Gdansk, Poland: Part 2 of 3 - Gdansk Shipyard/Baltic Sea

With much of its history and industry in shipbuilding and the seaport, we enjoyed exploring the Gdansk shipyard area and learning about its role in the 1980 Solidarity movement.

Amazingly, these two pieces of history were situated just off the street.

On the left is a piece of the wall surrounding the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk.  The plaque next to the wall read: "Lech Walesa climbed over this wall to join the strike which ended on 31st August 1980 with signing the Gdansk Agreement between the strikers and the Communist Authorities.  That day started the process of establishing "SOLIDARNOSC" - The movement which contributed to the collapse of Communism in Poland and Europe."

On the right is a fragment of the Berlin Wall.  Here, the plaque read: "A symbol of Europe divided into a free and an enslaved realm.  The collapse of the Berlin Wall on November 9th 1989 was a sign of uniting Germany and regaining European Unity."
  

Monument to the fallen Shipyard Workers

Gdansk Shipyard

 After walking around the Gdansk Shipyard, we took the train all the way to the end of the line to put our feet in the Baltic Sea.

Gdansk, Poland: Part 1 of 3 - Old Town and Ulica Długa

Gdansk was the perfect place for us to start our trip.  Located in northern Poland on the Baltic Sea, it was a quiet and friendly town.  We spent most of our time walking through the city, reading about the history, stopping at a cafe for a snack, coffee or piwo (beer).  The old town area and Long Street (Ulica Długa) were heavily damaged during World War II, but beautifully rebuilt. I've included some images of the damage of this area during the war.  Seeing those images and the city as it stands today really struck me to the sadness and evils of that time, but the amazing ability to rebuild. 

Medieval Port Crane

Gdansk was among the cities in Poland preparing for Euro 2012 (European Football Championship).  We left Poland shortly before the competition, but it was amazing to see the new stadiums and massive improvements to the train system.  

 Ulica Długa (Long Street) and Neptune's Fountain

St. Mary's Church is the largest brick church in the world. Also, heavily damaged during World War II, it is amazing what was saved and the efforts to rebuild it.  

Images of the destruction of Gdansk (1945).

Image of Long Street in 1900 (was on display in our hotel).