Gdansk - Entrance to the ship yard where the Solidarity Movement started.

Gdansk - This is the Russian Federation Consulate in Gdansk where I hope to negotiate a visa to visit Kaliningrad. The Tuesday noon when I first checked, someone assigned to speak English informed me I'd need to return the next day between 8AM and noon to discuss a transit visa. The squawk box initially had someone answer in a Russian language.

Gdansk - This is the street on which the Russian Federation Consulate in Gdansk is located.

Gdansk - Manhattan Shopping Center is a landmark for finding the Russian Federation Consulate located a couple streets directly south of the shopping center.

Gdansk - This old building houses the travel agent's basement office where I obtained the Kaliningrad hotel invitation required by the Russian Federation visa application process.

Gdansk - This dark creaking door leads down into the dudgeon and the travel agent's basement office where I obtained the Kaliningrad hotel invitation required by the Russian Federation visa application process. Spooky.

Gdansk - One of the first old buildings I saw on my initial exploration of the "old town" area turned out to be the Congregational St Catherine’s Church with its magnificent 49 bell carillon.

Gdansk - One of the first old buildings I saw on my initial exploration of the "old town" area turned out to be the Congregational St Catherine’s Church with its magnificent 49 bell carillon.

Gdansk - Street sign pointing the way to various sites in Old Town.

 
Gdansk - Silhouette of the first old building I saw on my initial exploration of the "old town" area turned out to be the Congregational St Catherine’s Church with its magnificent 49 bell carillon.

Gdansk - This is a close-up of the English language plaque of the five in the display at the Solidarity Monument park.

Gdansk - Sign at the Roads to Freedom museum.

Gdansk - Entrance to the Roads to Freedom museum.

Gdansk - Graffiti on a wall in the Roads to Freedom museum.

Gdansk - Another shot from a different angle of the Solidarity Monument.

Gdansk - Elaborately decorated wooden door.

Gdansk - Antiwar sculpture located on a side street down near the Hilton Hotel.

Gdansk - Statue of a warrior near some university buildings.

Gdansk - Close-up of a statue of a warrior near some university buildings.

Gdansk - Signs pointing the way to sites of interest to tourists.

Gdansk - Signs pointing the way to sites of interest to tourists.

Gdansk - Signs pointing the way to sites of interest to tourists.

Gdansk - Interesting building seen in Old Town.

Gdansk - Interesting building seen in Old Town.

Gdansk - This painting of the constellations covers one entire wall of a building near the statue of Jan Heweliusz.

Gdansk - Close-up of the five small plaques in the foreground of the major Solidarity Movement monument.

Gdansk - Part of the lavish breakfast buffet in the 4 star Hotel Mercure where I stayed.

Gdansk - Part of the lavish breakfast buffet in the 4 star Hotel Mercure.

Gdansk - Some of the purple lobby furniture in the Hotel Mercure.

Gdansk - One of the views from my tenth floor room in the Hotel Mercure.

Gdansk - Another of the views from my tenth floor room in the Hotel Mercure.

Gdansk - Shopping center is located conveniently across the street from the Hotel Mercure.

Gdansk - From the fourth floor I got this shot of the several story high water wheel kinetic sculpture inside the atrium of the shopping center across from the Mercure Hotel.

Gdansk - I admired this several story high water wheel kinetic sculpture inside the atrium of the shopping center across from the Mercure Hotel.

Gdansk - This is my room in the 4 star Hotel Mercure where I stayed for several nights while investigating travel requirements into Kaliningrad... after negotiating a discount rate of 285 Zloty per night including breakfast. I found the tasteful brown and purple color combination used in the decorations exceedingly pleasant.

Gdansk - This is the work area in my room at the 4 star Hotel Mercure where I stayed for several nights while investigating travel requirements into Kaliningrad. With strong and reliable Internet I found working here a pleasure. In addition to the WiFi the desk area also had an Ethernet outlet to hard wired Internet access.

Gdansk - Part of the view from the window in my tenth floor room at the Hotel Mercure where I stayed for several nights.

Gdansk - Massive stone sculpture near the Hilton Hotel.

Gdansk - Massive stone sculpture near the Hilton Hotel.

Gdansk - Notice the four lion sculptures at the end of the street here in Old Town.

Gdansk - Bell tower on St. Catherine's Church where the 49 bell carillon is played every hour.

Gdansk - Bell tower on St. Catherine's Church where the 49 bell carillon is played every hour.

Gdansk - Sign identifying the Jacek Tower.

Gdansk - This is the Jacek Tower in Old Town.

Gdansk - Another shot of the Jacek Tower in Old Town.

Gdansk - Coin activation for innovative pay toilets located all over town; drop a two Zloty coin into the slot and do your thing.

Gdansk - One of four lion sculptures in a plaza in Old Town.

Gdansk - Statue near what appears to be a university. Jan Heweliusz was a Polish astronomer made famous by his studies of lunar topography.

Gdansk - Statue near what appears to be a university. Jan Heweliusz was a Polish astronomer made famous by his studies of lunar topography.

Gdansk - Sign on the wall behind the attendant in English reads: "The fee for using the restroom is 1 Euro paid in advance. Thank you very much." That would be about 4 Zloty. The sign in Polish asks for 2.50 Zloty! This is the restroom Mac Donald's customers are directed to use! ... and it is not free. Wonder if Corporate knows?

Gdansk - This is the travel agent who handled my Russian visa application paperwork... after his petite assistant quizzed me, giggling at both the questions and my answers, obviously aware how silly the whole process must seem to an American. Her charming English and efficient data entry skills impressed me pleasantly. I tried to photograph both her and the boss surreptitiously, but my awkward framing attempt missed the young miss entirely.

Gdansk - Another view of the triple crucifix monument commemorating the Solidarity Movement with five small plaques in the foreground.