We took a train from Gdansk to Szczecin, Poland. The journey took five hours. The train was comfortable and had the added bonus of being similar to the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter with private carriages. Szczecin is located on the Odor River near the Baltic Sea and the German border in West Pomeranian. It is a major seaport and Poland’s seventh-largest city.
A taxi took us to our lovely newly decorated apt straight out of the ilea catalogue! The noise of the tram outside the window took some getting used to but we centrally located. First stop was Jana Pawla 2 Street nearby. There were some fountains and sculptures as well as cafes and the all important ice cream parlours!
Dinner that evening was a seafood treat. We had oysters and mussels followed by lobster and pasta.
We had one full day to tour the city. First stop was Solidarity Square. The concrete foundation of the square is not level, as it was built to resemble waves in a tumultuous sea. At the corner of the square, near the St Peter and Paul church, is the tall Angel of Freedom monument. Built in 2005, the angel appears to be on a small boat, channeling through a sea of rough waters as reflected by the surrounding square. This monument shows an angel clutching a crown of thorns and is an iconic symbol of the Polish solidarity movement. It was in this square that sixteen people protesting their poor work conditions were shot and killed by Polish army and police. Their names are engraved on commemorative plaques.
The Philharmonic building also in the square won the European Union prize for contemporary architecture in 2015. The white zigzag shaped facade of the building looks like ice, is covered in ribbed glass and gives off a ethereal glow by night.
Second stop was the chocolate shop at the nearby City Gate for coffee and treats.
Third stop was the Waly Chrobrego Promenade, an impressive elevated promenade resting on the bank of the Oder River and flanked at each side by oval roofed rotundas. It’s one of the few places in Szczecin that wasn’t destroyed during WW2 and is a perfect spot to sit and enjoy the view. We enjoyed lunch in Columbus restaurant where we shared some prawns and calamari.
Our last night in Poland we decided to have some polish food in a traditional restaurant. Pierogis to start and then some nice meat, potatoes and veg. The boys even left enough room for one last Lodi from a local café! Then we retired to our apt and the sound of the passing tram for one last sleep before continuing on the adventure the next day.
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