When in Gdansk, we visited Westerplatte, the location of the first battle of the second world war. Isn’t it almost an obligation to show some respect when close? But it was also a lovely, sunny and crisp December day, so we were happy to get some fresh air.
Our children surprised us with how much interest they had in the place, why there was a war, how it started and how the polish soldiers built their stance and lived in their barracks etc. What a great chance to talk about the past, not always easy to know how much to say, as in not wanting them to worry but then wars still happen.
Westerplatte would be a much longer area than we visited but we took a taxi to the path leading to the memorial. On the waleft to the monument there were quite a few signs giving more information about what had been were and how things developed. Obviously much of it is no longer to be seen. Inspecting the old barracks and hopping out through a hole in the wall was a favourite of our children.
The memorial bathed in sun up on a hill, and the monument had greats steps for kids to climb on too.
On the way back we went to see the Baltic. If only in adult company I would have been happy to a walk along the shore for a bit but this time lunch and the Christmas market were calling.
Free But Fun 
[…] second day we visited the Westerplatte and, of course, the lovely Christmas market. Kids loved the Ferris wheel (had no entrance fee) and […]