Gdansk, Poland
Just before our wake-up call, the engines of the Endeavour began to slow as she approached the port area of the city of Gdansk, Poland. As soon as the gangway was positioned, we disembarked for our early morning visit to this well-known port city on the Baltic. Gdansk was once the free port of Danzig where the Hanseatic League showed an impressive influence, making Gdansk one of the most prosperous trade centers in Northern Europe. The Hanseatic League dominated commercial activity in this area of Europe from the 13th to the 15th century. (Hanse was a medieval German word for “guild,” or “association,” derived from a Gothic word for “troop,” or “company.”)
Gdansk is one of the greatest examples of the reconstruction of a city in Europe; sixty to ninety percent of this Hanseatic city was destroyed during WWII. Rebuilt from that rubble, Gdansk became one of the major industrial centers of Poland. In 1970 a massacre of workers protesting against the lawlessness of the Communist authorities happened here, and ten years later it led to the creation of the only legal independent trade union in the Soviet Block—Solidarity. Today marks the twenty-third anniversary of the signing of that agreement between Lech Walesa, the Solidarity leader, and the then deputy premier, Mieczyslaw Jagieski, conceding to the workers the right to organize freely and independently.
Our morning began with a short bus trip, to photograph the Monument to the Shipyard Workers who fell in 1970, represented with an anchor, symbol of hope, and a cross, symbol of faith, martyrdom, and victory. This was followed by a visit to the local maritime museum. Each of our groups were led by guides through this unique and very interesting museum showing us some of the history of trade in Gdansk. Across from the maritime museum and the other side of the Motlawa river a reconstruction of a large wooden loading crane was located, adding to the extensive information we received on the importance of Gdansk as the granary of Europe. Poland’s country landscape was largely taken up with the growing of grains—all of which were delivered, stored and shipped from the port city of Gdansk. Once we had completed our tour of the maritime museum, with some time to photograph the guild buildings lining the Motlawa river, we returned to our busses and made a short journey across the Green Bridge which leads all traffic through the Green Gate considered the most imposing of all the gates guarding the entrances into Gdansk. The Green Bridge, crosses the river in the same spot as its original location in the 16th century, mentioned in the famous poem The Raftsman, “the Green Bridge, the end of our toil.” This particular poem, written by Sebastian Fabian Klonowic, describes the navigation along the Vistula (the main purpose of which was, as we already know, to transport grain.)
Once inside the Green Gate, we were able to view this long avenue, or market street, with guild or merchant’s buildings on either side showing the strong German and Dutch influence of the Hanseatic League. Our short walking tour ended at the Neptune Fountain. The town of Gkansk owes much to the sea located so near by, and the main avenue for the transport of the wealth of Poland leaving in trade goods to other locations in Europe. What better way to honor the sea than with a fountain offering homage to Neptune, God of the Sea. Once, every ship’s crew after arriving safely at the port on the Motlawa River came to the fountain to give thanks for their safe journey. It was here that we gathered for one of the highlights of our visit to Gdansk. Located just behind Neptune’s Fountain is the 15th century Artus Court, which was the seat of the municipal guilds. It will be here that former President Lech Walesa will address our group through an interpreter. This leader of the Solidarity movement, started his working life as an electrician in the Gdansk shipyards. After scaling a fence to join protesting workers in the Gdansk shipyards and continuing to protest the Communist authorities, Mr. Welesa lost his job, but found what would be the foundation for the rest of his life: the return of a free market economy and the independence of his country. The Solitary Movement claimed the government of Poland in 1989 with the first free elections since 1947. Mr. Welesa, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, guided Poland’s first parliamentary elections in 1991, and later became President of Poland in 1995.
Our group entered Artus Court, enjoyed some refreshments, waiting for the arrival of former President Lech Welesa. Upon his arrival, we stood and then were encouraged to ask questions once Mr. Welesa regaled us with the foundation of his beliefs, including his past political experiences and what he felt were the important issues facing the world today. Mixing humor with an extremely charismatic style, Mr. Welesa presented some of the essence of what it means to have grown-up in Poland and to have helped move that country forward, into the awareness of the world.
