Gdansk, Poland

After we visited the Teutonic castle, Lissa, Katie and I hopped on a short train and headed north to the coast! Gdansk was in the midst of a folk festival and craft fair when we got there. The first day we visited it was also very very damp.

Lissa and Katie avoid the throngs of people and the rain:

Also, my desire to climb up tall things was fulfilled by St. Mary's Church (thought to be the "largest old brick church in the world"). As you climb up the various twisting staircases to get to the tower, you actually have to walk over the interrior of the roof. It is actually really interesting to see the Gothic vaulting from the wrong side (if you are me) ...

Here's what's scary: standing on a tiny wet metal platform, perched on top of this roof...

The second day we visited Gdansk it was much nicer, although it was mobbed with even more festival-goers.

Katie and I admire the "Neptune Fountain" outside the town hall (which we couldn't even see yesterday through the drizzle)

Okay, I confess, here's what's really cool* about Gdansk:

Gdansk has one of the world's largest existant medieval cranes!

*yes yes, I'm aware that this probably doesn't qualify as "cool" ... but a girl can dream.