Which way to Hel?, a photo from Pomorskie, West

Photographer's Note

I came across several of these carved in wood signposts while visiting Słowiński National Park. This one shows the way to Wydma Czołpińska (Dune of Czołpino) but it also tells you that if you walk along this beautiful sandy beach to the left, after 15 km you will arrive in Rowy, or if you go to the right, after 23 km you would arrive in Łeba. I suppose this means that this unspoiled sandy beach and the Słowiński National Park stretch along the coast for 38 km in total.

Just to confuse you a bit, I will tell you that the Polish sign “ł” we pronounce like English “w”, while the sign “w” we pronounce like English “v”.
The sign “ń” is a soft “n” which is similar to Spanish “ñ”.
“cz” is pronounced like “ch” in the word cherry.
So now try to pronounce the following:
Słowiński, Czołpino, Czołpińska, Łeba…
[Swoviñski, Chowpino, Chowpiñska, Weba]

ABOUT THE TITLE
There are a peninsula and a town named Hel (pronounced like English “hell”) along the Polish Baltic Sea coast. I didn’t manage to visit it this time. It is such a beautiful area that even the President of Poland has an official residence somewhere along the peninsula. I remember a joke circulating when the Polish President was supposed to host there the President of the USA. People were asking each other:
“Do you know what the first words of the Polish President to the American President will be there?” “Welcome to Hel!”

Hel is about 150 km east from Czolpino.

54.733115, 17.261575

ikeharel, PaulVDV, jhm, Fis2, ChrisJ, COSTANTINO, jemaflor, Royaldevon, PiotrF, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

PaulVDV (62810) 2021-10-03 8:56

Hello Mariusz,
I knew that Hel was a place in Poland. So here you show us the 'highway to Hel'?
Was it Trump who was invited in Hel? Well, one day he will be there.
I'm convinced this coast seems very attractive to many beachgoers. I'm just afraid of all that churned up sand. It must have been very busy.
It's a nice custom to place that kind of direction indicators.
The wood makes it much more in line with the surrounding nature and the place name that is carved makes it very beautiful.
Taken with a wonderful light and nice long shadows.
A blue sky and a beautiful blue (warm) Baltic Sea.
Best regards, Paul

jhm (211734) 2021-10-03 9:41

Hello Mariusz,

I can you not help, I know not where would can are the hel, sorry Iam a good boy, I think you too!!!.
But I see a very nice and quiet picture with lovely dunes.
Pleasant panorama view too.
Also the dune grass makes your picture attractive.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

Silvio1953 (220717) 2021-10-03 11:03

Ciao Mariusz, an other great view with sand, lovely composition with beautiful graphic effect, wonderful warm colors, splendid light and excellent clarity, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Tue (91658) 2021-10-03 11:57

Hello Mariusz,
I find Polish words often quite puzzling because of the many diacritics used and the large consonants clusters. Anyway, the name Hel with just one 'l' is exactly the same as the Dutch word for 'hell'. A beautiful view of the beach and sea with the green grass and wooden sign well included at right. The sunlight was wonderful.
Lars

Fis2 (169847) 2021-10-03 12:01

Czesc Mariusz!
Nigdy tam nie bylem, wiec z zainteresowaniem ogladam Twoj reportaz.
Kolejny przyjemny kadr i kolorystyka.
Fajne swiatlo i cien.
Udanego nowego tygodnia.
Krzysztof

ifege (47069) 2021-10-03 21:06

Hi Mariusz
A from the number of foot prints it looks like lots of people at least start in the direction of Hel. Another good one from this area of sand dunes.
cheers
Ian

ChrisJ (171340) 2021-10-03 22:15

Hello Mariusz,

Another nice shot of the Baltic seacoast & judging from the many footprints it is very popular. Good warm cold color contrasts, textures and sharpness. Tfs!

COSTANTINO (115605) 2021-10-03 23:26

Hello dear friend
have a pleasant new week
wow!!!so many useful notes
about this photo and the
peninsula with the town
named Hel pronounced like
English Hell...but I dont
like the desert and the loneliness..
any people down there????
regards
Costantino

jemaflor (146382) 2021-10-03 23:29

Hi Mariusz,
nice result with this warm light well captured, good efect for the sand, well placed in your composition this sign on a focal point, well done.

lousat (138683) 2021-10-04 3:00

Hi Mariusz,it's very difficult to go in the places on the signs,15 or 23 km on the sand are a suicide, especially for people like me..ehehe..very nice capture another time..and welcome to the USA president..ahaha..Have a nice week and thanks,Luciano

ikeharel (112521) 2021-10-04 9:42

Good evening Mariusz,
Side light enhanced the beautiful foot-prints on the dune. Nature simple creation in a wonderful way. Well collected picture.
My best regardfs,
Ike

Ilonka1974 (10289) 2021-10-04 12:52

Czesc Mariusz
Rewelacyjnie pokazana podswietlona faktura piasku!
Perfekcyjny kadr!
Pozdrawiam serdecznie
Janusz

Royaldevon (85674) 2021-10-05 8:46

Hello Mariusz,

I became totally confused by my attempts at pronunciation! I respect your ability to speak and spell English so well!

This is a beautifully composed photograph! The tall, wooden signs are very strongly placed and sit well between the deeply disturbed sandy pathway and the tall spikes of marram grass.
The low sunlight completes a fine shot.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

pajaran (115025) 2021-10-05 10:24

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled, interesantam i dobar tekst ...
Lep drveni putokaz na pescanoj plazi, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i perspektivom.
Lepa plaza za odmor i setnju sa lepim pogledom.
Dobar rad, lepa fotografija.

Zelim vam lepu i mirnu noc, sve najbolje.
Paja

PiotrF (54246) 2021-10-05 13:15

Czesc MAriusz
Witamy w piekle :)
Ladne swiatlo, brak ludzi... ech Baltyk tez w takich okolicznosciach bywa piekny i mozna wtedy odpoczac od codziennosci.
Dobry kadr i jakosc jak zwykle super
pozdrawiam
Piotr

jmdias (114360) 2021-10-07 2:48

Mariusz
A nice view of this part of the seashore landscape with the steps marked in the sand and the signs adding a graphic aspect
Tk
Jorge

mcmtanyel (67757) 2021-11-13 17:16

Hello Mariusz,
I like the tones that the evening sun casts on the sand and the play between light and shade.
Regards,
MT