The Camp and Alexander groups combined for the traditional post Christmas foray into eastern Europe. This year, we set off to Gdansk to give talks and meet new contacts at the University of Gdansk Chemistry Department. Below is a day by day account of this trip (as far as I can remember...)
Day 1: 06/01/14:
Philip Camp, Andy Alexander, Martin Ward, Josh B.-Shaw, Michael Doig, and Julien Sindt met at Edinburgh airport in the early afternoon. We got on the plane and arrived in Gdansk at 8 pm local time. We checked into our hotel (the luxurious summer beach resort Hotel Orbis Posejdon) where we met up with Alisdair Mackenzie. We had, of course, forgotten to take into account the fact that a) we would be arriving late; and, b) that the 6th is the Epiphany. All restaurants within easily reachable distance were closed. Thankfully, the receptionist at the hotel provided us with a pizzeria takeaway menu. 3-4 50cm monster pizzas (and a few drinks) later, we had made it through day 1.
Day 2: 07/01/14:
The morning was spent discovering what was around our hotel (the Baltic Sea, stores that sold very good croissants for breakfast, etc.). In the afternoon, the group visited the centre of Gdansk. Inevitably, we ended up in an old Eastern Block style bar. They sold a fantastic lemon vodka, and all drinks were at the hardly manageable price of 4 zloty. We then tried the only Scottish pub in Gdansk. A good day all around.
Day 3: 08/01/14:
Showtime! After rising early, we managed to get to the University of Gdansk on time for our talks. There we met Jerzy Ciarkowski, who introduced us to the Theoretical Chemistry group of the University of Gdansk. In a break of tradition, everyone was able to give their talks without problems or complications due to illness. Afterwards, we were able to meet and discuss research with the theoretical chemists over a quick lunch. The group headed off to visit Sopot before reconvening with some members of U. Gdansk for a few drinks. We got back to the hotel quite late and our lives were once again saved by the procurement of 50cm pizzas.
Day 4: 09/01/14:
The group split up and different elements visited different parts of the local region. Some of us visited the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers of 1970 at the old Gdansk shipyards, while a delegation went to visit Malbork castle (~50 mins south of Gdansk). There are rumours to suggest that some of the group even braved the breezy winter Baltic Sea. The group reconvened and went to a very nice pierogi restaurant.
Day 5: 10/01/14:
After a minor incident where one of our members locked out his room mate from the hotel bedroom and nearly took the key to the room with him back to Edinburgh, we were able to check out of the hotel. We headed off to Galeria Baltycka to purchase some local souvenirs (see attached photo). We got on the plane and made it back to Edinburgh with no problems. A very productive trip!
