I have always had a interest in Eastern European history from post war right through to the present day, and on a recent visit to Gdansk, I could not pass by the chance to visit the birth place of the Solidarity movement.
I only knew the basics of the events that took place in the ship yards, and probably less on Lech Walesa (while I was doing my trip solo, my Ukrainian wife knew all about him and told me that I would love this tour as it will be right up my street) and had no issue booking it.
I met my guide Bozena at the entrance to the European Solidarity Centre, and for the first hour we went around the museum getting a real in depth account of the events on 1980, and what had been leading up to it, with discussions on the 1970's strikes, what caused the 1980 strikes and the straw that broke the camels back, with the rise of Lech Walsea, the birth of the Solidarity movement, the knock on effects from that, not only in Poland (starting with Martial Law), but with the first free elections that followed and the domino effect it had across Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, with its effects still having ripples to this day.
After this we went out in to the actual ship yards themselves, which as someone from a construction and metal work background, was something that really appealed to me.
Tour ended at one of the converted warehouses in the shipyard which is now a Hipster Hangout with street food, coffee and craft beer (my type of place!!!!).
All in all Bozena was a fantastic guide, and I got out of this tour exactly what I was looking for, and that was the whole in's and out's of the history of the events in Gdanks 40 years ago.
Can fully recommend this tour for anyone.