And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
I was in Gdansk rigging a ship for about six weeks. The city center escaped bombing during the war, and is nicely preserved. There is a stark contrast between the beautiful prewar architecture and the Soviet concrete abominations.
I am not a ocean lover, but "rigging a ship" has piqued an interest in what is involved in that. Can you offer a reference to where I might get some background? Thanks.
We were in Gdańsk on Sept 1, 2021. It is a memory I will have forever. The entire city was festooned in the white and red of the Polish flag. The memory that comes to mind is of the Post Office memorial. On the walls outside of the building, there are several metal handprints, set on the wall, to memorialize the defenders of the post office who were executed against the wall.
In 1938, 98% ethnic German. Today, probably 0%. Losing a war has its consequences. Any ethnic German or, in some cases, even anyone who spoke German, was driven out of Danzig and into Germany.
The link didn't work for me, but there's a bar there built in the old water system. It's underground, several tubular rooms, all brick. Also pretty cool.
As I understand it: The oldest parts of Danzig or Gdansk were designed by dutch and flemish architects in the 1500s. Various populations after that added on in their own styles, which apparently included a lot of Germans. Gdansk was about 90% destroyed in World War II. When it was reconstructing itself afterwards, apparently there was an argument about whether to go with traditional pre-war architecture, or go with a new design. Many people wanted to go new because they wanted to eradicate German influence. The traditionalists won out, but they focused on using traditional Dutch inspired architecture.
The buildings in the picture resemble the old Dutch canal buildings. When the Dutch Canal buildings were being built, they were taxed on their frontage along the canal. So they were made as narrow as possible to keep the taxes down, but very tall and extending a long way from the front. Consequently, rooms and staircases inside, had to be very narrow as well, so that’s why you see the hoist systems built into the peaks of the buildings, so furniture could be lifted up to the appropriate story.
On the eve of WW II, almost entirely ethnic German. Now almost entirely ethnic Pole.
ReplyDeleteprussia.
ReplyDeleteI was in Gdansk rigging a ship for about six weeks. The city center escaped bombing during the war, and is nicely preserved. There is a stark contrast between the beautiful prewar architecture and the Soviet concrete abominations.
ReplyDeleteI am not a ocean lover, but "rigging a ship" has piqued an interest in what is involved in that. Can you offer a reference to where I might get some background? Thanks.
DeleteThis was an oil search vessel. I rigged the navigation system.
DeleteThe shipyard was the one where Lech Walesa started the revolution.
Gingerbread Village!
ReplyDeleteWe were in Gdańsk on Sept 1, 2021. It is a memory I will have forever. The entire city was festooned in the white and red of the Polish flag.
ReplyDeleteThe memory that comes to mind is of the Post Office memorial. On the walls outside of the building, there are several metal handprints, set on the wall, to memorialize the defenders of the post office who were executed against the wall.
Where in hell does the rain go?
ReplyDeleteIn 1938, 98% ethnic German. Today, probably 0%. Losing a war has its consequences. Any ethnic German or, in some cases, even anyone who spoke German, was driven out of Danzig and into Germany.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see the rooms built between the two roofs of many of the townhouses.
ReplyDeleteThere's a jammin' whiskey bar in Gdansk called "Whiskey on the Rocks" and it's based completely on Jack Daniels. Pretty cool. Take a look.
ReplyDeletehttps://tinyurl.com/222vx6kp
The link didn't work for me, but there's a bar there built in the old water system. It's underground, several tubular rooms, all brick.
DeleteAlso pretty cool.
As I understand it: The oldest parts of Danzig or Gdansk were designed by dutch and flemish architects in the 1500s. Various populations after that added on in their own styles, which apparently included a lot of Germans. Gdansk was about 90% destroyed in World War II. When it was reconstructing itself afterwards, apparently there was an argument about whether to go with traditional pre-war architecture, or go with a new design. Many people wanted to go new because they wanted to eradicate German influence. The traditionalists won out, but they focused on using traditional Dutch inspired architecture.
ReplyDeleteThe buildings in the picture resemble the old Dutch canal buildings. When the Dutch Canal buildings were being built, they were taxed on their frontage along the canal. So they were made as narrow as possible to keep the taxes down, but very tall and extending a long way from the front. Consequently, rooms and staircases inside, had to be very narrow as well, so that’s why you see the hoist systems built into the peaks of the buildings, so furniture could be lifted up to the appropriate story.