From April 10th to 14th, 2024, a group of 21 members from our Association embarked on an excursion to Szczecin. The purpose of the trip extended beyond mere sightseeing; it included meeting with local Esperantists and showcasing the activities of both clubs.
The journey was swift and comfortable, as we traveled in a sleeping car. This allowed us to commence our planned activities immediately upon arrival. We were delighted and pleasantly surprised when the local Esperantists greeted us at the Szczecin station, waving a green flag.
After checking into our luxurious hotel and taking a brief rest, we ventured out to explore the city. Our guide was our fellow Esperantist Bernadetta Wiewiórska. We toured the Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle and delved into the rich history of this fascinating region. Following this, we had the pleasure of enjoying coffee on the 22nd floor of the PAZIM building.
In the afternoon we visited the Książnica Pomorska (cultural institution and central library of Western Pomerania) for a meeting with local Esperantists. This gathering provided an opportunity to share interesting and humorous anecdotes about the activities of both clubs, making for an enjoyable and enriching experience.
The following day was also devoted to sightseeing, this time at the Maritime Science Center, where our fellow Esperantist Andrzej Jabłoński guided us. Since he worked on ships as a warranty engineer on ships so he knows the realities of life at sea very well. For us, mountain dwellers it was a unique chance to glimpse into the maritime atmosphere and the lifestyle of those connected to the sea.
In the evening we attended a concert at the famous Szczecin Philharmonic. The performance was enchanting, featuring classical works by Mozart and Beethoven. Additionally, we had the opportunity to tour the distinctive building.
The next day we visited Międzyzdroje. Our first stop was the Miniature Park, where we admired scaled-down versions of famous Baltic landmarks. We then strolled through the spa center, walked along the pier and, of course, tasted some sea fish.
On the final day of our trip our fellow Halina Różanek took us for a walk in the Jan Paweł II Park Jasne Błonia. There were monuments related to Szczecin including a monument to Helena Majdaniec, a singer from Szczecin known for performing the song “Rudy rydz”. We also admired Hasior’s installations and the amphitheater.
As a thank you for guiding us around the sites and for enriching our stay, we invited our local guides to a formal farewell dinner. The delightful time we spent in Szczecin passed quickly, and soon it was time to return to Nowy Sącz.
Translation Adm.+AI