There are trips you plan for months. And there are those you remember years later mostly because the camera worked harder than the trip’s participants. My getaway to Gdansk definitely belonged to the latter category. From the very first moments, the city decided to impress me. The gates, tenement houses, and fountains looked so majestic, it was as if they passed a daily morning quality check with Neptune himself. Of course, I couldn’t deny myself the mandatory photo by the fountain. After all, tourists are divided into those who have such a photo, and those who haven’t made it to Gdansk yet.
Counting ships at night
In the evening, the old town turned into a historical movie set. The illuminated tenement houses reflected in the Motlawa river. With every new photo, I became more and more convinced that the night is the best beauty filter. Even my photography skills started to look quite professional. But I wouldn’t be me if, instead of sightseeing, I didn’t start counting ships. And there’s no shortage of those in Gdansk. There were sailing ships, naval vessels, ferries, and everything that can float, moor, or majestically pretend it’s about to set sail. At one point, I started to suspect that if I stayed there one more day, I’d get a hull number too. The huge sailing ships moored at the waterfront made the biggest impression on me. In the light of the streetlamps, they looked as if they were waiting for the signal to set sail in search of pirates, or at least a sale on herring.
Guilt-free fish
Of course, every proper expedition requires the right fuel. A fish appeared on the table looking so elegant that I felt a pang of guilt for a moment before reaching for my fork. Luckily, the guilt quickly gave way to a healthy appetite. Later came dessert, which effectively reminded me that vacation calories are counted by completely different rules. Or to be more precise—they don’t count at all. The evening gathering at the table followed a classic script. At first, everyone sits politely. Then someone tells a story. A moment later, everyone is laughing. And by the end, everyone is convinced that the absolute best plan for the next day has just been invented. In the morning, it usually turns out that the only common element of the plan is breakfast.
Souvenirs from the Gdansk getaway
Strolling through the streets of Gdansk, I discovered that every few dozen feet there is another building just begging for a photo. The camera didn’t protest, but the memory card started sending subtle warning signals. When I got home, it turned out that deleting even one of the several hundred photos bordered on a miracle. After all, each one is “a little bit different.” In the end, I came to a simple conclusion. Gdansk is a place you can hardly leave empty-handed. Some people bring back amber, others a fridge magnet. I brought back memories, a ton of nighttime photos of ships, and a strong conviction that after such a weekend, the camera also deserves a few days off.
