There were 8 of us that made the trip: Yvona and Marzena (our Polish translators!), Tatiana and Faye (the 2 Brits), Elena (Irish), Debbie (Taiwanese/Australian), and me and Jane (the 2 Americans); we were quite the melting pot! It was such a great group!! We were all flexible to just go with the flow and just experience whatever came our way. We learned a few Polish words which I am sure I don't know how to spell: Czech (Hello), Gencoolye(Thank you), Nostrovia (Cheers...we used that one a lot), and Pah Pah (Good-bye). Elena, Marzena and I arrived late Friday night, while the other 5 took the morning flight and arrived early afternoon on Friday. They went around Sopot and saw a few additional places, but they saved most of the good stops for all of us!
I am so thankful that I experienced bank holiday travel on my own the first time because now I know what to expect when the kids are traveling as well! We took a RyanAir (low fare airline) out of Stansted Airport, which is pretty far north. It took about 1.5 hours by train, and it was CROWDED!!!! And if you do not have an EU passport, you have to have it checked by the check-in desk before going through security. And the security is very through. I haven't carryed on my luggage in quite sometime, and I forgot to take the shaving cream out of my suitcase. Low fare airline means no seat back pockets and no free food. It was a quick two hour flight, and Marzena was able to sit next to me. Elena was in the back.
We arrived around 11:00, went through customs ( I got my first stamp after the border guard studied my passport very carefully.) and with Marzenas help found a great driver to take us to the apartment in Sopot where the rest of them were waiting with wine and tales of their adventures! Marzena was so excited to speak in Polish that she chatted with the driver the whole way.
The apartments were perfect! Two four bedroom apartments connected with a common entryway. We heard all about their day..... They did a lot of walking, drinking and eating!
Saturday, we had arranged for Chris (our driver) 
to pick us up and drive around Gdansk, to be picked up at 10:30. I was up way too early considering there were no kids! But it worked out because Jane, Marzena Elena and I went out and got some food for breakfast: tomatoes, bread, butter, cheese, ham and fruit. 
The shop owner was so thankful when Marzena started speaking to her in Polish! The bread was Amazing!!! It was brown bread with seeds and it was so delicious, especially with tomatoes and herbed cheese.
Chris arrived to pick us up at 10:30 and we were off to explore Gdansk. 
Our first stop was a beautiful church and we were lucky enough to arrive just in time for an organ concert. Yvona said it was the biggest organ in Europe!
Next stop was the Solidarity museum, 
which documented the solidarity movement in Poland in he 1970s and 1980s. It was really well done; we didn't really have enough time to see the museum to its fullest, but I had no idea of what the Polish people endured to become a democracy. 
And hearing Yvona talk about standing in line for hours at the grocery to get just butter was sobering.
Then Chris drove us into Gdansk, and showed us a wonderful restaurant for lunch. 
We sat at a table that was a favorite of Len walesa, who was the leader of the solidarity movement. The food was so yummy!!! The special was cabbage soup, meatballs, potatoes, carrots and cabbage. Dessert was compote, which was like a raspberry smoothie. 
We were all stuffed, but happily stuffed!!
Next stop was a church that has a staircase that you can climb to the to for amazing views of the city. Wieza Mariacka in the Mariacki Church. 
Yvona said "only 200 or 300 steps," which in reality was 400 steps!!! The strangest part was when we could see the domed top of the church, and it looked like we really shouldn't be there, but it was worth the climb because the view from the top was amazing. And thankfully, there was a different staircase for going down.
We did some more exploring around Gdansk, and found this little candy store where we got some candy for the kids. It was a cool place, and there were kids behind the counter making candy! We also went into a shop selling Amber. The Baltic Sea Amber is very well-known in Poland, so it just wouldn't have been right to come home without some Amber! And they even gave us a bulk discount. There are so many different colors and shapes of the Amber jewelry, it was hard to decide.