Just before our wake-up call, the engines of the Endeavour began to slow as she approached the port area of the city of Gdansk, Poland. As soon as the gangway was positioned, we disembarked for our early morning visit to this well-known port city on the Baltic. Gdansk was once the free port of Danzig where the Hanseatic League showed an impressive influence, making Gdansk one of the most prosperous trade centers in Northern Europe. The Hanseatic League dominated commercial activity in this area of Europe from the 13th to the 15th century. (Hanse was a medieval German word for “guild,” or “association,” derived from a Gothic word for “troop,” or “company.”)
Gdansk is one of the greatest examples of the reconstruction of a city in Europe; sixty to ninety percent of this Hanseatic city was destroyed during WWII. Rebuilt from that rubble, Gdansk became one of the major industrial centers of Poland. In 1970 a massacre of workers protesting against the lawlessness of the Communist authorities happened here, and ten years later it led to the creation of the only legal independent trade union in the Soviet Block—Solidarity. Today marks the twenty-third anniversary of the signing of that agreement between Lech Walesa, the Solidarity leader, and the then deputy premier, Mieczyslaw Jagieski, conceding to the workers the right to organize freely and independently.
Our morning began with a short bus trip, to photograph the Monument to the Shipyard Workers who fell in 1970, represented with an anchor, symbol of hope, and a cross, symbol of faith, martyrdom, and victory. This was followed by a visit to the local maritime museum. Each of our groups were led by guides through this unique and very interesting museum showing us some of the history of trade in Gdansk. Across from the maritime museum and the other side of the Motlawa river a reconstruction of a large wooden loading crane was located, adding to the extensive information we received on the importance of Gdansk as the granary of Europe. Poland’s country landscape was largely taken up with the growing of grains—all of which were delivered, stored and shipped from the port city of Gdansk. Once we had completed our tour of the maritime museum, with some time to photograph the guild buildings lining the Motlawa river, we returned to our busses and made a short journey across the Green Bridge which leads all traffic through the Green Gate considered the most imposing of all the gates guarding the entrances into Gdansk. The Green Bridge, crosses the river in the same spot as its original location in the 16th century, mentioned in the famous poem The Raftsman, “the Green Bridge, the end of our toil.” This particular poem, written by Sebastian Fabian Klonowic, describes the navigation along the Vistula (the main purpose of which was, as we already know, to transport grain.)
Once inside the Green Gate, we were able to view this long avenue, or market street, with guild or merchant’s buildings on either side showing the strong German and Dutch influence of the Hanseatic League. Our short walking tour ended at the Neptune Fountain. The town of Gkansk owes much to the sea located so near by, and the main avenue for the transport of the wealth of Poland leaving in trade goods to other locations in Europe. What better way to honor the sea than with a fountain offering homage to Neptune, God of the Sea. Once, every ship’s crew after arriving safely at the port on the Motlawa River came to the fountain to give thanks for their safe journey. It was here that we gathered for one of the highlights of our visit to Gdansk. Located just behind Neptune’s Fountain is the 15th century Artus Court, which was the seat of the municipal guilds. It will be here that former President Lech Walesa will address our group through an interpreter. This leader of the Solidarity movement, started his working life as an electrician in the Gdansk shipyards. After scaling a fence to join protesting workers in the Gdansk shipyards and continuing to protest the Communist authorities, Mr. Welesa lost his job, but found what would be the foundation for the rest of his life: the return of a free market economy and the independence of his country. The Solitary Movement claimed the government of Poland in 1989 with the first free elections since 1947. Mr. Welesa, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, guided Poland’s first parliamentary elections in 1991, and later became President of Poland in 1995.
Our group entered Artus Court, enjoyed some refreshments, waiting for the arrival of former President Lech Welesa. Upon his arrival, we stood and then were encouraged to ask questions once Mr. Welesa regaled us with the foundation of his beliefs, including his past political experiences and what he felt were the important issues facing the world today. Mixing humor with an extremely charismatic style, Mr. Welesa presented some of the essence of what it means to have grown-up in Poland and to have helped move that country forward, into the awareness of the world.
