From Gdansk to Oliwski Park, the Fun at the Railway Station and the Delicious Dumplings

I have already written a blog on how I ended up in being Gdansk for the weekend and all the places that I visited on my first day in Gdansk. So on my second day which was a Sunday in fact, I decided to go to Oliwa. It is one of the quarters of Gdansk and is bordered by Sopot in the north which is another famous destination, specially people who visit Gdansk, quite often go and spend some time in Sopot. I however went to Oliwa which was just 10 minutes by train from Gdansk Main Train Station.

Hostel to Gdanks Glowny

So let’s start from the beginning how my Sunday started.  So I was staying in this cool hostel called “Hostel4u”.  Amazingly I came to know that the breakfast was included in the 7 Euros I had paid. I was surprised and happy. So I went to the kitchen, there were toast breads, coffee, tea, jams, cheese, some cereals and also some kind of salamis and hams. I enjoyed my free breakfast. It was still early and I thought that I would get free from Oliwa not so late whereas my bus back to Lodz war around & in the evening. I knew it would get colder and I didn’t want to shiver outside so while handing my keys back I asked the guy there that just in case I find nothing to do, can I come back and stay in the common area for a while in the evening. I told you before that he was a nice guy so he said with a smile that I can stay there as long as I want.

So I went to this beautiful station Gdansk Glowny. I again came across that problem of finding the Zebra Crossing. I think in my entire life, I have never broken as much signals and traffic rules as I did in Gdansk. I was ending up in crossing the roads at random points but I was forced to do so and luckily I didn’t encounter any traffic warden. The station has a nice apparently old building, completely different from the one we have in Lodz.

The Maze Trials at Gdansk Glowny

Buying the ticket was easy. I just paid 2 PLN. And then started the maze trials. I had to find the platform. The lady from whom I had bought the ticket told me to get my train from platform no 3.

But where was platform no. 3. I could just see 1 and 2. Luckily my ticket was valid for all day. I don’t how many times I went here and there. I found another group of young travellers who were staying with me at the same hostel. I approached them for help but they were suffering from the same problem, they were going to Sopot and also struggling to find the right platform. I then approached another guy who was probably Polish. He was way too helping, he told me that going by tram is better, even though he had seen that I already have my ticket. Anyhow I got convinced as it was just 2 zloty. So I didn’t know where to get the tram from and he was nice enough to walk along till the tram station which was in fact just in front of the Train Station. He then showed me a machine where I could get my ticket from and left. So the machine was available in English however there were different terms used for the tickets and I couldn’t figure out which one I had to use.

I ended up in going back to the lady who issued the ticket and asked here where the platform no. 3 was. So yes it was somehow in a strange location, or perhaps the route to the platform was quite strange. Anyhow I finally reached the platform no. 3. I just wanted to confirm that I was taking the train from the right direction and asked a girl there. She showed me the right direction and then we were just waiting for the train. She then came to me again and said that she has never seen anyone travelling with that train to Oliwa and I was at the wrong station. I told her that I heard very clearly the women inside telling me to go to platform no.  3. However, that girl claimed that she was from Gdansk and very sure about it. She herself took me to platform 4 and even showed a timetable there according to which she was right. I had to make a choice there regarding who to trust and I trusted her. Well I waited for the train and when it arrived, before getting on I had to show my ticket to the checker, and he said that it was not the right ticket for that train as it was intercity.

So guess what, I had to take my train from platform 3 actually. I analyzed my ticket and it became quite obvious. So I went back there and again waited for the train. So that 10 minutes were long gone.  And this is how I spent may be an hour or more than that just in the station.

So the conclusion is that too much help can also be dangerous. Like I am really thankful and happy that those people helped me, of course they were just trying to help with good intentions and I have my deepest regard for them.

Park Oliwski

Everything is fine as long as I managed to reach Oliwa. Actually I went there just to see the Oliwski Park as some people consider it to be one of the best parks in northern Poland and it really was. The sun was also cooperating and I absolutely enjoyed walking and taking pictures in that park.

This is one of the most beautiful photographs I have ever taken, trust me it’s without any filters and taken with the normal phone’s camera.

The scene was so eye pleasing that I sat there for a while even though it was colder near the water. I enjoyed eating my cupcake which I had bought from Lidl earlier.

And the Delicious Dumplings

It was already around 3, and I decided to eat something good there and found a very famous restaurant closer by. The name is “Dumpling Mandu Gdansk Oliwa” or in Polish “Pierogarnia Mandu”. I went inside and it was super crowded. There was already a queue of people waiting to get a table. One of the ladies inside welcomed me with an energetic smile and told me that there are already 10 people in the waiting list, and asked if I still want to eat. I was even more curious to taste their food seeing the crowd. Also it was warm inside; I had time till my bus so I said Yes! I observed the interior. It was interesting to see that they had a play area for kids with toys. Like in fast food restaurants, it is something common now but I have never seen that in traditional restaurants before. It was interesting to note that all the staff there consisted of women. I am not an extreme feminist but I liked that.  

Anyhow I kept waiting, listened to songs, talked to a friend and then finally I got a table. I think I waited for some 30 minutes. They had a big big menu: from traditional dumplings to new mixtures. I opted for one with cod fish, carrots and some other vegetables. I was told that it would take some 20 -45 minutes. But I was seated now and I still had time. They had these candles on the table which apart from the decoration could be used to warm your hands, and also for photography purposes.

I think my dumplings were ready in less than 20 minutes and they were really delicious. They came and kept asking if everything was fine. And I understood well why it was so famous. Reasonable prices, great taste, great interior and amazing staff.

The End

I then took a train back to Gdansk Glowny. The bus station was nearby. I again struggled with finding the platform but I figured it out myself. Just to mention the bus station was very creepy and somehow scary.

 My bus was on time and that’s how my stay in Gdansk came to end. It was my first solo trip in Poland and it couldn’t get any better.

Photo gallery