Keeping Warm

Warming up at a Toruń bus stop!

Our thermometer only a few minutes ago!

With temperatures currently as low as minus 18C, one is certainly feeling the cold here in Poland. To help combat the cold, Toruń (and am sure other Polish cities) have resorted back to a technique from the communist past. At various bus stops around Toruń there are literally fires burning to help warm up those waiting for a bus. A great idea...though can't see it catching on in the UK. Not very health & safety!

The Faded Fire Angel

This faded symbol can be found on the side of the old town's main fire station. Nice to know an angel is watching over our fire crew!

Fire at Bogard & Rutledge

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, S.C.

I can't even imagine waking up to this but luckily someone did wake up and got everyone else out. No one was hurt although I'm sure they lost almost everything. The Post & Courier site has a lot more photos here. Fire is always a worry with these old wooden houses.

Roadside Fire

Old Gaillard Rd., S.C.

Usually when you see smoke ahead of you on the road it turns out to be a farmer burning leaves at the roadside but not in this case. The unfortunate couple said they pulled over when they noticed smoke coming from from under the hood and in moments the whole vehicle was in full flames. They couldn't believe their eyes.

Thank goodness the passengers got out safely. Firefighters were in the scene in minutes and had the blaze under control. This happened on Old Gaillard Rd. not too far from Eutawville.

In other news - yeah, I am back online! The Comcast gentleman just left after replacing my modem. Once they actually get here they are very nice and helpful. It's getting to them that makes me completely insane.

Close!

This shot taken from the Town Hall tower shows how close the old tenement houses in the Old Town are to each other. Very little space in between, and bare in mind that most of these buildings will now be converted flats. It also explains how come fires can be so devastating as and when they happen.

FIRE STARTER!

Following on from our successful post yesterday which attracted numerous comments from around the world...we have followed suit again with a similar 'native speakers enjoying a Polish pub' pic!! This time it is English lecturer Bob France and yours truly...captured early morning in some local Polish pub!

Apologies for the blurred image but that was how we were feeling!!! lol!!

And really why was Bob's hair on fire?!!!!

Toruń Blaze (by Mark Hoogslag)

Toruń is famed for its old, charming architecture. However, its wooden-timbered medieval frames do sometimes come at a price. On the morning of Thursday 15th March 2007, a major fire broke out in a 15th Century tenement building in the city's Old Town. Luckily, there were no fatalities but the fire did completely gut the building (including the "Stara Babcia" (Old Grandmother's) pub in it's basement). Our guest photographer Mark was on the scene to capture some shots.