Toruń sits exactly half way between Warsaw and Gdańsk, so it is a great stop on the five hour train ride south.
Plus, Toruń is famous for its gingerbread.
And I love gingerbread.
So two excellent reasons to stop, in no particular order.
Did I mention I love gingerbread?
After a slightly early breakfast we walked to the train station and boarded the high speed IC PPK (Polish Railway) train to Toruń.
I like the IC trains, fast (up to 200 KM/h today) and comfortable, it is a relaxing way to travel.
I read and stared out the window, and in 2.5 short hours we were in Toruń.
We had a two hour layover, so we put our luggage in a locker (14 PLN) and took a taxi the mile into town.
Nice how most train stations have luggage storage, so you can just drop your stuff and spend the day.
Toruń is on the bank of the Vistula River, and has a pretty cool town center with some impressively huge and old brick buildings. It is also the birthplace of old Copernicus himself, and is home to a leading university. They even have astronomy courses here. What could be better than to study astronomy in Copernicus' home town?
Bet my friends Nels and Christine never thought of that one, now, did you?
But we were not here to waste time sight seeing, we were here to try, and maybe buy, the famous local gingerbread.
It was easy to find. Every other shop was marked Pierniki, which is Polish for gingerbread. We found a shop that had bulk Pierniki, sold by the piece, so we could try it out.
I love gingerbread, molasses cookies, and so on. I have had "The Best" gingerbread in Appenzell and Bern, Switzerland, Grasmere England, Southern Germany... and I know gingerbread.
And this passed the taste test.
Good, but not "the best." But pretty good stuff.
So we went in and bought more. Not for gifts (Sorry everybody. We have seven weeks to go...) but to eat over the next few days.
There are stained glass signs on each building, noting the family who owns it. They don't seem tied to the businesses.
We dropped out of the city walls to go down by the River Vistula. After a quick walk-through, we had time for a gulped glass of wine before catching a taxi back to the train station.
If I did it over I would consider a one night stay here, or extend the layover to four hours.
One night. It's a nice town.
But a layover is OK.
That would do it. Four hours.
Then I wouldn't have to gulp the wine, and I could study a little of that "astrology" stuff.