Gdańsk

It’s only 30 something kms from Gydnia to Gdańsk , a bit further to our hotel tonight. The forecast was for rain this morning so we weren’t taking any chances and put our Ponchos on. The bike route followed the waterfront for a while. We missed our corner here and had to pedal back 300m.Christine picked up a piece of glass along here. Our first puncture in nearly 1700kms so I’m not complaining. Anyway I bought a spare tyre from NZ.I really must take my glass’s into a shop . I’d bought one for a child’s bike. 🤭Anyway I’ve got a puncture kit!We’ve realised that when Christine wears her NZ top ,someone will approach us and want to talk. It’s handy for getting info. Our goal this morning is the Russian consulate to try and get a transit visa to pass through Kaliningrad. We failed in NZ because we couldn’t give the exact dates we would be there.I had to stand here and be let in. Inside it was very intimidating with little windows to speak to the staff through an intercom system. Turned down initially ! I asked why they tried to be so bloody difficult. The young chap serving me was very apologetic and after I’d left the building he followed me outside and said that ,actually there is here someone who may be able to help. Hallelujah The next chap I spoke to, looked up a few papers and said ” You vant a transit visa ?No problem!” And he sent us to the visa issuing office 200 metres away. It was all going tickity boo until it got to the question. “ vich country you from?” When I proudly said “New Zealand mate” “Sorry sir , New Zealand iss the one country that cannot get a transit visa from here. You must apply in your own country” Well stuff a duck ! What on earth have we done to offend them ?Anna walentynowicz. The co-founder of Solidarity and referred to by many as the Mother of Independent Poland. The newly elected Prime minister of Post communist Poland , along with Anna and several key members of Government ,all died in a Plane crash over Russia in 2010 ?I have seen so many different ways of carrying dogs on bikes. This way works well ! Tomorrow we’ll have a look around downtown Gdańsk before taking a train to Warsaw. We need to get around the piece of Russia in our way ( Kaliningrad ) and we’ll do it partly by train. It also give us a good look at Warsaw