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[lukasz]

Dear All,

This is a slightly updated copy of the same topic from the MEETING section. I have decided to post it here, so that everyone, even those who have problems with logging in on the forum can read it easily.

The time is coming for your arrival and here are some hints of how to get to Lodz, to the hotel and finally to the Teacher Training Centre. I have already written to some of you, so some information may repeat.

Here is the final "attendance list" of the folks coming:

1.Gabriel Bratu, 19-23 October
2.Giuseppe Centillo !21-22 October
3.Odd Dahl, 19-23 October
4.John Fynn, 19-23 October
5.Marilyn Hunt, 19-23 October
6.Leena Hämäläinen !20-23 October
7.Maria Peluso, 19-23 October
8.Larisa Petrescu, 19-23 October
9.Andrea Pettenuzzo, 19-23 October
10.Flavia Ricci, 19-23 October
11.Claudia Saccone, 19-23 October
12.Ejnar Stolevik, 19-23 October
13.Tiziana Tulipano, 19-23 October

If you are planning to come and you're not on the list or the dates are wrong, let me know immediately.

Now to the way to Lodz: all of you are landing in Warsaw. Both the Chopin Terminal (standard flights) and the Etiuda Terminal (cheap flights) are part of the Okecie Airport. You can see the plan of the airport on the attached picture.

There is a coach service, called "Polski Ekspress" just in front of the gate of the International Terminal. Below there is a timetable in both directions. The price is about 10 euros one way.

Warsaw-Lodz
09:20-11:20
10:20-12:20
11:20-13:20
13:20-15:20
16:30-18:30
17:20-19:20
19:20-21:20
20:20-22:20

Lodz-Warsaw
05:00-07:00
06:00-08:00
08:00-10:00
10:00-12:00
13:00-15:00
14:00-16:00
16:00-18:00
17:00-19:00


If you prefer renting a car, there are a few companies inside the international airport building. Of what I have found, there are such companies as "Altur Rent a Car", "Europcar" and "Car Pol Leasing". I don't know where exactly they are inside, you must ask the airport service. The price for renting is from about 30-60 euros per day, depending on the type of the car.

If you decide to rent a car, you don't need to go to the center of Warsaw. The airport is located in the southern part of the city and when you leave the airport, turn left and go southwards to the Katowice direction. Be careful at Janki, at Warsaw outskirts. The traffic is usually huge there and it is easy to lose the way and go to Cracow instead. Remember to to turn RIGHT at Janki. Then you go straight down the highway, until you get to the town of Rawa Mazowiecka. Then turn right . Another bigger town down there will be that of Brzeziny, where it is quite complicated to get through - watch the "Lodz" signs. From there Lodz is ca. half an hour away.

In Lodz you will be staying at the Grand Hotel in the very centre of the City at Piotrkowska street. On the attached map there is the way from the Fabryczna railway and coach station (both stations ate in the same building). You can either take a taxi or go by tram. Either way the distance is quite short. If you go by tram, you must buy a ticket at a kiosk. It is a special institution, corresponding to corner shops in other countries, where you can buy press, tickets, and some small stuff. Kiosks are scattered everywhere, you will easily find some on the station lot. A 30-minute ticket's price is 2.40 zloties, a 10-minute one is 1.70. You can buy a few tickets in advance, you will need them to travel from the hotel to the Training Centre. The 10-minute ticket will do to the hotel, but from the hotel to the centre you'll probably need the 30-minute one. REMEMBER TO PUNCH THE TICKET ON THE TRAM as it becomes valid only upon punching.

Me or someone else from the Centre will meet you at the hotel hallway on Wednesday at 7 pm. and will come on Thursday 8.30 am to take you to the Centre. You will find the way to the centre on the other attached map.

Maria has asked about how to dress and it seems to be a very sensible question. Until last week the weather was perfect with no rain and the temperature of about 20°C. This week it has grown colder an the temperature has been down to ca. 5°C in the morning and 10°C at day. The weather forecast for the next week says that it will be warmer again. Still, I guess a warm sweater and anorak would be a good idea, as mornings and evenings will definitely be colder. I feel the weather will be similar to that we had in Norway. And don't forget an umbrella in case it rains (hopefully it won't).

If you have any questions, please write: l_gaszewski@o2.pl or l.gaszewski@wp.pl.

Below you will find a couple of Lodz web sites to get an idea of what the city is like. They are all in Polish, but the photos are OK. Enjoy.

http://www.lodz.pl/index.php?menu2=2&zapytanie=2,15 - Factories, Houses, Churches of the city
http://www.piotrkowska.pl/galeriapio.htm - Piotrkowska Street
http://www.toya.net.pl/~lukmail/fabrykanci.htm - palaces of factory owners
http://www.ulicapiotrkowska.pl/piotrkowskaDzisiaj.php?item=gl&site=dzisiaj&ID=7# - Eagle's view on Piotrkowska
http://lodz.republika.pl/rama/foto.htm - Old factory buildings

See you in Lodz,

Lukasz

Now the maps:

Warsaw airport:


Lodz - way to the hotel:


Lodz - way to the Training Centre: