Getting all giddy in Gdynia

From Warsaw, I took an 11h30 bus to Gdansk via Polski bus. I got there 30 minutes in advance, enough time to discover the way to the platform, know which platform I had to wait, and to buy a sandwich I will later eat during the ride. At platform one (labeled Peron 1), the bus came a few minutes before the scheduled departure. I lined up, entered the bus, showed my ticket and climbed up the double-decker finding an available seat. I was not sure if there were assigned seats since my ticket was in Polish. I went to ask the first person I saw, a man who was just about to settle in his chosen seat. He affirmed that we can choose whichever seat we desired. Having people already waiting behind me, I chose to seat on the empty slot in front of me, even if I would have preferred to be seated near the toilet or the bigger space right behind the steps. Immediately, the guy who kindly answered my question asked me where I was from. Small talks and exchanges between two strangers. I then noticed how good looking he was and the fact the he speaks English fairly well. The exchange was cut short because he needed to make a phone call. He politely told me he needed to make a call and I begin to settle on my seat.

It was a 4 ½ hour drive. The view wasn’t spectacular. All I could see was construction, forests and a few houses. So I decided to grab my laptop from my bag and continue my post about my Warsaw weekend. As if we were in the middle of a conversation, the guy behind me asked why I chose to visit Poland. He was speaking really loudly that I got a little bit conscious. We continued talking for about an hour. I sensed he was feeling a little bit tired and honestly, we were running out of topics to talk about. I said I didn’t mind if he wanted to sleep. I was not trying to push him away, I just feel uneasy with awkward silence. And just like that, we were half way our land trip to Gdansk. I decided to take a nap, too.

I woke up from my light nap a few minutes before exiting the expressway, making our way to Gdansk. First impression of the city: completely different from Warsaw. I can feel the communist past of the country in this side of the territory. There were old buildings and constructions everywhere. Kind of a nostalgic feel.

I got off at the main bus station at Gdansk. In order to meet my friend Jan in Gdynia, I needed to catch the next intercity train from Gdansk Glowy station, which was across the bus station. I took the underpass where I also got my ticket. I had a minute left before the earliest train departs. I did not want to stress myself out so I took my time and decided to take the next one which leaves after fifteen minutes. I couldn’t figure out if the train would pass by to the stop I needed to go down to. I asked around. I was in the right platform all along.

Half an hour later, I was in Gdynia Orlowo. It was deserted. I started to doubt myself again. Was I in the right stop? Where is everyone? It was around 17h00 and I expected people rushing to go home but there was nobody around! I went down the steps, went straight ahead until the main highway where I was supposed to meet Jan. She wasn’t there yet. I was waiting at the bus stop at Orlowo Kiff but Jan made me advance further to Orlowo.

In no time, I met up with my old pal from my old college. I can’t remember the last time I saw her. It must have been years!

The first thing she showed me was the Baltic Sea from the viewing deck where we sat on a bench and caught up with each other. Later, we moved to the pizzeria up hill and continued to chat. Just before night fall, we got on a bus that would take us to the stop closest to her apartment. A controller dressed in civilian clothes, looking really young checked our tickets. He took a while that we missed our stop! We had to walk back further to get to her apartment.

Jan has a lovely, clean and well-organized pad. I could stay there and I guess she doesn’t mind having someone over. Now whether it be me or someone else, I do not know. Anyway, I was happy to be in a cozy home with a friend after weeks of being alone.

The following day, I went to Gdansk with Jan to try the Free Walking Tour offered by the same organization from Warsaw. More on that on another post!