Łódź, Poland: Frozen Fingers & Unexpected Kindness
okay, so łódź. i didn't even know łódź was a place until, like, a week ago. it came up on some ridiculously cheap flight deal - seriously, i think it was less than a tank of gas to get here from where i was - and i figured, why not? i’m a *freelance photographer, always chasing the light (or, apparently, the lack thereof).
and let me tell you, there’s a distinct lack of light right now. i just checked and it’s…actively trying to become ice, if you catch my drift. the weather report said -10.88 celsius, but honestly, it feels like someone’s gently freezing your soul. feels like -17.88, to be exact. the air is thick enough to chew, and the humidity is at ninety-something percent. it’s the kind of cold that seeps into your bones and makes you question all your life choices. the pressure is high, though, which is…something, i guess?
but honestly? it’s kinda beautiful. the city is all crumbling brick and faded grandeur. it’s like someone took a victorian movie set and left it out in the polish winter for a century. there’s this amazing raw energy here. i’ve been wandering around Piotrkowska Street, snapping photos of the art nouveau buildings and the street art. it’s a photographer’s dream, even if my fingers are numb.
someone told me that the best pierogi in town are at Stary Manufaktura, but you have to know which babcia is working that day. apparently, it makes all the difference.
i spent yesterday exploring Manufaktura, which is this huge, renovated textile factory. it’s now full of shops and restaurants and stuff, but you can still feel the history. it’s a bit touristy, but worth a look. you can find some reviews on TripAdvisor.
my accommodation is…interesting. it’s a tiny apartment above a bakery. the smell of fresh bread is amazing, but the walls are paper thin. i can hear everything. literally everything. if you get bored, Warsaw and Poznań are just a short train ride away.
i overheard some guys at a bar last night talking about a hidden speakeasy somewhere in the city center. apparently, you need a password and a willingness to drink homemade vodka. i’m definitely going to try and find it. i also heard that the local museum has a surprisingly good collection of modern art. Yelp has a few opinions, but take them with a grain of salt.
i’m trying to embrace the cold. i’ve invested in a ridiculous number of layers, and i’m living on a diet of strong coffee and pierogi. i found a great little coffee shop called Coffee Planet - seriously, the barista* knows their stuff.
a local warned me not to wander around the abandoned factories at night. apparently, they’re full of squatters and…other things.
honestly, łódź is growing on me. it’s not pretty in the postcard-perfect way, but it’s real. it’s gritty. it’s a city with a story to tell. and i’m here to try and capture it, one frozen photograph at a time. i'm also checking out Lodz.travel for more info.
