Well might the Prime Minster of Poland Mr. Donald Tusk warn Europe today in Gdansk against 'naive optimism' when considering the inflammable situation in Ukraine. Poland has much to remember and betrayals aplenty.
As a small gesture of solidarity I thought I might post a small extract from my book on Poland concerning my own visit to historic Gdansk many years ago - a foreign traveller's view.
The scream of seagulls
next to my ear woke me from a deep sleep like an attempted murder. I sat up
violently and struck my head on the low attic ceiling. As Gdańsk is situated on the Amber Road, I thought it appropriate to
stay at the Hotel Jantar (AmberHotel)
on the Długi Targ (Long Market) among
the magnificently restored Renaissance and Baroque burgher houses. Exuberant
strapwork, scrolls, swags of fruit, antelopes and bears in flight, drums and
cannon and scenes of classical combat fight for space with portraits of
Shakespeare. The gulls swept raucously away from their perch towar…
