The power of the people

And so the tricolour bids farewell to the tri-city and, notwithstanding the painful pleasure of watching the scintillating Spaniards dismantle Ireland on Thursday night, a fond farewell it is to Gdynia, Sopot and Gdansk as we prepare to hit the road south today for a last visit to Poznan.

The weather didn’t always play ball during our time on the Baltic and, even though Sopot was transformed into Temple Bar-on-Sea for much of the past week, the essential charm of this beautiful seaside resort still managed to shine through the often cloudy skies and mainly happy bedlam.

Holidaymakers who like clean crisp air, beautiful golden sands and, by Irish standards, an attractive cost of living, would be well advised to try Sopot as an alternative summer destination to the usual Mediterranean suspects but only, as even the local guidebooks can’t help admitting, if the tourist is prepared to pack a poncho along with the sun block.