Gdansk Poland

THERE WAS A MUTINY ON THE BUS! Had a very exciting day as an escort in Gdansk, Poland. We arrived a little bit late into port and there was a crush of people trying to get off the ship to get on with their tours. Little did everyone know that there would be a mad crush to get back to the ship.

My tour started with 32 people. We went to the Solidarity Museum, which detailed the struggle for democracy and the overthrow of Soviet rule. It was down a few flights of stairs from street level into what was an old bunker. The elderly and handicapped folks had a hard time and started complaining right away. The museum was very depressing and the guide was barely understandable because he didn’t make sense a lot of the time and his accent was pretty thick. As we were in one room listening to him and watching a video, another group comes in and their guide started talking right over ours and muscled her group in front of ours. Boy, the complaints from my ducklings really started. We finally got everyone up the stairs and into the bus and a bunch of them wanted to go back to the ship. Well, that wasn’t going to happen as this was just the beginning of a 5 hour tour.

We reached a dreary street near the old town. The guide said we had 2 ½ hours on our own. We were on a tour with a guide and he is just going to let us off the bus and tells us to come back at the appointed time ---- I don’t think so!!! He never said what we would see and do, and even where we were to go. That’s when the mutiny started. Someone yelled, “Where’s the shuttle back to the ship?” and they all looked at me for the answer. Now, I don’t have a clue but I certainly know how to find out – “Who has the map?” I ask. Someone gives a copy to me and I consult with the guide and driver to determine that the shuttle location was nearby. I tell everyone to sit down and wait while I figure this all out. Now I am responsible for this group of 32 and I cannot afford to lose someone. After some fast thinking, I ask how many want to go back to the ship and 15 decided to leave. That’s almost half my group!!!! So they leave with directions to the shuttle stop.

Now the rest are unsure about what they want to do, but they know for sure that they do not want to spend 2 ½ hours walking around. That’s when I started the negotiations. I TOLD the guide he will accompany us on the walking tour and guide us and that we would only stay for 1 ½ hours. He said no. I reemphasized my stand and again told him that was the way it was going to be. Period, end of story. He said he would have to call his dispatcher and get permission to do so. OK, so we waited while he did and I heard him say my name on the phone (I can imagine what he said!). So off we went and were treated to an incredible sight.

Gkansk is a medieval city, and like all cites of that era, was walled and had gates. We walked through the Green Gate and there before us lay an enormously wide cobbled stone pedestrian street that had to have been at least a mile long, with buildings on both sides. The entire city was destroyed during WWII, but the old town has been rebuilt to look like it did in medieval times. I can’t even begin to describe this sight. Building after building, abutting each other, in various colors and ornate exteriors were like an old painting. There were lots of restaurants with outdoor seating and shops selling amber. We also visited St. Mary’s church, which was built in the 1300s. It’s a shame that the 15 people missed this sight. On the way back to the ship, the people on the bus gave me a round of applause for taking care of business.

Michael went on a tour that included a water smithy. His group didn’t fare any better than mine. The smithy tour was a total zero because it was “broken,” so they really didn’t get to see it in action. He also had mass defections. Found out there were mass defections on other tours. Unlike Berlin, which was so perfect, I think the people in this part of the world have a lot to learn about tourism.

We’re off to Lithuania tomorrow where we both have escort duty again. Hope tomorrow goes better!