The Dar Pomorza: a Legendary Polish Sailing Ship

The "Dar Pomorza" (Gift of Pomerania) is a Polish three-masted sailing ship stationed at the Kościuszki Square in Gdynia. She was built in 1909 in Hamburg as a training ship for the German merchant maritime school. After the First World War the ship was taken by the French to Saint Nazaire. Here she stayed a few years but plans to use the ship were never fulfilled.

In 1929 the ship was bought by the Pomeranian National Fleet Committee and brought to Gdynia in Poland in June 1930. Here she was given to the State Maritime School in Gdynia and became a training ship for the next 51 years. On the 15 September 1981 the "Dar Pomorza" undertook her last voyage to the Finnish harbour of Kotka. On 4 August 1982 she was decommissioned and replaced by the "Dar Młodzieży" as a training ship. Since that time the "Dar Pomorza" is part of the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk and now is a museum ship.

Location: al. Jana Pawła II, 81-345 Gdynia, Poland.

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Gdynia Aquarium in Poland

The aquarium in Gdynia at the Baltic Coast is one of the largest in Poland. Divided over 3 floors, you can find here more than 1500 live organisms from about 250 species. These species come from four major biotopes in the world: coral reefs, ocean tides, dense rainforests of the Amazon and the Baltic Sea.

Location: al. Jana Pawła II 1, 81-345 Gdynia, Poland.

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Sopot's Pier: the Longest Wooden Pier in Europe

Sopot's pier dates back to 1827 and was built by dr George Haffner. He was a doctor in Napoleon's army and founder of the first spa in Sopot. The original pier was 31.5 m, it's present shape was given in 1928 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Pier. It now stretches 511.5 m into the sea, which makes it the longest wooden pier in Europe.

Since 2011 a marina is operating at the pier's head, this can accomodate 100 boats. You can also find a restaurant here and it is a starting point for boat trips. You can chose to take a cruise on a pirate ship, take a banana boat or rent jetski's. It's also possible to take the water tram to Hel and Gdansk from here.

If you wish to walk on the pier you have to pay a small admission fee, this is used for the maintenance of the structure.

Location: Plac Zdrojowy 2, 81-723 Sopot, Poland.

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Shopping in the Crooked House in Sopot, Poland

The Crooked House (Krzywy Domek) is the most popular and most photographed landmark in Sopot, Poland. This famous building from 2004 is part of the Rezydent shopping center which is 4000 m2 big. Krzywy Domek was designed by Polish architects Szotyńscy & Zaleski and was inspired by the fairytale illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer and drawings of Sopot resident Per Dahlberg.

Location: Bohaterów Monte Cassino 53, 81-767 Sopot, Poland.

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Tarzan en Jane: the Largest Indoor Playground of the Benelux

Tarzan en Jane is a new indoor playground situated in Heusden-Zolder in Belgium, it claims to be the largest indoor playground of the Benelux. With a surface of over 4000m², the playground is a guaranteed success for all childeren from 2 to 12. Attractions they can find here are a toboggan run and snowglider, a gameroom, glow in the dark mini golf, laser shooting, trampolines, bouncing castles and an obstacle course.

Besides having an indoor playground, Tarzan and Jane has an outdoor playground as well which is included in the entrance fee. Outside you can also find an adventure mine golf and a footgolf course.

Location: M. Scheperslaan 183, 3550 Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.

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Fort Claudia, Part of Burgenwelt Ehrenberg

Fort Claudia lies on a opposing mountain of Ehrenberg Castle, it was once used for the recapturing of the castle. The fort was built from 1639 to 1645 and named after Claudia de Medici, the Archduchess of Tyrol. It was closed down in 1782 after the fort was taken by the Bavarians and was left uninhabited from that time.

If you wish to visit Fort Claudia you can use Highline 179 from the Ehrenberg Castle ruins or use a hiking trail from Heiterwang leading to the fort.

Location: (from Highline 179) Klause 1, 6600 Reutte, Austria.

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