The Ibis Hotel has a contemporary design, a central atrium around which some rooms have their windows, those on the opposite side of the corridor have an external window. This is where Hector spent twenty one of today’s twenty four hours.
Around noon I went out to see the city in daylight, but firstly I had to get a train ticket to Warszawa for tomorrow morning.
Rather than head back out to Widzew, I schlepped to Kaliska which is not in the city centre either. Lodz has a new, third, train station built underground – Lodz Fabryczna. As I would discover later, it is not operational and also is hardly down-town.
Ticket purchased, I took a taxi to Stare Miasto, (Old Town), Rynek (Main Square). As the 1960s architecture gave way to the classic, so I spotted some fine old industrial buildings which have been converted to apartments/retail.
I have never seen such a featureless main square. I didn’t hang about and headed back to the main city centre axis that is Piotrkowska.
On any other Saturday this would have been a hive of activity, not today, and for how long? A local convenience food chain is all that was open. I knew the Ibis would feed me, however, I decided to find the Curry Houses that lay en route.
Ganesha was open, but only for Takeaway. I was still too far from home to consider this. There was no sign of life at Masala Ghor. The latter is where I was originally heading last night, avoiding a soaking took me to – Touch of India, to my sorrow.
I had located another cluster of three Craft Beer Houses at the northern end of Piotrkowska. Bobby Burger (6 Taps) was open, I assumed again – for Takeaway only – is what the ladies inside told me. Burger is Hector’s food of last resort.
Next was Warkot Klubopiwiarnia (11 Taps), a micro-brewery which I had hoped to spend much of today in.
Finally, Z Innej Beczki (13 Taps).
Lodz is famous for its theatrical and cinematography heritage. I saw the stars on the pavement, but not Roman Polanski’s whose film – The Tenant – is associated with electrical malfunctions in Hector’s House every time an attempt has been made to view it. I have the DVD, maybe now is not a good time.
Back to the Ibis, the bar was closed, food was available, but had to be taken to one’s room. Pasta later, I ordered a Burger. People actually eat these things. I succumbed to the tap lager, cold, yellow and fizzy.
Late afternoon, I studied flights from Warszawa and found a Monday night flight back to Edinburgh. No sooner had I booked this than my Tuesday morning flight to Manchester was cancelled. Moments later the Edinburgh flight was gone. I was not prepared to stay in Polska for the originally booked flight home from Krakow on Monday week. Hector had to get out of Polska. I tried destinations other than the UK, no go. All Inter-City trains were cancelled. Bus, FlixBus, I have previously used. There were no seats left from Warszawa, I tried Lodz. The 00.45 tonight from Lodz to Berlin was booked. Only on booking did the app reveal a three hour stopover in Poznan (03.45 – 06.50). I booked two nights accommodation in Berlin and a Tuesday morning flight back to Manchester. It had to be.
The venues not visited today:
Bobby Burger – Piotrkowska 59, 90-001 Lodz
Warkot Klubopiwiarnia – Prez. Gabriela Narutowicz 7/9, 90-001
Z Innej Beczki – Stanislawa Moniuszki 6, 90-111
… back to Day #2 of how many in Polska?