Masuria, a Polish region known for its 2000+ lakes connected by canals and rivers, is a popular destination for yachting and water sports. Its rolling landscape was shaped by glaciers at the end of the last ice age and the region is home to various bird species, including storks. You can sometimes see stork nests almost every few dozen meters.
The trip
Our trip began in Gizycko, where we rented a yacht. We also visited Hitler's Wolf's Lair (he spent more than 800 days there) before we started yachting.
There you can see Hitler's bunker and the place where a bomb exploded in the 20 July plot. However, photos from the lair cannot be shared online.
We began yachting, traveling south and passing through Gizycko with its swing bridge. We visited a floating fish bar - "smażalnia ryb" - on Szymon Lake, where we enjoyed delicious zander, coleslaw salad, and beer.
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Our journey took us past Mikolajki city and to the Galindia resort - nice place featuring many wooden statues dedicated to the extinct Baltic tribes, the Galindians. The resort also has a restaurant with a wide selection of beers.
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We reached Śniardwy lake - Poland's largest lake with an area of 113.8 square kilometers. You can hardly see the opposite bank there.
The southernmost point of our trip was Niedzwiedzi Rog - a well-hidden marina.
Afterward, we began our return journey to the north, stopping at several lovely marinas along the way.
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We revisited the Szymon Lake fish bar for more zander, passed Gizycko, and continued more to the north.
Mamerki
Mamerki settlement hosts a complex of Nazi bunkers intended for submarine repairs. A planned channel, through which submarines had to arrive, would have connected the lakes to the Baltic Sea.
The bunkers, not visible from the water, are close to the bank. Visitors can also explore a WWII museum and enjoy the view from a lookout tower.
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The lakes are home to numerous birds, some of which can be quite annoying, as demonstrated in the video below (a full-fledged substitute for city pigeons, maybe even worse):
Although it is possible to spend weeks exploring the lakes, our trip lasted only one week. This was my first yachting experience, and it inspired me to consider taking yachting exams.
Return back
Upon returning home, I was surprised by the significant temperature and humidity difference, feeling as if I had arrived in Italy. Masuria is nearly 500 kilometers straight north of Ostrava, a fact I hadn't realized before.
More videos from our trip are here