Torun

Another very scenic drive along the Vistula again this morning as we headed for Turon. It is amazing to see the size of the river. 

Poser!

A few kilometres before Włocławek we came across the large dam that manages the flow of the Vistula. This has created what is now referred to as the Włocławek Reservoir. 

Włocławek Dam. 

At the dam site was a small memorial to the Catholic priest Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko, who was associated with the workers' and trade union movement Solidarity. He was also a member that was opposed to the Communist regime in Poland, was tortured and murdered by three security police officers, and was thrown into the Włocławek Reservoir, close to the city. His body was recovered from the reservoir on October 30, 1984.

The memorial to Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko. 

Włocławek was our next stop - a city of over 100,000 - but it didn't have much going for it other than a large multilevel Kaufland Shopping Centre! Like many Polish cities there is always a terrible past that emerges as you probe a bit further. Włocławek was the first town in Poland that the Nazis enforced the wearing of the Jewish star by Jews to identify them as being Jewish. By the end of the war the Jewish  population, as in many other places, had all been deported and killed. 

An abbey yard in Włocławek. 

In the afternoon we visited Turon, arguably one of the most beautiful town in Poland. One reason for this is that it has been preserved in its original state and has not been destroyed by war. As a town to visit it was just delightful.

Delightful Torun! Ancient Town Hall with the statue of Copernicus front and centre.

The 17th century town gates. 

Cobbled stone alleyways - now eateries. 

Creative art work in some of the ramparts  of the city. 

A favourite street sculpture of the lady and her dog!

The town is very proud of being the birth place of the great scientist Nicholas Copernicus. It is also proud of the Town Hall and the great merchant houses dotted around the Old Town. Again, the wealth of the town was created by the passing trade along the Vistula. 

The Man!

Street scape ...

... and another!

Having exhausted ourselves by late afternoon we returned to Hilton and drove a few kilometres to the village of Papowo Torunskie for our overnight stop. 

Other photoes from today:

An old lady looking after a piece of garden in one of the back streets. 

We spoke with the KOD members who were collecting signatures to oppose the current governments policies. They are a committee for the defence of democratic government. They oppose the current right-wing government. 

Lech Wałesa was coming to address their meeting. 

The beautiful promenade along the Vistula. 

Town defences and an interesting old warehouse.