Afterglow

Central Europe has been under a massive high-pressure system for the best part of two weeks now, with long spells without cloud cover. Nights are double-digit cold; days are frosty and beautiful, the sun's brilliance reflecting off the snow. Ten hours of direct sunshine at this of year is not enough to lift temperatures or melt snow, but does wonders for the spirit. The sun now sets a few minutes before 5pm, and the 'magic hour' (half an hour before, half an hour after) creates an extra-special atmosphere. In this post, I want to share some recent photos taken after the sun has set. Tomorrow, the clouds will roll in from the north, bringing a little snow.

Below: ulica Owocowa, the western end of the lane on which I live, officially in Chynów. Behind me lies Jakubowizna. On the horizon, a small cloud formation bubbles up.

Below: ul. Miodowa, Chynów. No asphalt between here and the main street in the distance.

Below: the site of the old level crossing on ul. Miodowa, which was removed when the railway line was modernised in 2019. A local Koleje Mazowieckie train approaches Chynów station...

...and taken a few days earlier, here's a double-deck przyspieszony ('accelerated') Koleje Mazowieckie service approaching Chynów station. I love these trains – 21 minutes to W-wa Służewiec, 21 minutes home, with only three intermediate stops along the way. Note the thin layer of low cloud catching the rays of the sun, by now below the horizon.

Below: platform's end, Chynów. The sign is set at an angle to the tracks, making it easier for passengers to get their bearings as a train enters or passes the station. A bit of fill-in flash helps here!

This time last year:
Metaphysics: woo-woo or fact?

This time six years ago:
Skierniewice-Łuków line modernisation announced
[PKP PLK still getting round to sorting out the tenders...]

This time seven years ago:
Entropy and anti-entropy in a constant-ruled universe

This time eight years ago:
Truth, spin, bullshit and lies

This time nine years ago:
How much spirituality do we need?

This time 12 years ago:
The Chosen Ones

This time 13 years ago:
Fixies in the snow

This time 16 years ago:
Just the ticket