Gdansk, Poland: Damp Socks and Pierogi Dreams

okay, so. gdansk. i didn't plan to be here, honestly. my van broke down somewhere near the baltic sea (story for another time, involves a very angry badger and a questionable mechanic) and i ended up stranded in this… surprisingly charming city. i just checked and it’s drizzling sideways, a proper Baltic weep, there right now, hope you like that kind of thing.

I’m operating as a freelance photographer, which means my ‘office’ is wherever the light is decent (which, let’s be real, isn’t often here). I’m mostly shooting street scenes, trying to capture the… the mood. It’s hard to describe. There’s this weight to the air, a history clinging to the brick buildings. It’s not depressing, just… present.

I’ve been crashing at a tiny guesthouse near the *Motława River. The owner, a woman named Zofia, keeps offering me pierogi. Like, constantly. I’ve eaten so many pierogi I think I’m starting to become a pierogi. They’re good, though. Really good. Especially the ones with the sauerkraut and mushrooms.

“Apparently, if you wander down Ulica Mariacka after dark, you’ll hear the ghosts of amber merchants whispering about lost treasures. Don’t ask me how I know. A very drunk gentleman at a pub told me.”

Speaking of pubs, the beer scene here is… solid. Not groundbreaking, but solid. I found a little place called Piwna Street - it’s a maze of bars and restaurants. Check it out on Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/piwna-street-gdansk. Someone told me that the best place to get a lokal beer is at Brovarnia Gdańsk, but I haven’t made it there yet.

I’m trying to be productive, you know? Send out some pitches, edit some photos, maybe even learn a few Polish phrases. But honestly, I’m mostly just wandering around, getting lost, and eating pierogi. It’s… therapeutic, in a weird way.

My neighbors, if you can call them that, are mostly other tourists and locals going about their day. If you get bored, Elbląg and Sopot are just a short train ride away. I’m thinking of taking a day trip to Malbork Castle - apparently, it’s insane. You can find some reviews on TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g296434-d192423-Reviews-Malbork_Castle-Malbork_Pomerania.html.

I overheard a local complaining about the pigeons. Apparently, they’re a major problem. Like, swarms of them. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’m bracing myself.

“Don’t trust anyone who offers you amber jewelry on the street. It’s probably fake. That’s what a very serious-looking woman in a fur coat told me.”

I’m also trying to find some decent vintage shops. I’m always on the lookout for unique pieces. I found a few leads on a local forum: https://www.gdansk1.pl/serwisy/forum/. The weather’s not exactly ideal for hunting, but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

Honestly, Gdansk is… unexpected. It’s not flashy or glamorous, but it has this quiet charm that’s growing on me. Even with the damp socks and the constant pierogi offers. I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be stuck here, but for now, I’m embracing the chaos. And eating all the pierogi. You can also check out some local events on this website: https://www.visitgdansk.com/en/.

Oh, and one more thing: someone warned me about pickpockets near the Golden Gate*. Keep an eye on your belongings.

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