Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - Gedansk, The Tour begins

Breakfast was substantial  - lots of fresh fruit, a baked vegetable tart ( lo,e a fritata), and kielbasa  YAY! Kate and I enjoyed very leisurely.  The day was cloudy and sprinkles and cool, low 50s. We walked along the Motlawa River to a very new and striking piece of architecture, the World War II museum. Today the entrance was free, and we arrived before crowds and children's groups arrived. Located in the basement the area consists of around 15 areas, each covering a topic from the early 1900s up to current events. Each area displayed exhibits, showed short videos, offered experiences of life here, such as a totally bombed street in spaces which were rooms, or hallways, or darkened tunnel- like spaces, all in varying shapes and sizes. With geographic audio devices we were well educated about this horrible period in Polish history.  Like other Central European countries, Poland rid itself of the German Nazis only to be placed under Soviet and Stalin's control. We could have spent the entire day there, but three hours filled us. It was early afternoon.
  We returned to the hotel to rest before our 5 pm initial tour gathering. Soon, my new roommate, Chris, arrived. She us a first grade teacher, moving to librarian at her school in the Fall. She has come from visiting London and living in a hostel, and a few days in a hostel in Gdansk, and after the tour ends she will be hostelling in Austria and the Czech Republic. We chatted until she left to get something to eat, and continued to read Rick Steves book  feeling content. 
  Agnes, pronounced Agneshka, is lively and bubbly, she introduced herself and emphasized a few guidelines, and gave us Rick's handout within suggestion for a happy tour experience. We were offered coffee and water and chocolates and pastries,  we selected buddies.  My buddy is Susam, a special education department chair in a school district in the Seattle area. We sat together at our supper and began to become acquainted. 
  We had a short orientation walk to our restaurant for supper together Agnes led us in a toast to each other and we talked loudly over live guitar music snd singing sharing common experiences and beginning yk become acquainted. There is one young adult,  an older couple, experienced RSE travelers, and their son and wife. Most travelers are not retired, and quite a few are teachers and there is a retired nurse. I am working on leaning names rapidly, for the tour is only 10 days.
  A very delicious potato salad began the meal followed by baked cod,  boiled potatoes, in a very tasty ssuce and a small green  salad. Desert was a crunchy cake with a raspberry sauce topping. I had two bites.
 After supper Kate and Chris, both from Las Vegas, and I walked around the neighborhood, all on streets made of bricks, talking about the Dutch-like ,iving quarters with businesses on the ground floor at least give cement steps to the ground floor or to the basement - all businesses with living spaces on the upper four plus levels.
  We arrived at the hotel talking about plans for our free time tomorrow from 1130 until 3pm when we all meet again. 
  Chris and I talked about our sleeping and early morning habits. I believe we will get along just fine, She has been reading I bed while I write the blog. Now itvis time for me to sleep. GUTE NACHT.  (This was part of Germany untol 1945.

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