Świnoujście

 A trip between the borders

My first excursion to the Baltic Sea with my polish friend was a very pleasant experience and because of that I wanted to go back again in the area. It was the beginning of the new year, January, and almost everybody was out of town due to the Christmas holiday and vacation. I could not find any students or Erasmus people to came along with my on this small journey. I started to get bored in Szczecin and I needed some time away in a different place. I decided that going to the sea again would be a very good choice taking in consideration the fact that I couldn’t imagine when in my life I will get the opportunity to be so closer to the sea.

Another friend of mine from the university told me about an interesting spot located at the Baltic Sea where I could stand between the borders of Poland and Germany. I thought that it would be so cool and unique to go there and this is what I did.

Being a solo traveller 

The fact of travelling alone gave me a bit of anxiety. To conquer the feeling I had to make a deeper research and documentation about the configuration of the place I was going to, the trains, the ferry that I had to take to reach the city and others. Somehow, I had confidence within me to travel solo due to the experience that I had when coming to Szczecin, namely, my alone journey from Bucharest to Berlin and then Szczecin.

The bad thoughts about what could get wrong flew away quickly when I started the journey with the train. I had almost all I needed with me: the phone was charged and the Internet was working so I could use Google Maps to go around, the food and drinks were present in my backpack, the camera was ready to capture beautiful pictures of the sea’s landscape and the winter clothes and shoes were on me as well as my wallet with documents and money.

Back in Romania, my friends and family got announced about my second trip to the Baltic Sea. As a side note here, I recommend the persons who are travelling solo to talk with their closest friends or relatives about where they will go to and do and if something badly is happening to the solo traveler, there will be information that could help in such situations.

An early start is the perfect start 

My second journey to the Baltic Sea began early in the morning with a nice sunrise walk from the place where I was living to the Main Railway Stationin Szczecin located on Marynarska street.

The day seemed to be sunny and good for travelling outside. I was kind of nervous to get my train ticket because I knew from the last time that the station’s employees are not that good english speakers, but somehow everything went pretty well and I got my ticket that would take me to Świnoujście. Between Szczecin and Świnoujście there were circa 110 kilometers and the train journey lasted for about 2 hours. The ticket cost 17,50 zlotyes ( about 4 euros ), a low price in my opinion. 

About the city situated between the borders, where is located?

Świnoujście is positioned in the extreme north west of Poland being situated manly on two islands, Usedom and Wolin separated by the river Świna. The city has also smaller islands. The area is included in the region of Pomerania, but the city was once a part of Germany that was given to Poland after the german defeat at the end of the World War II.

What appeared very interesting to me is the fact that the seaport and resort, Świnoujście, was directly bordered with Germany by a beach promenade which meant that I could go to the other country freely without having to take a different train, bus or any transportation, just by my own feet and without facing any land border controls.

Taking a ferry to cross the river Świna

After watching again the beautiful forests from the train’s windows, I arrived to the Świnoujście’s train station. I used the Google Maps to get around the zone where the train left me. Soon, I was in front of the large blue river on which there were so many huge various boats. I knew since before that in order to cross the river and go to the sea I had to take a ferry, but I didn’t acknowledge exactly from where to pop on the boat. So, I followed some people who seemed to go in the right direction and this is how I found the magical ferry.

Because the city is situated on both banks of the river Świna and there are no other road connections across it, the necessary transport between the two parts it is provided by regular ferries. The service is also free of charge and can be used by cars or by simple pedestrians, which I thought it was very helpful and cool.

The ferry ride was an awesome activity that offered me the nicest specific landscapes of the northern city located on the waters. I have travelled with the ferry before, but that was the first when I was on just as a pedestrian.

I could admire the surrounding very well and feel the smell of the sea and river’s water. It was cold and windy in that winter day, but the sun was shining creating a perfect day for exploring and wondering the strange new places I was about to encounter. To stand on the tip of the tank felt so freely and genuinely. I enjoyed what I was living so much and got thankful for the one in a life time occasion to be involved in such wonderful things.

The city of Świnoujście and it's wide beaches 

I reached the other bank of the river in about 10 to 15 minutes and started walking on the streets with the aim of touching the shores of The Baltic Sea, but until arriving at my destination I passed by a nice wide spread public park and street with beautifully designed houses. Because of that, I didn’t rushed to get to the beach, instead I walked slowly and kept looking on the left and on the right to the present buildings and  arrangements.

