74/365: A comment on the rival football team

74/365: A comment on the rival football team, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

March 15th

"Widzew crouches when they pee."

I believe this is the most polite football fan graffiti I have ever seen.

Also, some advice from the mad prophet of Lodz:

He writes his worldly advice on the walls all over the city. Quotes from this instance:

"Maybe the Black Sea also, what? What does the writing say."

"River God from the mountains."

"Boniek shoots."

"On TV pitchforks from Bulgaria (God)"

"A fork: porno for the mouth of God"

And finally, a marvel of Lodzean architecture:

56/365: Critical Mass

56/365: Critical Mass, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

February 25th

I don't know what kind of a dumb idea of mine it was to declare the start of bike season at a Critical Mass in February, when it's -13 degrees Celsius outside... Brrrr.

54/365: Bar

54/365: Bar, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

February 23rd

There's no bar there anymore. Just the neon, which no longer works. It took me a good year to first notice it was up there, even though I walk down this street very often.

41/365: Tumbledown with new windows.

41/365: Tumbledown with new windows., originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

February 10th

A day of sunshine, as warm as spring. We hoped winter was over...we could see the blue sky reflected in all the dirty old building windows...

14/365: The Africanos bar

14/365: The Africanos bar, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

I didn't want to take my camera because I knew there would be drinking. But when I tried to take a picture with my phone, the battery died! So I used my ipod.

It's a horrible photo which shows nothing at all, but at least I didn't break my streak of one photo per day. In a 365 project, that's really important. It's better to take a bad photo than none at all, and you'll know it the very next morning when you say, 'Hm, well, I'm still on board', rather than 'Aw, man, I missed a day, is it worth continuing?'

Yes, it is, actually. But it's better not to miss a photo. ;)

365/365: Waiting for the New Year

365/365: Waiting for the New Year, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

December 31st

I went up on the Rudzka Góra, an artificial mound which is the highest point in Lodz, and waited for the New Year. I was alone, at first, but then suddenly half the town showed up, and they must have all been very drunk to have made it up the steep, slippery, snowy slope in their dress shoes and high heels. I applaud the precaution of those who carried sleds, to make the descent easier.


By the way, this is my last photo of Project 365 2010. I am doing it again, a fifth time, in 2011. Will you join me?

I'll write something about that later, after I take a New Year Nap, but meanwhile here is a link to my post from last year which explains Why You Should Totally Do It.

351/365: In blue for the holidays

351/365: In blue for the holidays, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

December 17th

A building on Piotrkowska street getting a facelift.

350/365: New Year Resolution

350/365: New Year Resolution, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

December 16th

2011 hasn't started yet, but I couldn't wait with my resolutions. One of them is to learn how to ride a horse. Because that is a pretty useful thing to know. In case of emergencies. Also, horsies are purty.

We went to the Wiki stables, right by the airport. It was cold, snowy, beautiful. After the lesson (which was hilarious, I've sat and been carried by horses before but I've never actually ridden one) the stablemaster let all the mares out to run around in the snow while she got a sled ready for a ride. A perfect day, really.

Next lesson just before New Year's. I really can't wait.

348/365: Manufaktura in the snow

348/365: Manufaktura in the snow, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

December 14th

This part of the old Poznanski factory has been turned into a hotel. A very expensive hotel...which is right across the street from a very poor and tumbledown neighbourhood. In contrast with the cleaned brick of the old factory the apartments on the other side of the road look even more desolate.

347/365: Caravan

347/365: Caravan, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

December 13th

Probably belongs to construction workers, although there's nothing being constructed anywhere near so I'm not sure. There was smoke coming out of the stovepipe. The building behind it is abandoned.

By the way, did you notice I've caught up with Project 365? I had a huge backlog of photos to post- they are all on the blog now. I think my resolution for 2011 is to upload and update more diligently. Why, yes, I'm doing p365 again. So should you.

More photos of Lodz in the snow:

344/365: A pink pony and poached pheasant

344/365: A pink pony and poached pheasant, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

December 10th

Well, probably not poached. He wouldn't put it on display for everyone to see every year if he didn't have a hunting permit. Though I notice his catches are dwindling with time.

Witness, last year and the year before:

342/365: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

342/365: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

December 8th

In other seasons, this is a vegetable stall.

338/365: Snow

338/365: Snow, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

December 4th

This is why I wear tall, insulated wellingtons.

336/365: Even a bottle of rectified spirit...

336/365: Even a bottle of rectified spirit..., originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

December 2nd

...cannot substitute for Jesus.

Says the graffiti. Above, of course, the ŁKS football club brand. It's that neighbourhood.

333/365: Snow on my windowsill

333/365: Snow on my windowsill, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

November 29th

And in just one day, we got about ten inches of snow. Lovely, lovely winter. :)

332/365: ŁKS footie club flag

332/365: ŁKS footie club flag, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

Novemnber 28th

On top of every building in my neighbourhood.

329/365: Birch

329/365: Birch, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

November 25th

On the first snow day, there was a lovely sunset.

328/365: Trashcan pooped itself.

328/365: Trashcan pooped itself., originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

November 24th

Well, I can't see any other explanation.

324/365: Kindling

324/365: Kindling, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

November 20th

I have central heating, the neighbours have coal- down the street, people use firewood.

220/365 Even the University looks like crap here

220/365 Even the University looks like crap here, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

August 8th

I love my shitty, dirty city.