"We are completely ready. We can bring the boats and install the regulations and signs at any time", said Helena Nowak-Warzycha, an employee of the Gondola Bay. "We all know that the revamp of the Wroclaw Water Junction, to include repairs of the wharfs, is ongoing so we need to take it all into account. The key thing for us is the proper water level. However, we are not even considering a situation where we could not provide our services to Wroclaw's residents and tourists this season", added Helena. The decision as to when the Bay and other water stops will resume operation will be made by the Regional Water Management Authority and the contractor performing the works: a consortium of Pol-Aqua and Dragos.
Residents of Wroclaw have been asking about the possibility to hire a kayak or a Gondolka (a motor boat with a 5 hp motor that can be driven without any special license) since February. For several years, to many persons of different age, water tourism in the Wroclaw water route has been an excellent and affordable way to actively spend free time, especially during good weather. It has also turned out to be a great attraction to visitors. Little wonder that everyone is interested in the quickest opening of the Gondola Route: a community network of water harbours within the Wroclaw Water Junction. (The situation is the same in the case of the Las Pegaz harbour at Pasterska Street, where two-person kayaks and a four-person canoe used to available for hire; however, it has been confirmed that, due to the scope of the works on the water junction, that wharf will be closed in the coming year.)
The fleet
The Gondola Bay's fleet comprises 30 kayaks, three row boats, 10 four-person motor boats (no license required), and a Quicksilver motor boat that may be operated only by persons holding a motor skipper license (a skipper can also be hired, at an extra cost).
"The rental rates have not changed", said Helena Nowak-Warzycha. "The hourly rate for a kayak is 14 zlotys and, for example, the price for the Gondolka, which is a four-person boat, is 75 zlotys. Of course we instruct our customers on the basic signs and on operation of the simple 5 kM motor, as well as provide any other assistance that is required", declared Helena.
The entire price list and the terms of use of the Gondola Bay's equipment can be seen herefot. gondole.eu
The Gondola Bay is also a spot where the water tram (berthed at Cafe Barka) starts its route on the Oder on each Saturday and Sunday, once every hour, in accordance with its schedule. The price for a trip to the Topacz Marina and back is 12 zlotys. The tram can also be rented for one's own use with the crew (plus a bottle of wine) for 250 zlotys per hour.
Almost like Venice
The harbour at today's Jana Ewangelisty Purkyniego Street was built in 1886. At that time it was called Gondelhafen. In the 1880's, extensive works were performed at the harbor. At that time, the mouth of Olawa River was redirected upstream of the Grunwaldzki Bridge. The old mouth formed a bay which now is the harbor for tourist boats. Also, a wooden footbridge was built over the water course connecting the bay with the Oder; in 1928, it was replaced with a reinforced concrete structure. The bay was in operation until the 1940's and was used mostly by kayakers.
Gondola Bay on a pre-war postcard, 1928-1936source: Wratislaviae Amici dolny-slask.org.pl
The Gondola Bay's "renaissance" took place fairly lately, in 2007. Back then, after the bay was deepened, the harbour was cleaned up, and bridges and a building for staff were built, Wroclaw held a tender for operation of a water equipment rental station.
The tender was won by the "Door to Europe" Association which, in June 2007, opened a boat rental station - the first of such stations in the entire network of similar sites on the Gondola Route.
The concept of the route (its name, too) was created by the Association in 2004, based on information on the historical agreement between Wroclaw and Venice concerning the permission to use the word "gondola" by Wroclaw. Fairly quickly, this became hot news, which was a good thing for the project. Gondola Route, with its centre at the Gondola Bay.
Małgorzata Wieliczko
