GDANSK, POLAND -- DATES UNCLEAR

                                      LUSCIOUS LOVELY FOR WHAT IS AND ONCE WAS

                           

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

Since the 900’s Gdansk has been “in the news”. War here, war there. Those bad guys and then those other bad guys. 

Gdansk is our next to last stop.  It is glorious, remarkable, extraordinary -- but just when the fantastic and gorgeous streets and buildings were created is unclear. The sun is actually shinning. A promise of 77 degrees...Almost completely destroyed in World War II, Gdansk has restored it facades, offers a bit of this and a bit of that. There are many lovely lovely restorations..the Old Town is terrific and a great walk. We attended a private mass at St Marys Cathedral, one of the largest brick churches in the world.

The main drag is a pedestrian street lined with exceptional buildings of no more than 5 stories.  The top story is usually a decorative pinnacle of some sort, sometimes with carvings or guilded drawings.  Sure likes luscious and lovely but maybe not what was.  We hear the city was leveled during WWII.  (The lovely deep burgundy 5-story across from the coffee shop says 1953!)

The builders and citizens have done a great job at re-purposing what was demolished.  The cafes have gargoyle water drains framing the entrance to their shop.  Often it seems the door itself was recovered from a pile of rubble and completely renewed to former glory.   One patio had several panes of carved shields as its fencing.  All together a marvelous puree of old and new.  Artfully accomplished and wonderful to behold.

We also enjoyed a coffee and very limited wifi at a Costa Coffee shop as we tried to post our  Russian sights. 

AND ANOTHER FACADE OF WHERE DO THE REAL PEOPLE

NOTE: BECKY TOOK THE TIME TO FOCUS HER PHOTOS ON SOME SPECIFICS OF THE OLD TOWN IN GDANSK...

DOORWAYS

                                                                ROOF TOPS