Gdynia

I really like Gdynia. Not only because it's by the sea, located next to the resort of Sopot and historic Gdańsk (which together with Gdynia form the Trójmiasto or Tri-City), but because the lie of the land, and its architecture. Steep hills rise up from the beach, there's the port, the shipyards, the modernism of one of Poland's interwar grands projets; once inland, a coastal strip of road and rail with buildings on either side – and then beyond that, a national park stretching far inland.

This is a good one; flats along one side of road rising up a hill, cresting to its peak...

...And from the peak, downhill through a wooded canyon to the beach.

Below: if you follow the signpost in the above photo ('DOJŚCIE DO PLAŻY') it will take you down to the beach via this delightful footpath through a wooded canyon.

Below: on the beach. It's possible to leave Warsaw at 9am, arrive in Gdańsk at noon, get some business done, travel onto Gdynia in the early evening, check into your hotel, and go for an stroll along the Baltic coast while there's still plenty of daylight left. On the horizon: the port of Gdańsk.

Down by the jetty, I espy many ships in the bay. This one, the Ragna, is a feeder ship, plies its trade between Gdynia and Teesport, UK. Along the horizon, the Hel peninsula.

A word about Tri-City trains; Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia are connected by a first-rate rail transport network. On my way between Gdańsk Główny and Gdynia Redłowo (21km/13 miles), I bought a ticket for the local SKM service, which cost me 6.75zł (£1.35) with 25% senior's discount. The train departed just as I reached the platform – no matter, the next one was in seven minute's time. However, I was irked by probably the most absurd platform numeration ever; tracks 501 and 502 on a line with just four tracks. Below: two passengers checking their timetable apps to ensure that what they are seeing is real. It is.

I arrived yesterday in Gdańsk in perfect sunshine, I depart today with refreshing sea-drizzle spread over Gdynia. Even in poor weather, Gdynia retains its maritime charm that reminds me of northern Spain, Bilbao and Santander. Below: interwar modernism, and a trolleybus under wire. Note the Ukrainian flag still flying in solidarity. Much of Gdynia's public transport consists of trolleybuses and electric- or electric-hybrid buses. The city prides itself on its green credentials. 

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Blossom time in Jakubowizna

This time four years ago:

Apple-blossom time in Jakubowizna

This time five years ago:
Busy doing nothin'

This time ten years ago:
Springtime pictorial

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Kitten time!

This time 12 years ago:
Warsaw-Centrum to Jeziorki by train with super-wide lens

This time 13 years ago:
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This time 14 years ago:
Jeziorki in the infra red 

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Some rain, at last!