Gdansk, Saint Bridget and Sopot

On our way to the railwaystation, we just had to visit the Church of Saint Bridget (Swedish Sankta Birgitta). Maybe it doesn’t look much from the outside – but inside – you are filled with awe.

Destroyed, rebuilt and restored – this church is, and since the 1980’s associated with the Solidarity Movement.

The silence and the crystal air was fascinating. The windows the only source of light in here. But that is enough.

Everything serene, and the altarpiece is planned to have only pure amber in its decorations. Together with red, white and silver, this golden amber art had me standing in total silence and contemplation, head uplifted, for at least 30 minutes.

Walking towards the railway station, autumn showed its true colours.

And then – Sopot next. The summer city of Poland with 40 000 inhabitants. An old health resort with the, always terrible, water which should be good for you…

By train back to Gdynia again – a soft and lovely evening. We found our Stena Line ferry, heading for Karlskrona.

This was an amazing and unexpected adventure – close to home, but with totally unexpected outcome. To be recommended!

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Vibrant Colors

For Cee’s challenge this week – Vibrant Colors – I picked Gran Canaria apartements and two little friends a dewy summer morning. Why not participate yourself?

 

A sunny walk through Gdansk

Last weekend we spent in Gdansk, Poland. We went by ferry from Karlskrona to Gdynia, and then by taxi and train to and from Gdansk and Sopot. I had a gloomy vision of Poland since my school days – coal, polluted, misty, drab…and no one could convince me of anything else. I had to see it with my own eyes….And, I was met by lovely people (not that good English speakers, but there are hands, feet, body and face to use!), a wonderfully restored city and a glorious resort in Sopot.

Early morning mist and we woke up to this wiew of the harbour. Looking out through the window, the big cranes were sailing by…

….behind the containers, the city itself was rising from the morning mist.

The King walked this way when he had received the key to the city.  Dluga – or the Long Street. It is difficult to understand how all these magnificent buildings all were rebuilt from the disasters of WWII.

Passing the Town Hall, which is the highest building in the city – 81 metres – we reached the fountain of Neptune. But first, let’s take a closer look at some of the architecture.

Oh, the doors and their ornaments…

…and all the old and new signs and lamp posts, intricately woven in iron.

Many old ladies were selling their home made knittings – among many other things…in the street.

And the colours were amazing – on houses and people and clothes and …

…balloons!

This fountain, built in 1549, was so popular with the citizens that they took it down piece by piece to hide it during the war. Not until 1954 was it put together again!

And now, the mighty Neptune himself guided us to…

…the Waterfront. Restaurants, cafés and people, people. More from the beauty, the people and the ships on the Waterfront in the next post!

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Soft Pastels

It was a great surprise and a great pleasure to visit Gdansk in Poland this weekend. The city centre has been totally renovated and built up from the ruins of WWII. A fantasy of soft pastels. Just in time for Cee’s challenge!

Weekly Travel Theme: Inviting

Few things feel as inviting to me as this old veranda, these delicate flowers and the two open doors…And this place is no more. Maybe that is why.

Få ställen känner jag som så inbjudande som denna veranda, den skira blomsterprakten och de öppna dörrarna. Och allt detta finns inte mer. Blommorna är borta och så är verandan. Kanske därför känns det så.

 

WordPress Photo Challenge: Night time

Night time from WordPress – strikes me as maybe my favourite time in urban areas. Mild air, not that many people, no rush…

Transporting? When I started choosing photos I saw they were about walkers, railroads, boats and cars. But they are all standing still, not moving, frozen. No adrenal ferocity. I can feel the smoothness in the air – not a wind. I hope you can feel it too.

Natt – kanske den skönaste tiden i storstäder. Ljumt i luften, inte den där dagliga stressen där blodet pumpar och adrenalitet stiger. När jag ser på de bilder jag valt, ser jag transport, men rörelse i stillastående. Fotgängare, tåg och räls, båtar och bilar. Alla står de stilla i den sammetsmjuka natten – inte en vind. Hoppas du också kan känna det.

 

For more strangers in the night…click here.

Uglies or Beauties?

A walk in a Blekinge forest with Totti – and I found quite some junk among the trees. Do I only see ugliness in these things…or maybe there is something more to them? I don’t like things being thrown out into nature like this, but this morning I decided to find some beauty in them instead. Just to not be the usual angry and disappointed one…And, it worked for me. Does it work for you as well?

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Buildings

Buildings can be serene and beautiful too – not only functional. I have chosen the glass building covering an old cathedral in Norway, and a tree building for birdwatching in Sweden. Both are new, but somehow naturally fit into their environment.

For Cee’s challenge – Buildings – Hamar, Norway, the Cathedral ruin totally under glass cover.

The bird watching centre – Hornborgasjön, Sweden.

So…I’ve been playing around again…

As I’m having wonderful students this year – too – I’m rather busy with my big classes! I try to blog, and try to read as many blogs as I can as often as I can …Thursday evenings though, there are usually some hours free – and today I have been trying Fotosketcher again. A way to relax before the Big Day. There’s the Big Election coming up here in Sweden this Sunday, and as I’m responsible for the election held in my area, I will be very busy that day. Fun, but a lot of responsibility. I have been doing this since the 1980’s. This year I guess everyone expects there to be a totally new government on Monday morning.

Now to my pictures…which one turned out the best? Technically? Colours? Your preferences? The flower and the beach are from Blekinge, Sweden. The building is the Edinburgh Parliament and the cat – was watching me from a window at Greyfriar’s, Edinburgh.