Difference between revisions of "2015-03-22 50 20"
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A few minutes later we arrived at the intersection which lies not far from the [[wikipedia:Wanda Mound|Mound of Wanda]], named after a legendary daughter of a legendary founder of our city. We turned right and drove along the Igołomska street and the perimeter fence of the steel works. The tram line goes between the street and the fence, with the stops dully named ''Gate no. 4.'', ''Gate no. 5'', ''Coke works'' etc. - after the numbers of the entry gates to the steel works complex and the function of one of the subdivisions. One stop name, however, tells a story. The second-to-last tram stop on the line is mysteriously called '''''Meksyk''''' (''Mexico''). Indeed the whole neighborhood is called so. How come? | A few minutes later we arrived at the intersection which lies not far from the [[wikipedia:Wanda Mound|Mound of Wanda]], named after a legendary daughter of a legendary founder of our city. We turned right and drove along the Igołomska street and the perimeter fence of the steel works. The tram line goes between the street and the fence, with the stops dully named ''Gate no. 4.'', ''Gate no. 5'', ''Coke works'' etc. - after the numbers of the entry gates to the steel works complex and the function of one of the subdivisions. One stop name, however, tells a story. The second-to-last tram stop on the line is mysteriously called '''''Meksyk''''' (''Mexico''). Indeed the whole neighborhood is called so. How come? | ||
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| + | First of all, I need to explain the likely origin and popular meaning of the name. The primary meaning of the word ''Meksyk'' in the Polish language is ''Mexico'', i.e. the name of the country in Central America and its capital. In colloquial or slang usage, however, it serves as a metaphor of an unruly, out-of-control place or situation. The metaphor, most likely influenced by Western movies, refers to the stereotype of a faraway, wild country, where violence prevails and the rule of law do not reach. Even today one could hear '''Ale Meksyk!''' ('''What a Mexico!''') in reference to a nasty brawl, riot, or just a really bad neighborhood. | ||
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| + | The place we're talking about has been named ''Meksyk'' in the early years of construction of the giant steel works complex, when a part of a former rural village of Pleszów become a work settlement for four thousands of construction workers, comprised of 38 wooden and 4 brick barracks. The original settlers were members of a compulsory paramilitary youth organisation existing in the early years of communist Poland called (my imperfect translation) ''Universal Organisation "Service for Poland"'', modeled along the lines of the [[wikipedia:Soviet Union|Soviet Russia's]] [[wikipedia:Komsomol|Komsomol]]. | ||
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To be continued... | To be continued... | ||
Revision as of 15:09, 23 March 2015
| Sun 22 Mar 2015 in 50,20: 50.0718751, 20.1057869 geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox |
Contents
Location
Just off Igołomska street in Cracow, in a patch of willow trees.
Participants
Malgond with kids.
Plans
Malgond plans go there by tram by car, to arrive at meet-up time.
Expedition
We have encountered some unforeseen time constraints, so we had to forgo going there by public transport and we were able to set out only at 3:26 local time. Therefore even if I drove semi-aggresively, we have arrived a bit late, at six past four. We (rightly!) did not expect to meet anyone, but just in case...
Communist legacy
Our route led us through Nowa Huta, a new city (now being a district of Cracow) constructed in early 1950s during Communist rule in Poland, around huge steel works named after Vladimir Lenin. In fact, the Igołomska street near wich the hash point was located runs along the southern fence of the industrial complex.
We got into the car and drove off. My daughter was making some photos along the way - thanks to her I have some more to write about. All photos from the car trip are by her, the photos from the hashpoint by me - except one. Soon we drove past the southernmost tram line terminus in Cracow, from which we originally intended to take tram number 10 to reach a tram stop in the Igołomska street just shy of the easternmost terminus in Pleszów - unfortunately we could not afford the time required to complete such a journey this Sunday. We crossed the Vistula river on a bridge in Nowohucka street and soon reached somewhat convoluted net of streets and roundabouts of Nowa Huta and the neighbouring residential districts. I rarely visit those parts and sometimes get lost there even if no road works. Fortunately, this time I have managed to stick to the planned route without undue detours - on the way there, at least. After not so much time we arrived at the central square of Nowa Huta, with its characteristic and unique socrealistic architecture. Previously it was devoted to Joseph Stalin, currently it is named after U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
Crossing the Vistula river. The Cracow CHP plant in the background.
Road works in Aleja Pokoju.
Speeding along the tram line we failed to ride today.
Ronald Reagan Central Square in Nowa Huta.
Reagan square. Still some road works.
To the hash
After driving past Central Square we passed by a building in which a museum of the PRL is going to be open some day. The building had been erected exactly in that time, and its facade is a bit tarnished today - I just thought it should be left like it is now to better depict the sorry state of the communist Poland.
A few minutes later we arrived at the intersection which lies not far from the Mound of Wanda, named after a legendary daughter of a legendary founder of our city. We turned right and drove along the Igołomska street and the perimeter fence of the steel works. The tram line goes between the street and the fence, with the stops dully named Gate no. 4., Gate no. 5, Coke works etc. - after the numbers of the entry gates to the steel works complex and the function of one of the subdivisions. One stop name, however, tells a story. The second-to-last tram stop on the line is mysteriously called Meksyk (Mexico). Indeed the whole neighborhood is called so. How come?
To be continued...
Museum of Peoples' Republic of Poland under construction. Looks like a real thing!
Approaching Igołomska street. Mound of Wanda behind the trees.
Tram stop on the line to Pleszów. Steel works in the background.
Half-successful attempt at capturing the "Meksyk" ("Mexico") bar.
Photos
Unsorted photos. Will be moved to the description soon.
Achievements
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Malgond earned the Land geohash achievement
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Malgond earned the Drag-along achievement
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Malgond earned the No Batteries Geohash Achievement
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