Malbork and Gdansk, Poland

We were up bright and early and after a substantial European breakfast, we checked out and headed to the train station by taxi.  When we arrived, we realized we had 15 minutes before the train left and Lisa didn't want to stand around and so she suggested we go see the 'bubble mall'. It is a big mall, but the roof and down toward the door are constructed of curved glass panels so that the whole building looks like it is made of bubbles.  So we headed next door to see it.  The door was open so we headed right in.  By now it was 7:50 AM and we were promptly thrown out, since they were not yet open.  *sigh*  We went back to the train station and boarded the train. 

The next five hours as we headed north to Malbork, we talked, ate, slept, and read.  It was an enjoyable journey.  Lisa decided to stay on the train and head northward to Gdasnk, (She wanted to get to the grocery store because tomorrow is a holiday and everything is closed.) and so we waved goodbye from the platform as the train continued on.  The three of us took a taxi to Malbork Castle where we spent the next four hours.  We have toured a lot of castles on this trip, and other trips to Europe, but we have never been in a castle where we can walk into so many rooms and up so many stairs. We learned so much about life in the 1300's and upward.   It was fantastic!

Malbork Castle was inhabited by Teutonic Knights.  These knights were an appointed group from the Pope sent to Poland to establish order amount the Prussian tribes of Northern Poland.  They have their roots back to the crusades and Jerusalem.  In Poland they became very powerful and assumed control over the region both politically and religiously.  As time went by and their political might increased they also became a powerful military force that controlled the region.  

This castle was taken over during WWII by the Nazi's.  At the end of the war, as the Nazi's carried off the valuable paintings and other artifacts, it was bombed by Russians and allies because they knew the Germans were there.  It was all very beautiful and very interesting.

We hiked up over 250 stairs for a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside.  

The main gate after the drawbridge.  We had to pass through four or five huge doors to get into the castle

Looking out to the inner courtyard.

View of courtyard from the top of the tower 
David on his way down tower steps

Outside Castle

We had dinner inside the castle and then walked back to the train station.  We decided to take an earlier train and were just a little concerned that they might not be happy about i, since our tickets were for the later one. The train we hopped on was a lot older, and definitely not first class; the conductor probably thought we were crazy for being on that train, and looked at our tickets without comment.  

We are in Gdansk, the last of the day is fading into the night sky.  It is cold out, 45 degrees. Our Europe trip is speedily coming to a close.  Tomorrow we see Gdansk and then we fly out early Saturday morning.

Sent from my iPhone 4S