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This
new kid on the block only came into existence in the
1920's. Gdynia was born out of Poland's necessity to
access the sea. As Gdansk (Danzig) was at the time a
Free City the decision was taken to turn the small
village of Gdynia into a port.
Gdynia has since grown into a charming city.
Sandwiched between the Baltic Ocean on one side and
the forested region of the Tricity Reservation Park
on the other the city has become extremely popular
with nature lovers who come to enjoy the many scenic
walks through the forests or along the shore line.
The obvious place to
begin your exploration of Gdynia is probably Square
Kościuszki.
Located at the end of the
Southern Pier ( Molo
Poludniowe)
it is considered as Gdynia's main square. In the
warmer months it is a popular hangout for people who
can enjoy the sea scape whilst stopping to browse the
souvenir kiosks or sitting down at one of the many
bars or restaurants that line the pier.
In the middle of the
Square is a monument to all the Polish sailors who
lost their lives during World War 2. Alongside is
also a monument to one of Poland's favourite sons,
the author Joseph Conrad.
On the western side of
the pier are two museum ships, the
ORP Blyskawica
Destroyer and
Dar Pomorza Tall
Ship. The Blyskawica saw action during World War 2
before being donated to the Polish government as a
museum ship. Both ships are still used as training
ships and are still manned by sailors from the
Polish navy.
From the pier you get a
great view of one of Poland's newest residential
developments, the Sea Towers. Expected to be
completed in 2009 it will be the tallest building in
Poland outside of Warsaw and will offer spectacular
sea views for many of it's residents.
Further along the pier
is the Gemini Centre which houses the Silver Screen
Cinema (which often plays English speaking movies).
This complex also houses a variety of shops and
eateries including Dom Czekolady or House of
Chocolate.
At the top floor is an internet cafe and also a
terrace with views of the pier.
A few minutes walk from
the Southern Pier is the
Boulevard by the Sea (Bulwar
Nadmorski). This purpose built promenade is
lined with benches and is a great place for a Sunday
morning stroll.
If you like shopping
then Gdynia won't disappoint.
Ulica Swietojanska
is several miles long and both sides of this street
are packed with shops, bars and restaurants.
Gdynia has also become
home to countless music, movie and theatrical
festivals. The
Gdynia Heineken Opener Festival has played
host to many international music stars such as
Placebo, Franz Ferdinand, Scissor Sisters, Coldcut,
The Streets, Kanye West, Basement Jazz and many
more. Confirmed acts for the Gdynia Heineken Opener
Festival 2008 are Jay-Z, The Raconteurs, Goldfrapp,
The Cribs, Sex Pistols, Massive Attack,
Chemical Brothers and more. Click
here
for the official website
If you visit Gdynia then it would be a crime to miss
seeing Orlowo beach. Orlowo is famous for it's cliff
face and this natural feature is unique along the
whole of the Polish coastline. The beach is picture
postcard perfect as the blue skies, green forests,
clear blue water and the whitewashed wooden pier
combine to make it almost impossible to take a bad
photo !
A few minutes from the beach is Kliff shopping
centre. This is one of my favourite shopping centres
in the Tri City. It isn't that big that you are
overwhelmed by it's sheer size (a la the Trafford
Centre in Manchester) but it isn't too small either.
Kliff has a lot of classy stores including a number
of clothing and jewellery retailers. A pianist
usually tinkles the ivories on the ground floor next
to the fountain and coffee shop.
When you are in the Tri
City area and someone suggests to you that you
should go to Hel don't take immediate offence
(unless obscene hand gestures are involved). This is
because forty five minutes away from Gdynia lies the
Hel Peninsula. The Peninsula is a 35 km long needle
of land that juts out into the Baltic Sea. Ranging
in width from a few kms at the tip to as narrow as
100 metres in some areas it can be difficult to
imagine that such a narrow strip of land can
accommodate small towns, roads and even a rail
track.
The beaches here are
breathtaking. Long, white, sandy beaches attract
thousands of visitors and the area now has a well
developed tourist economy.
Along the peninsula are
many small fishing villages interspersed with more
developed towns such as Jastarnia and Jurata.
In these towns the property prices of some of the
newer developments are amongst the highest in Poland
largely due to their proximity to the beach and also
because they have cultivated a reputation as being a
playground for the rich and famous. The President's
summer residence is located on the peninsula and is
very easy to spot by it's fenced compound and sentry
guards. However, that is all you will see do don't
get too inquisitive or you'll probably get shot.
Hel Peninsula creates
two microclimates. The northern, Baltic side is
subject to the cooler winds coming from Scandinavia
whilst the southern side around the bay is more
sheltered because of the forests and sand dunes.
The shallow waters in the bay make it a perfect spot
for windsurfers as there are many places where the
water is deep enough to wind surf but shallow enough
to stand if you fall off ! As the waters are shallow
they also tend to be
warmer than the Baltic side of the Peninsula.
As the peninsula is made up entirely of sand then
during the winter season it is frequently cut off
from the mainland. Concerns have recently been
voiced that Hel Peninsula may disappear altogether
due to erosion so don't miss out on this
geographical gem. And if you're still not convinced
then visit the peninsula if only to tell your
friends back home that you've been to Hel and back !
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