Record-breaking - Colourful Łódź / 19.02.2010 / Lodz 2016

Record-breaking 'Colourful Łódź'

A bird's-eye photo of the people of Łódź was the final element of the 'Colourful Łódź' campaign, in which Łódź guides from PTTK [Polish Tourism and Sightseeing Society] set a record with respect to the number of groups simultaneously shown around the city. It was a great success: 'We have got a record, 1500 people took part in our sightseeing tours. The wonderful weather was very helpful,' Justyna Tomaszewska from PTTK smiles. 'We hope there will be even more sightseeing groups next year. Then we could go for an official Guinness record. For the time being, we have got an official Polish record certified by the Polish Tourist Organisation.'

In total, there were as many as 53 groups wandering around Łódź, each taking a different route. In addition to the city centre, they walked on the outskirts, for example in the Jewish cemetery, Księży Młyn, the Radegast Station, the Biedermann Palace belonging to the University of Łódź as well as the Reinhold Richter Villa of the Technical University of Łódź. All the participants gathered in the Old Market ,where a special crane, lent by the firemen, and film operator Krzysztof Ptak were already waiting. Mr Ptak took a picture of the people of Łódź creating a gigantic Łódź the European Capital of Culture 2016 logo. 'I am not afraid of heights, but I have had some adventures on such lifts. I was very lucky once because it turned out that the basket with me inside was attached with one bolt only. That's why I have respect for the task,' explained the artist before being lifted 39 metres into the air. 'The idea of taking such a photo is very interesting and I think it will be a great adventure for the citizens of Łódź.'

And what does Krzysztof Ptak think about the city's efforts to become the European Capital of Culture? 'Unfortunately, I don't follow the activities because I have little time. One would need a long life to be able to follow all the in teresting events and prospects that await us. But the idea is very interesting. I once read an article that analysed the chances of Polish cities striving for the title and Łódź was very highly evaluated. I come from Łódź so I would really like Łódź to win the competition.'

The task of arranging the crowd to form the ŁESK 2016 logo and providing them with coloured pieces of paper which they waved to Krzysztof Ptak's camera was handled by Grupa Pewnych Osób. After the photo was shot, the Old Market reverberated with the Prząśniczka tune, played on a trumpet by Paweł Samokhin, the leader of Samokhin Band. Then, several hundred balloons were released into the air to officially bid winter farewell.

The photo by Krzysztof Ptak is available in high resolution here.

production: ONOFFMEDIA

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Travel & Events

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• 2016
• record breaking
• old town
• fenomen
• onoff media
• pttk