Lodz Local Customs

if you're shopping for Silver or souveniers in Lodz it can be quite difficult to communicate with the locals unless you know some Polish or maybe som Russian. even though they know you dont understand them they will still speak Polish. So I would advice you to bring a pointing boook for turists to get what you vant (Especially if you want something in a kiosk) . you could alway use your body language and mime. It would be wise though to learn some basic Polish phrases like the numbers from one to ten and yes and thank you and how much.

Many famous directors, actresses, actors and other people involved in both theatre and movie productions finished the Film School in Lodz. Some of the internationally acclaimed movie directors include Agnieszka Holand ('Europa, Europa,' 'Secret Garden'), Krzysztof Kieslowski (Trilogy 'White,' 'Red,' 'Blue'), Andrzej Wajda (received an Oscar), Oscar winner Roman Polanski ("The Pianist," 'Rosemary's Baby,' 'China Town,' 'Tess'). Pictured is one of Poland's most accomplished actresses, Szapolowska.

Not a cultural tip, but a general tip ...

VT member Janina_B (who lives in Lodz) told me to 'walk around Lodz looking up because the beauty of the city is in its architecture' - she was absolutely right - it's easy to walk along Piotrkowska just looking at the fashionable shops, restaurants and bars - but look above them and you will see many fine examples of 19th century/early 20th century architecture.
Thanks for the tip Janina ...

Teatr Wielki (Grand Theatre). This is an outstanding opera house (opereta and balets too). It's highly renowned opera house and it comes in only second after Warsaw. The productions are not to be missed (unless you are in Lodz in the summer when Teatr Wielki is closed). The stage is enormous. The tallest part you can see in the picture is where all the mechanisms (e.g. lifts) are (just above the stage). You cannot even see the entire theatre in this picture. There is a walkway over the street connecting the main theatre with another building. This other building is where stage decorations as well as the costumes are made. The first time I went to see an opera here I was 6 and I've been a great fan of this place ever since.
There is a cafe next to the lobby that you can visit before a performance. Also, you can enjoy nice refreshments between the acts.

All kids, big and small, love kids poems by Julian Tuwim. There is a sculpture of Julian Tuwim (Laweczka Tuwima) on Piotrkowska street. It looks like Julian Tuwim is just resting on the bench. You can join him and sit down right next to this great poet.
All Poles love poems like 'Spozniony slowik,' 'Okulary,' 'Abecadlo,' or 'Zosia samosia.'

LODZ - ONCE A MELTING POT - A MULTICULTURAL MOSAIC Until the industrial revolution Lodz was just a small settlement surrounded by vast, wild forests. Due to its favourable position on the cross-roads to and from the Eastern market, in only a few decades the place became an important industrial centre, attracting investors from Germany, Austria, and Russia as well as thousands of peasants from the surrounding area who came here in search of employment. This period of Lodz's astonishing growth has been the subject of Andrzej Wajda's film 'The Promised Land'. For many years the city was a real melting-pot of different nationalities, most notably Poles, Jews and Germans, but also Russians and Czechs. This multicultural mosaic is still evident in the streets of Lodz, its architecture, and its cemeteries.
RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (1896)