The itty bitty refrigerator in our "first class" room.
Video above shows the impressive (first class!) rain in Gdansk. Nonna Paola was tapping out this blog. (Never let downtime go to waste!) Go to the end to see Paco and Milla.
Up early to shop for provisions at the farmer's market, then off to Gdansk via the train. We bought first class tickets. That means we got roomy seats, lots of luggage space, and a small meal with 2 beverages all served to us in our cabin. Pretty posh. Also, the train left exactly on time and arrived in Gdansk precisely on time.
Gdansk is preparing for the St. Dominick Festival which begins this weekend. Stalls line the streets just waiting for vendors. It seems like a Christmas-Market-in-July festival.
We learned the ferry to Hel would not run the next day, no reason given, so bought train tickets for this much anticipated outing.
Then it was up The Crane to tour one of Gdansk's iconic landmarks. The museum is inexpensive ($5/senior) and you follow the journey of a 1400s sea captain who runs a trading route from Spain and France to/from Gdansk from his entry to Gdansk laden with Spanish goods through to his departure full up with Gdansk's offerings. Lots of hands-on activities for kids (and adults).
The clouds threatened rain, so we opted for an early dinner at a riverside restaurant. We were there not 15 seconds before the skies burst. Tourists flocked for cover. We soon had dinner companions at the table next door, two young people who'd met on the Camino de Santiago, a Chinese Catholic woman and a travel-loving Peruvian living in Ireland. Paco, the Peruvian, quit his supermarket job in Ireland to travel, but plans to resume there in September.
The air temperature had dropped, and we were cold. We walked back to our hotel, but could not get the key pad lock of our room to open. Thankfully, the receptionist phone number worked and the problem was solved remotely. The hotel, BTW, is immediately adjacent to a Catholic church--5 daily Masses, no less-- likely a former parish building. We guess that's why it's called Soul House.
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