Gdynia

Initially we had planned to go to Gdansk from here but I had begun to get really cold feet, particularly after attending the ship's port lecture. We only have four hours to play with and it would take us one and a half by taxi to do the round trip. Although we are assured the taxis will take us to Gdansk and wait for us to come back … I’m really not convinced and have already had one nightmare about it. When I raise my concerns with my friend we take the decision to stay in Gydnia. I really wish I had booked the organised trip instead. Still, perhaps we’ll enjoy Gydnia?

Oh dear! The weather matches the feel of the town, grey and overcast. It would look like a typical British seaside town if only it had a crazy golf course and a few more arcades. We stroll along the promenade up to the seafront, passing lots of stalls selling junk and rather dodgy amber jewellery. There are two genuinely interesting historic ships, one of which is a tall sailing ship. At the windswept sea front we find a very large aquarium that was built in 1971! As it’s the same age as me it is rather depressing to see how tatty and run down it looks (I'm sure it would say the the same about me). We wander back down looking for the beach. To be fair, if it had been sunny, we would have had a lovely time sitting on the sandy yellow beach. Instead we take a look around a nearby shopping centre, drink a coffee in a Startbucks wannabe and then do some window shopping up the high street. Unfortunately we can’t find anything that looks like a department store. Our only purchase is my friend's new T shirt which cost a staggering 5 New Zloty’s or £2.50!

It would look like a typical British seaside town if only it had a crazy golf course and a few more arcades

During our visit we manage to find two very minor sights that wouldn’t normally get a mention, but needs must! The first is a statue to Pope John Paul II outside a fairly modern church. Apparently he came from Gydnia so that’s one footnote in history for them. We take a peek inside the church, but people are praying very seriously and it feels as if we are intruding, so we don’t linger. The second monument of note, appears to be a Second World War memorial. It’s main significance is that it is probably the only Soviet monument we have seen during the whole trip. I’m really disappointed by that – there wasn’t even a statue of Lenin in the town that once shared his name.

We head back early to the ship, as frankly we think we’ve seen everything Gydina has to offer. Sadly we realise that neither of us took any pictures at all!