyard gates with 21 demands

A replica of a 1970s Soviet-era Polish shop (with little to no food) in the Solidarity Museum

We flew back to Toronto via Warsaw