Closer to the beach there were many modern hotels probably used by people mostly in the summer time since the city is a well known and much visited resort for polish and german people.

I found the way to the sea quickly because I followed again the humans who seemed to go to the same and right direction. Even if it was a winter day still there were more then a few visitors who wanted to rejoice by the beach.

An appearance that I really liked and appreciate about the shore of The Baltic Sea was the wideness of the beach as well as the natural and raw maintenance of the areas surrounding the sea. There were none constructions on the beach or near it. The space where people could stroll on was large, spread and clear.

On the surface of the water there were many sea birds which were consistently coming near the shore because the people were feeding them. The children were happy and excited to see the birds closely.

The landscape with the Baltic Sea’s waves, sand and birds was simple, but relaxing for my eyes and mind. I took photos and then sat down on a bench to catch deep breaths of the fresh salty air and eat something that I brought with me from home. I couldn’t stay in one place for too long because I would get cold, so after having a quick rest I departure back to the city to find the promenade that would get me to border with Germany.

The connecting promenade between Poland and Germany 

I don’t remember exactly how I discovered the right path, but it was important that I did. At first I was walking on a large pedestrian boulevard like street on which I noticed a few interesting sculptures and I went to take a closer look at it if I still had enough time on my hand.

On one hand, the first artwork was made out of layers of green transparent glass that had an attractive playful texture. The site’s composition consisted in a few different pieces like this and gave me the impression of glaciers and, on the other hand, the second sculpture was shaped into a tall nest like form made out of curved metallic pipes.

As I was getting closer and closer to it, I started hearing voices of birds. I was kind of confused, but then I realized that the birds were singing from the inside of the sculpture and I thought that was so awesome. The meaning of the work got completed or changed by the birds. I didn’t knew if the aim of the artist was to create the expression of a bird’s nest, but I definitely imagined and thought about that symbol.

An act that I didn’t liked was probably done by the humans who didn’t understood the singularity of the work and put locks on some of the pipes. People, this is not a bridge!

Actually, now I consider this sculpture as being one of my favorite outdoor public artwork and the image of it comes from time to time in my head remembering me about the beautiful metaphor of a bird's nest. 

Going between the borders

Anyway, seeing the sculptures there got me even more happier that I was. I continued my way through the border and at same point there were no houses on the street and I entered a forest. I was the only person who was walking on this road because the other people passing me were either driving a car or riding a bike. Google Maps told me that I was heading in the right direction, so I kept going on that strange lonely street until some clues showed up confirming me the fact that I was getting to the wanted spot.

Yes, there was the monument representing the meeting of the two countries: one second ago I was in Poland and the next one in Germany. Of course, I did the pose when I sat with one foot in Poland and the other in Germany. It was very funny and enjoyable to be in this common space. I played for some time here like a child, going back and forward the border.

Back to the sea

When I got bored, I followed the wooden path to the beach and decided to walk my way back not on the road, but tracking the sea’s shore. Indeed, the option of strolling by the sea was much more pleasant. Again, I felt in loved with the landscape and put myself into a state of appreciation thinking about how lucky I was to be able to travel in such lovely place.

Usually, I don’t like that much going to the beach especially in the summer time, but experiencing the Baltic Sea in the winter season opened my eyes to the simple but yet so charming feel of the sea.

I walked slowly on the sand stoping from period to period to just admire the view and take photos. I didn't even remarked how the time flew by and I soon found myself in the center of the city from where I begun strolling back to the ferry that I was supossed to take again in order to get to the train station. 

Świnoujście in the night 

In the image above was the location from where I took the ferry over the river. 

The evening came quickly and offered me a different look of Świnoujście. The lights of the big ships were reflecting into the waters of Świna creating a delightful city view. I crossed the river and when I saw some extremly huge ships approaching into the horizon I stayed in place and waited for them to arrive closer so I could watch it better. Those were the biggest and most impressive boats I had seen in my entire life. Once again, I felt so lucky and blessed to be there. 

Even if I wanted to stay more to see the huge boats, I had to get to the station and pop in the train that would drive me back to Szczecin.