DUBBO ,

all of these interesting , northern polish cities and towns provide  visitors with  unforgettable experiences .

Gdansk , Bydgoszcz and Torun  share  lots of common economic and historical  past . All of these towns history was in many aspects related to their  position to  WISLA River.  Queen of Polish Rivers.  On the barges in medieval days the riches of polish  land were flowing  to Gdansk , for  export to the  world of these days.

TRI –CITY , in Polish “ TROJMIASTO”, one of great  urban complex  and as well recreational town , being by Baltic Sea , is one of the favoured tourist destinations for Poles and international tourists alike.

Gdansk rich history, its visual splendour  in many aspects   is related to its  association with  HANSA cities of early European history . Sopot  on other hand ,  presents mood of SPA resort, where visitor enjoy fresh breeze of Baltic Sea . Air full of  IODINE and summer time  present many opportunities for recreational   activities . Walking  on the world renown , longest in Europe timber , jetty  called MOLO provides beside healthy activity also in warm summer nights some romantic enjoyment and fun .  Gdynia  ,however, being modern town, established in early days of XX century  presents visitors with  interesting architecture  , maritime museums and boat trips to Hel peninsula .

These cities are connected by fast rail system  and are easily reached to visitors delight.

Gdansk great citizens are clearly present. Their  spiritual and physical manifestation is evident in  this  spectacular town . Kepler, Hevelius astronomers .  Fahrenheit  physicist who created temperature scale , still used in  USA . Gunter Grass  -winner of Noble Prize for literature ,which  was the  outcome  of his amazing novel  “ The tin  Drum “, book  presenting astounding  history of XX century  Gdansk.  These are only some world famous and renown  people who were creating rich history of Gdansk and were enriching humanity . Their splendour  makes one feel genuinely  stimulated by the city of  very long and magnificent  history .. Dluga Street , Artus Court ,  Neptune Fountain , Green Gate , Crane by Motlawa River only few important sites of Gdansk Old Town one needs to see  to become  charmed with magic of  old world ,  Gdansk  early history. In this historical town one can find , on its sandy beaches or buy at souvenir shops AMBER , called BALTIC GOLD.  Already early  merchants who were gathering  in Gdansk during the Dominican Fair , to sale their products , were amazed by beauty and also as we know , respected the health value , of this product of mother nature geological events.   There is also other  great gold related  product . “ Danziger Golwasser” , with its pleasing taste and gold flakes flouting in  it , this  world renown , loved liqueur is welcomed drink  after some special polish culinary speciality .

One could present long list of the other important aspects of  Gdansk history . Two are needed to be remembered . These events were world changing history of humanity . 01 September 1939 salvos of Nazi Germany battleship  “ Schleswig Holstein”  dropping  on Polish military post of Westerplatte barrage of  nasty  military attack  is  considered as first moment of start of  WWII . Other important date is year  1980  . It  marks start  by  workers of  Lenin”  shipyard of Gdansk of  “ Solidarity “  Movement , which took over whole Poland and started gradual  fight for  rights of workers and democratic freedoms.  This peaceful action on part of polish workers  lead eventually  to 1989 events, which allowed  Poland to shake off  shackles of the Soviet system , which soon was dismantled and became element of world history . One needs to observe that the  heroic “ Solidarity “ movement was also instrumental in demolition of  Berlin Wall . That  created  mood and ground for reunification of Germany .

South of Gdansk , about 2 hours by comfortable train  ride , one can visit two very important and attractive towns of historical region of KUJAWY . Region of great  riches of its folklore . One of the  dynamic and truly  representative is KUJAWIAK dance which even Frederic Chopin used as basis to compose some of his piano pieces.

Bydgoszcz and Torun  , both of these towns  present rich history of the area . These towns  already  from early days of its existence , despite some changes of its  association with various  rulers of area ,were closely interwoven to history of polish kings and Poland.

Bydgoszcz called in Latin “ Bydgostia “ ,  presents  its centre  ,with  truly charming , secession architecture  . The visitors  emotions are really  of pleasant and fulfilling nature  . Decorative , so characteristic , windows , doors and reliefs with soft floral  , statuesque  nudes or faces adorn the buildings .  The  centre of town  attractively situated by BRDA river which flows  on its own  into Wisla river . The mood by the river is full of  memorable moments  and  time  to relax. This unique geographical, on the river,  position allowed Bydgoszcz to have along the  Brda river  many wheat  and grain silos, called also granaries  . These  buildings  were used  in early days to store and distribute  that produce  to various regions of Poland and Europe . Now these , unfortunately only  3 remaining , granaries being visually very attractive  , are evidence of  bygone era and  were converted into  apartments and offices . One needs to be aware that this charming town , already  in year 1346   was granted by ,King Casimir III of Poland, city rights .  Bydgoszcz history is also part of history of Jews who  started to settle in this town  , already  in XV and XVI century was important wheat trading centre.

From Bydgoszcz by “ IC “ train , equipped with “ WI-FI” services on short ride one gets to Torun . Panorama of this amazing , under the UNESCO World Heritage auspices town , presents itself with steep gables and sharp , shooting right into the sky towers . Already in XV century town attracts many famous   citizens  . In Torun  in AD 1473 , Mikolaj Kopernik , Nicholas Copernicus as he is also called , was born . This astronomer , scientists  during his  studies of  Universe  , brought to the humanity , revolutionary concept . It  says that Copernicus   “ stopped the sun and moved the earth “  . Torun, during era  of  Copernicus  birth , already since 1466 ,was situated in   Royal Prussia , part of Kingdom of Poland  . In this amazing town , many Peace Treaties between Poland and Prussia were signed  . These historical events  clearly indicated the Torun was , despite the Poland Prussian conflicts ,  part of Poland .

Torun beside association with Copernicus birth  is also  famous  for “ Torun Gingerbread”.   As history says  these cookies were already  enjoyed during Copernicus days .  And  who knows maybe , like  today  tourists and locals ,as well Copernicus cherished the  taste of “ pierniki “ as these  great  cookies , with all possible stuffing and flavours  are called in Poland.

Torun  presents truly medieval mood and atmosphere . Visitors while strolling along the narrow streets of town , visiting the Teutonic Knights castle remains or just walk along Wisla river , seeing  majestic defence walls of town  are treated with trip into past of Polish history .

From that amazing town of Torun , one can , once again , in comfort of Polish Railway system return to Warsaw to continue the adventure of Poland’s discovery.

To get attractive and comfortable way to Poland , is to fly LOT Polish Airlines  and its partner Singapore Airlines ,

WMIG October 2015

More information about these cities are included on websites:

– http://www.poland.travel/en-us/cities/gdansk-sopot-gdynia–the-tricity/ – Tricities guide,

– http://www.visitbydgoszcz.pl/index.php/en/ – Bydgoszcz guide ,

– http://www.poland.travel/en/unesco-sites/medieval-town-of-torun-6   – Torun guide,

– http://www.intercity.pl/en/   – Polish Railways / Intercity / ,