Nikiszowiec

Nikiszowiec, a short distance north of Katowice, was built as a coal miners' settlement, 1908-1918.  It feels remote- in time and location.  The streets are strangely tidy; each window painted with pleasant red trim, with lace curtains.  Maybe every 3rd window has a plant.  This, I suppose, is the Silesian penchant for order and cleanliness.  Though the district has become a tourist destination- mostly for other Poles and Russians- it is still not quite a destination for others.  

In the main square, there is a small bakery.  The Mohnkuchen was dense and earthy- surprisingly good.  Nikiszowiec sits in the shadow of an active coal mine- covering vast acreage- KWK Wieczorek Szyb Pulaski.  In front of the mine's gates is a small board- all Polish- commemorating the history of region's industry. Beside that sits a small, shack of a museum.  One can see the wheel of the minehead, rolling up, rolling down.  Through the gates, there are trams and artefacts, in various states of disrepair.  I was able to get a few shots of the complex, before two female guards- not looking for small talk- chased us away.  

Back in Nikiszowiec, I had a micro- exchange with three school children who were said- by my Polish host- to be learning English.  But when pressed, only one volunteered to speak English. They were whisked by an authority figure behind the doors of their school.  From there, I was able to capture the glorious watertower of Nikiszowiec.