Last stop in Gdansk was the patio of an Italian restaurant for some dessert, Prosecco and coffee. It was the perfect temperature and we were sitting in the sun and watching all the people walk by. The architecture is very unique and the buildings are all very colorful.
Chris drove us back to the apartment and we got ready for dinner and went to the hotel and restaurant where Yvona and Marek met, Irena. Their old friend, Derek, took great care of us. I tried the famous Zabrovka vodka and apple juice, which was good but a little too sweet to drink more than one. Derek brought us some perogi appetizers, as well as beef tartare, which I tried for the first time. 
I was hesitant after seeing them mix a raw egg into the raw beef; but I was glad I tried, it was not bad. I also tried the duck, which was amazing!! Then Derek brought us some shots: wsciekxe psy (crazy dog), which is raspberry syrup, Tabasco and vodka representing the Polish flag. 
It was very good.
Last stop for the night: the disco. 
What a fabulous way to end the night!!!! I felt like I was back in America! They playef almost 100% English music, pop songs, classic rock, and even "sweet home Alabama." It was so, do, so much fun to dance!! And the greatest part was that all of us enjoy dancing.... I was impressed by the moves of the girls! We didn't go to bed until 3 AM!
We slept in pretty late and once we were all ready, we headed for the beach in Sopot. We walked down the beach amd Elena and I were finally able to put our toes in the Baltic Sea (we had been anxiously anticipating!!). 
It was cold, but they said not as cold as Friday. We had lunch an amazing, very popular is restaurant, Bar Przystan. The girls had fish soup that was amazing, and it was the perfect spot right on the beach. Yvonas sister Magda and her son and husband met us for a bit.
We asked a lady to take our picture, and she said "I think I took your picture yesterday," and as she was taking the photo, we all said "Czech!" And she smiled and said "yes, I definitely did!" We are famous!!!
Debbie went for a spa treatment at the Mera Spa and Hotel, so while she was being pampered, the rest of us enjoyed a bottle of Prosecco on the beautiful lawn of the hotel. 
The best part was when 2 waiters brought us the bottle! 
One carried the ice bucket while the other carried the glasses and bottle, both wearing their long black aprons. Yvona disappeared for a bit, but Tatiana and Marzena discovered he in the bathroom using the hotels free "wee-fee."
We took a stroll down to the end of the pier, where we took in a beautiful view of the Grand Hotel, as well as a pirate ship the journeys out onto the sea for a pirate adventure.
Our last dinner as a party of 8 was at a French/polish restaurant, which was very beautiful! 
The gave us our own room on the second floor of the restaurant ( I guess they thought we were going to be a little rowdy!). The food was pretty good, and we got pate as our starter, compliments of the chef. It was a nice dinner to end our fun times!!
Tatiana, Faye and Debbie flew out pretty early Monday morning, while the remaining 5 of us were able to enjoy one last day in Sopot, and we decided to pamper ourselves at the spa as well. We met one of Yvona's friends for a breakfast pastry and then we were off to relax! 
The spa was amazing and the massage was a perfect ending to the weekend. After the massage, we got to sit in the "relaxation room," which is a room on the second floor, just windows, 
overlooking the sea. So relaxing! We decided to go up on the rooftop terrace to check it out. All we could say was "WOW!!!!!!!!" 
The most breathtaking view of the Baltic Sea, as well as an infinity pool. If only we had just a couple more hours......
We grabbed our last meal at the blue poodle, the oldest pub in Sopot. 
I had delicious beetroot soup, as well as periogi (Jane and I split two different kinds). And although I was stuffed, I had to end the meal with a gofry(waffle) topped with toffee syrup. Yum!!! We walked down to the Grand hotel and went inside just to say we did it.
It was a long journey home! I think I stepped through my front door at 2 AM!! I am so thankful for the friendships that were deepened on this trip, as well as the opportunity to see a place I didn't know much about and try new food. So thank you, Yvona for taking us to your hometown and thank you to the rest of you for including me in your travels!!! Can't wait for out next trip.
And of course, thank you to Brad for taking care of the kids so I could get away for a few days!!
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