Thank you Poland!

This is how the president  Obama closed his speech  he gave in Warsaw the last week. It was in front of the Royal Castle on the 25^th anniversary of Poland’s Freedom Day. It was a very special speech for many Poles and it includes me. The celebrations were broadcasted almost the whole day. I watched and listen and wondered if I heard Obama right. I never expected so many positive words being addressed to Poland and her people. Suddenly the nation bacame better than sliced bread. Not that I think it was not deserved. I always thought that Solidarity had not got enough credit for demise of communism in Europe.  I think what Obama said was sincere even if political in its nature. But what else could have been coming from a politician. The speech was really well written with deep understanding of Polish psyche and history. Every word of Obama resonated with sensitivity of Poles. Mine as well. Poles are sentimental and emotional (among other more practical characteristics). The speech pleased those sentiments. Watching the event and seeing President Komorowski visibly moved and teary I thought about my father who was a very strong and practical man but he would most likely cry a bit if he could here Obama. Tears were definitely in the Polish president eyes even if discrete. It was even more evident in the case of the president’s wife.

                           

                                  

                             

Back to the speech. It started here! Obama said. Yes, I always thought that abolishing of Communism started in Poland, specifically in my newly adopted home town, Gdansk. But the Berlin Wall is better known and became a symbol of the new political beginning. Now, Obama gave Poland credit. It may not be long remembered by the world, but for me it was important to hear such words from the American president. There was an event in Polish history called Miracle at the Vistula. It was when Poland defeated the Red Army at the Battle of Warsaw, an event that have halted the advance of the Communism into Europe and forced Lenin to revise his expansive plans. Obama referred to it and called the events of 25 years back another Miracle at the Vistula. Vistula is the main Polish river running from very south of Poland to Gdansk at the north.

Obama’s command of Polish accent was impressive. You would not say about Polish the same as someone unjustly said about Danish - is not a language it’s a throat disease. But you cannot accuse Polish to have easy pronunciation. Mr Obama said many Polish words in his speech with impressive correctness.

It was a very emotional and happy day for many Poles not only because of the speech but...

Thank you President Obama!

Day 3 of sightseeing in the Tricity - Sopot

My Aussie friend and I had two days of sightseeing in Gdansk. One concentrating on the Hanseatic past of Poland and the other learning the modern history of Poland with Gdansk as focal point of the political changes. To create a more complete picture of Poland and what she is all about we still were missing many points. I was aware that I will not be able to show my friend all I consider important, good, interesting and characteristic to complete the picture. I had to put aside Polish literature, music, art, nature, our complicated history over the centuries. There was no time for that and we would have to explore as well other towns than the Tricity.

Sopot and Gdynia are the remaining two towns forming the Tricity. I had to chose one of the two as my friend had to continue her European trip further and leave Poland the next day. My choice was Sopot.

Lately I came across a comparison Sopot – Polish Monte Carlo. Hmm... I think that comparisons like Stockholm - Paris of the North or similar make it rather difficult for the pretenders to a higher standard. They simply do not measure up! The same is with Sopot but I thought that this comparison may help in understanding the flavour  of the place. Of course this is not Monte Carlo but it is an elegant town, with elegant society people walking down the main street and promenade – Monte Casino which is affectionately called Monty (in polish Monciak). And it has a casino situated next to  the sea shore like in Monte Carlo. So much for similarities.

the Monty

Crooked House

The town is ranked as #1 town in Poland with population only 38,000. During the holiday season, July – August, the population significantly increases. This is Polish  ultimate place for summer holidays. Walking down the Monty one sees VIPs passing by, beautiful people and aspiring personalities of the future. Quite fun. It has always been that way, even in the communistic times. Not that I ever saw the Polish Prime Minister walking down Monty even if he lives in Sopot so I hope I might one day. He may remember Palme's demise. 

While Sopot's architecture today is a mixture of  modern and 19^th century buildings it was mentioned in historical documents as a village in the 13^th century. From the 16^th century it started to operate as a spa. So much for history of Sopot today.

We started our Sopot walk from the top of the Monty passing the Crooked House, and many coffee places. We stopped for a while in at E.Wedel coffee place where we indulged in the speciality – drinking chocolate. It was not the most healthy or slimming stop but Wedel is considered the best Polish national candy brand so it was a must to have experience even if in fact it is Cadbury-E.Wedel now. Times change.

We continued along rather empty promenade, the season has not started yet, to the longest wooden pier in Europe – 650m. I remember few years ago I dragged my other Aussie friends to show them the pier and the reaction was not that of admiration but rather annoyance – we have piers in Australia you know! True, I did not realise that I was overly Tricity patriotic and my friends were already tired of sightseeing.  This time I was more lucky and we walked to the end of the pier admiring Grand Hotel which presents itself best from from the end of the pier called Molo.

                                            

Then it was time for a walk down another promenade stretching from Gdansk to Gdynia. It runs along the beach parallel to bicycle path and it is divided from the sea by dunes.  One has water views only when passing gates to the beach. Every 100 meters of so. Great walk and I plan many of them while in Gdansk

That what it looks like, the beach is 20 meters to the right. Difficult to believe looking at the picture