Various from Gdansk & Christmas

A friend told me he imagines it must be very romantic to spend Christmas in Poland; this year there were no snowflakes falling from the sky but indeed there is something slightly romantic to walk the streets of Gdansk (where I was born) during Christmas time. Until I was 25 years old I lived here, in a small sea-side town Sopot, 50 km from Gdansk. This city has a unique feel and a complex over 1,000 years old history. Centuries of rich maritime and commercial activities as the largest polish sea port; narrow cobbled streets lined with XVII wealthy merchants townhouses. Gdansk was conquered and owned back and forward either by Prussia (today Germany) or Slavic Poland. During the War World II the 90 percent of the city was destroyed and after the war Polish artisans restored much of the old's city's architecture.

A typical townhouse

Long Market, the city's main pedestrian street

St Mary street with St Mary church in the background, the largest brick church in the world.

The famous Baltic amber (bursztyn) jewelry. Amber is often washed up by the sea and found on the beach. As children together with my sister we used to go to the beach after storm and found many of these gems. 

Neptun (in Roman times the King of the Sea) is the patron of the city of Gdansk

Homemade christmas cake (made by mum; I can't make such an amazing thing)

With sister

Homemade "pierogi" by mum again. This is a typical polish christmas dish I fantasize about sometime. Pierogi are dumplings first boiled and then fried in butter with onions, there are filled either with ground beef, cheese, cabbage and mushrooms. Here about the polish food during Easter. 

My nephew with mum. 

Another typical townhouse of Gdansk.

Christmas dinner falls on the 24 of December and it is a very special dinner shared with family. 

Gdansk Town Hall 

A stop for a hot wine

It was a very gentle almost warm week at home with family. Sweet company, beautiful city lights, warm, cosy interiors and good, homemade food. Next months so many projects and travels are coming to be realized I am so glad we had this time together.

Sopot

Built at the beginning of the 19th century the Grand Hotel is one of the landmarks of the city. In my childhood my father liked to take us here for tea and cakes on Sundays.

"Molo" is the most favorite promenade of the locals and the longest wooden pier in Europe (650 m)

Lots of charming neo-baroque and eclectic villas have remained. Most of  the houses have towers and wooden sun verandas.

The Sierakowski Mansion (Dworek Sierakowskich) is a must stop for a coffee, sweets, art exhibitions  and classical/ jazz music concerts

Another must-stop after cold winter promenade for best hot chocolate in town at Wedel café. Wedel is the oldest chocolate brand in the country.

Pedestrian Monte Cassino Street connects the upper city with the sea

Apples are national fruit and there are countless types and names

Poles love honey, especially for a tea in winter, there are many variations on offer

This is a fishermen house that sits on the beach, our family used to buy "catch of the day" here

Favorite duo: lemon tea & newspaper

I love to return to this sea-town of mine, it has a precious place in my heart. I was born and grew up here, graduated from the University of Gdansk and all together spent twenty five years of my life. Its location is already lovely; it sits on the shores of Gdansk Bay on the Baltic coast and is sourranded by hills and forests.  It is a small, seaside town that has it all: sandy beaches, beautiful architecture and rich culture, yacht marina, cafés and restaurants serving good seafood. Its been always one of the most elegant polish saeside resorts since centuries and each time I am so glad to see that its sheer beauty is preserved until today. There are plenty beautiful residencial buildings and villas in renaissance, gothic and baroque styles. But my favorites are two storey houses surrounded by gardens with a simple design, with wooden porches and bay windows. So glad my father as a fresh graduate moved here from the very south of Poland following his love for the sea and sailing. I am always thankful for that.