Scenes from Poland, Part One
Words by Dalene Heck / Photography by Pete Heck
We are quite full of shame to admit that prior to analyzing our flight options from New York to Anywhere, we had never even heard of Gdansk. While Poland has been a country that we’ve longed to see for quite some time, we expected to focus on the main centers of Warsaw and Krakow during our eventual visit, and little else.
So we booked our ten-day visit completely blindly, but the more we read about it afterwards, the more excited we got. And after our stay, we are completely hooked. Gdansk is a perfectly sized city, very economical by European standards, and there is so much to do in the area. We were floored to learn of the area’s stunning role in the continent’s history, adored the fine white sand of the Baltic beaches (who knew?) and have already amassed a ‘little more flesh to love’ thanks to the dangerously delicious Polish food and beer. It’s lively, it’s pretty, and just an easy city to “be” in.
We have so much to share!
But first, an introduction by way of video – another of our “travel trailers” – and the first of three that we will do in Poland to give you a unique sample of the country that go beyond our words and pictures. It features Gdansk, its tri-city partners of Sopot and Gdynia, and the largest castle in the world, Malbork.
If you have problems seeing this video from your reader or email, please click here to view it.
Nice! I’m definitely intrigued. Had NO idea Poland had pretty beaches!
I know, right? We didn’t either. The sand is GORGEOUS.
Ooooh….loved your video & Poland looks very interesting.
Thanks Ma! xo
What a cool video! Loved it! Those guys are talented! I like how you carried on using the beat from their performance throughout the video. Nice.
Thanks Mica! It was a fun video to make, especially because we had that great footage of the bucket drummers. 🙂
My brother is studying medicine at the university in Gdansk, and has been for five years – and I still haven’t managed to visit. Only one year left, so I’d better get moving…
Oh Sophie, I hope you get there! We were there for 10 full days and really enjoyed it.
I cannot wait to hear so much more!! I adore Gdansk, it is easily the city I have fallen for the hardest in the last few years. My blog is full of posts about it. So glad you liked it!
Glad you liked it to Mariella! Will have to go check our your posts. 🙂
Sounds like a great chilled city. Love the video
Thanks! The city is pretty chill but quirky too. We’d love to go spend more time there.
Great video, I loved how you left the guys playing in the background while the video kept moving forward. Listening to street performers is one of my favorite things to do when they are around. So much talent =)
Thanks Gabriel! We were so grateful to find those guys, made my job of editing a lot easier (and more fun)!
You had me at “very economical”. I’ve been wanting to visit Poland for years so this is definitely going on my list. Also, great video!
Happy Travels 🙂
Thanks Lauren. I am really surprised at how cheap it is to be here compared to the rest of Europe. And I’m surprised that more people aren’t here as a result!
I’ve wanted to go to Poland for a really long time. I met a lot of Polish people when I lived in London and they were all wonderfully friendly. The history of Poland fascinates me too. Glad you’re enjoying it! (I think I voted for you to go to Poland back when you had your reader poll last year so glad you finally made it there.)
We’re glad we finally did too, and perhaps it is even better that we are here now and not last summer – given that the Euro Cup was going on here at the time. The history is so fascinating and makes the country such an interesting place to visit – extremely sweet yet bitter.
I have always wanted to visit Poland. Never heard of Gdansk either but it looks so pretty. And beaches is not something I associated with Poland! 🙂
Love that video and the drumming and how you’ve tied that to your video are the shots mostly photos sinc together together, always wanted to learn how to do this
Great video with the street music leading it, and you got some great shots of Poland! Thanks for sharing!