Lodz, Poland

We began our day with a stroll along Piotrkowska Street which runs through the center of the city and is one of the longest commercial streets in Europe. It is lined with beautiful buildings, grand palaces, villas and numerous shops and cafes.Lodz, once a bustling textile-manufacturing hub, has creatively repurposed many of its old factories. For instance, we visited Manufactura, a remarkable transformation of 13 red brick buildings into a complex housing a shopping mall, movie theater, bowling alley, museums, restaurants, and cafes. We also explored the Planetarium, ingeniously converted from a former power plant, and admired the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

Lodz is also known for great street art, so we went on a tour and found some wonderful murals.