POLAND Gdansk

Poland Gdanck

02.07.07

Log 15

Gdansk is Poland's third biggest city for tourists behind Warsaw and Krakow. I anticipated parking problems an took the opportunity offered from the blue sign ( P 24 ). Driving into a disused industrial site 50 – 60 cars where already settled . I chose a spot and proceeded to manoeuvre in. A women appeared from the office waving her arm yelling something incomprehensible. I reverted to sign language, which is now my best ally. She soon realized i could not understand her rantings and desisted joining me in our mutual language of point and shoot.

I entered the Main Town ( Glowne Miastro) via the Green Gate, part of the 14 century defensive wall around the city. I was immediately swept back in time 300 to 400 years. I had inadvertently entered the fully restored heart of the City. I am looking for words to describe the street, now called the 'Royal Way'. 'Gob-smacked' will do . The town Hall with imposing Gothic Tower is the tallest structure on the street . It had is beginnings in 1330 but has changes over the centuries to accommodate the varying needs of the city. Tours of the town hall are free on Mondays, I took advantage to see all the ornate furniture and decorations. To think this was a burnt out, smelly, smoking rubble heap in 1945 following repeated bombings had me intrigued. Of course the street is filled with Buskers, trinket & food stalls, pedal taxi and an array of Amber Stalls . Amber is found on the Baltic Coast and has become an industry in itself.

I wandered and gazed at old Churches, Fountains, Statues, Towers, Bridges, Shops all with richly carved facades and mural paintings. I needed to remind my self that this was all restored from old painting, photos and historical records that may have survived WW2. Of course there is modern buildings as well but they are back from this main tourist area. McDonalds has the golden arches represented amongst the newer post war constructions.

I took the ferry down the waterway to get a perspective of the massive Gdansk Shipyard. I gleamed from the commentary , mainly in Polish , that there has been a decline in ship building industry in Poland. 80% of the dry docks where vacant even so there was fifteen to twenty ships being repaired or altered . The Coal loading facility looked to be in full swing as Poland is a big exporter of the black fuel source.

South of Gdansk I visited the Malborg Castle another castle with its history beginning back in the 12^th century. Trying to beat the crowds i was at the kassi at 0800hrs . "Can I also have an Audio Guide please" . The Billet dispenser said " Get Guide Inside the Outside castle". Not comprehending and being in a que, I moved off to main gate with ticket in Hand. Presented to the Official in Security Uniform who wanted to see my receipt for the transaction as well. Luckily it was handy and I was able to show it to him. He indicated something to his colleague who then became my shadow.

I commenced videoing the Main Gate , Portcullis , Hinges on the gates, The cobbled stone work, The Transep around the perimeter wall and moved off to the Inner Courtyard. This courtyard was on a steady incline up to a second Gate made up of a lawned square with a few trees and flower beds. The Cobbling around the Yard we very decorative and had a distinct pattern to the laying of the stones rather than a haphazard methods used on ordinary roading. Four story building surrounded the yard of approximately a hectar. I passed the video camera over all this, focusing on the make up of the windows and doorways. My personalized security man was always just out of shot but nearby, I re slung the VC in its pouch on my hip and proceeded to the museum part.

The "Inside the Outside castle", now made sense to me as there was an inner and outer Castle. On entering the museum building I was offered a Audio Guide and given instruction on its use . The whole Castle complex has been restored following WW2. The Internal arches and light effects entering the Hallways made a good opening shot to demonstrate that i had moved from the external to internal. I pulled the camera while still listening to the introduction and put it up to horizontal.

From out of my right the security man appeared at pace and said with a loud voice that i could clearly hear over the earphones " Ya Cunt". I instantly moved from 'tourist mode' to 'Psychiatric Nurse Mode'. I was snapped back to thinking I was dealing with the unpredictable client group i had been looking after in South East London. I turned to confront and assess what was going on, and to see what had bought on this sudden abuse . He kept coming towards me which heightened my defenses and raised my preparedness. The situation was defused when he pointed to the video camera and waved his right index finger. I gleamed from his gestures that videoing in the museum was forbidden. On reflection he was probably trying to say in English, "Sorry Sir , You can not video in this part of the Castle" .

My shadow followed me around all the exhibits of coins collection, War Armour, Guns, Spears, Swords, Prints of masters, and mock jewellery from years gone by. I'm sure that I have seen much more in one small room in the 'Wallace Collection' in London than was left in the vast museum which was being so preciously guarded. A small reflection of past exploitation of Poland . The heating system was intriguing , Stones where heated in a bread baking oven type enclosure. The fire was then extinguished or move to the adjacent fireplace . The latent heat from the stones where then vented to various parts of the complex.

I had lost my desire to Video the castle while visiting the Inner castle and the tourist Numbers had increased markedly, each room of the massive elephant sized castle seemed to have a tour group being spoken to in a language other than english.

I meet some fellow travellers in a campervan who gave me their excess fresh butter beans, a cauliflower, some carrots and a small bag of new potatoes which they had been give as a gift and was surplus to their needs. I will have a big meal tonight after I have to travel across to the Polish Russian Boarder this afternoon, weather permitting . 5000 miles ticked over today

I want to see Hitlers, Easter Front, Command Center, Wolfs lair.

I wonder what will happen next

Alvin

PS : Flick me an Email if you are sick of recieving my ramblings and Ill take you off the mail out