Foggy Wanderings Around Łódź

Some time ago I went on night-time wanderings around Łódź. The city seemed to me empty, sad and gloomy then. On a certain foggy evening I wanted to set out again and capture the beauty that Łódź hides somewhere within itself.

Walking calmly through Łódź, you could see the old factories shrouded in fog. More than once I felt like the hero of a video game making his way through a dark, abandoned city. The fog was everywhere.

Since the weather was very foggy, one of the places to head for was Park Staromiejski (the Old Town Park), popularly known as Herring Park. The park's name goes back to the time before the Second World War, when a fish market stood here. And it was salted herring — one of the cheapest foodstuffs back then — that reigned over that market.

My hunch was right. The fog was very thick. The park was quiet, gloomy. All you could hear was the muffled barking of a dog, and dark figures slipping somewhere between the trees. The deeper you went, the more muffled the city's hum became. Yet you only had to turn around to see the beautiful glow of the street lamps. A great orange radiance seeped through the trees and blended nicely with the prevailing grey and violet.

I lingered longer by a small pond in the park. The reflections of light were wonderful. The lamplight scattered in the fog and reflected in the water. Ducks swam about cheerfully. They did not flee from people. They calmly paddled up to the bank, waiting for a piece of bread to be tossed to them.

Leaving the park, I headed for Manufaktura — a place hated by some and adored by others. For me? Just another spot where you can take photos. Being here for the first time at night, I was surprised by the beautiful illumination of the buildings. Many times I have admired the beauty of Wrocław at night, but now Łódź made a big impression on me.

Unfortunately my joy did not last long. The moment the clock struck midnight, all the lights went out. Darkness took over. Gangs of tracksuit-clad lads suddenly appeared in the square. It got loud and rowdy. A few people got punched in the teeth. It was a sign that it was time to leave the area.

The way home was strange and long. I went out night-shooting with a friend. It was somewhere around two in the morning. We stopped the car in Park na Zdrowiu. Although it was very dark, the camera could see perfectly. At first I thought that at such an hour, in such a place, we would be alone. I was wrong. Some people were happily drinking beer on the bank of the pond.

The fog was slowly clearing. The lakeshore was becoming more and more distinct. Time to head home. And the road home was a different one. Why? Looking for Łagiewniki, we ended up in Stryków… But that is another story.