I never really knew what to expect when coming to Poland, but what I found was beyond all my expectations. Its a modern, busy, thriving and hard working country, both proud of its past and of its future. As usual, when visiting somewhere new we try to make comparisons to our own country. C’mon, admit it – we do, don’t we…? In many ways I actually found the UK lacking in many of the things that I saw in Poland. And besides the cheap fuel, I found the public transport to be cheap, modern, quick and most of all, very efficient and extensive. Much better than the UK. The most remarkable thing I found was the array of fruit and veg in the supermarkets. Again, far better than the UK.
While I was here I took the opportunity to visit the Museum of WW2 in Gdansk, and what an impressive museum. There were many reasons for WW2 and the museum explains the lead up to it and why it happened. It also shows the suffering and sacrifice that Poland made through these difficult years. Walking around the ‘Old City’ in Gdansk was a sheer pleasure. Its certainly a beautiful city centre and although what you see today is a vast replica of what the old town used to be, you almost get a sense of walking into the past.
Having served in the Royal Navy, I have a deep interest in ships, which led me to visit the ORP Błyskawica in Gdynia. Constructed in Cowes in 1938, it was one of two destroyers built on the Isle of Wight for the Polish Navy. These ships were based on a Royal Navy design but were heavily modified, making them unique. The ORP Błyskawica’s sister ship was sunk in 1940, but the Błyskawica itself had a very active and successful wartime service. After Poland became a Soviet state, the Błyskawica continued to serve the nation until the late 1960s when it was retired, yet it remained a flagship. Once Poland regained its independence, the ship’s illustrious history led to its transformation into a museum ship, allowing visitors to learn about its storied past and explore its well-preserved engine and boiler rooms. It’s a fascinating experience, well worth it even for those not particularly interested in World War II history.
As I rode around the area, I took the opportunity to visit Piasnica Forest. This is the site where thousands of Polish citizens were executed by the Nazis during World War II. I had a strong desire to visit, and aside from the occasional vehicle on the nearby road, there is an extraordinary silence that pervades this section of the forest.
I have enjoyed my time to this part of Poland, and I definitely want to come back to spend more time here and to see more things. Maybe one day….
