Hotel Witomino

Keep smiling - you are in Gdynia

by zaffaran

"Gdynia-my town" and "Keep smiling -you are in Gdynia" this is what's written on the boards welcoming visitors on every road leading to Gdynia.
Obviously almost everyone talking about their place says that it's special. But Gdynia really IS special. After regaining its independence in 1918 Poland dramatically nedeed a port so Gdynia, which had been a small fishermen's village was chosen as a perfect location. The town was fully designed and built in the twenties of the 20th century and the port soon became one of the biggest in Europe. Now Gdynia is a nice and friendly town with a population of more than 250000, located on the hills and surrounded by woods.

The beach is quite small and overcrowded in summer , but now looks unbeliveably empty and peaceful, doesn't it? The beach is almost in the city centre and that's why I wouldn't recommend it to sunbathing-lovers. I would rather choose distant beaches in one of the districts called Orlowo , where also perfomances of summer theatre are held in the evenings in July and August.

There are two famous Polish sailing ships- the first one is a museum now but the farther one belongs to Naval Academy whose students are obliged to complete some training in the sea.

http://www.gdynia.pl/

The time stops

by ketsu

It was already in Feb when I was invited to Gdynia. I wasnt quite sure whether to go or not. But when the time come and as I needed a break from daily things I desided I wil go.
I dont regret it at all. I loved it.
I travelled from tallin to Gdynia with stopts in different parts or Latvia and Lithuania. When I arrived to Gdynia I was dead tired. I though I will sleep two of my 1st days there. But arriving to our hotel with a view to the beach and seeing the nature and just feeling the sens of the town I realised sellping is the last thing I will do there.
I was sailing every day. In the harbor there are lots of yachts which you can rent with very reasonable price. And you never know how the weather turns out to be. At least not when I was there. After practising little sailing near harbor we desided to visit some other harbors close by. Sailing like 2 hours away from the harbob the weather turn 180 deg. and it was the worst storm I have ever seen (and I have seen some.) It was pretty scary. But as people from Gdynia have been grown up with sailing I think we werent in real denger at all. If you are beginner you should deffenetly rent yacht with a sailor.
After sailing you can visit many different pubs near the beach. As the town is only 70 years old you will see lots of young people, mostly students. They are very hospitality. If you wane get in to some alternitive pubs you need to mingle with locals. There are different pubs in the cellers of apartment houses which local young people like to visit. But you never notice that kind of places out side. usually there is some quiet music and everyone is just chilling. Dont be surprised if the ask you for water and vodka the same price.
If you are more clubbing person then you dont find any big clubs in Gdynia. The best club in Polan, maybe even in eastern Europe is in Sopot. Its called Viva. The have different music in different leavel, great dj's, best view to the Baltic Sea and lots of more. Dont worry how to get back from Sopot to Gdynia in the mid of night or early morning:) A train runs through night. If you go back to Gdynia early morning then you defenetly have to go back to the beach. You will see how the town weaks up. It amazing.
After tiering night its the best to chill at the beach and play some volley.

Just enjoy the time in Gdynia. Dont try to find big philosophy thre. Relax, take it easy and you dont wane leave.

I wane thank all the people who I met in Gdynia and who gave me unforgettable holiday.