What fascinating stories are hidden within different Spots? How can you discover them? We discuss this with Karolina Skowronek and Adrian Ślesiński, the creators of the popular polish blog My – Tu i Tam.
Editor: What are your favorite places that you’ve visited so far?
Adrian Ślesiński: That’s a very tough question. We don’t just visit places for the sake of seeing them but also to learn their history. There are usually multiple aspects that make a place stand out as a favorite. One of the spots I remember fondly is the Palace of Silesian Cinderella in Kopice (find this Spot on Findia).
Karolina Skowronek: Another amazing place is Ostrzyca, our extinct volcano in Lower Silesia (find this Spot using the Findia app). It’s a spot I’d love to visit again this year.
Why those places in particular? What attracts you the most about them?
KS: When you think about volcanoes, Poland doesn’t exactly come to mind. Of course, we have them, but they’re extinct. Ostrzyca is incredible in this regard. It’s often called the Silesian Fuji. Although, we like to think it’s the other way around —Japan has our Ostrzyca (laughs).
AŚ: It’s not a very well-known spot, so not many people visit it.
KS: I’m totally in love with Lower Silesia, so I might be biased (laughs). But when I’m there, I’m just really happy. I love traveling to that area… Ostrzyca is beautiful at both sunrise and sunset.
KS: The story of Silesian Cinderella isn’t widely known, even though it’s a true tale. In short, the story revolves around the ruins of the palace. It was once a beautiful residence owned by Joanna Gryzik, who was a half-orphan. From being a little girl with nothing, she became a millionaire, one of the richest people in Europe at the time. If you delve deeper into the story, it’s absolutely fascinating, but few people know about it.
AŚ: But when people hear the story, they’re always amazed… and the Palace in Kopice itself left a huge impression on us. That story even led us a bit further to Bytom.
KS: That’s how we found another spot. The Palace of Silesian Cinderella is tied to the story of the adult Joanna Gryzik. We traveled to Bytom to learn more about her childhood. Before Bytom, there was Ruda Śląska, and that’s how we created an entire trail about her, which you can find on Findia (download the app now).
AŚ: Sometimes, you visit a place that’s simply beautiful. You remember the lovely views… but it’s only after learning the history that you start to appreciate the place in a whole new way.
The places you’ve mentioned aren’t the most popular. So, how did you discover them and their stories?
KS: It’s not that we discovered something new. If we’re talking about Kopice, it was just one photo that caught my attention. And I’m the kind of person who digs deeper when something piques my curiosity. It turned out there were books that described its history. I read one book, then another, and checked out forums online… and that’s how it happened.
AŚ: Karolina reads a lot (laughs).
KS: Often, that’s where the idea for a trip comes from. I read something and then say, “Look, here’s an interesting place.” And then we go.
Who writes the blog posts more often?
KS: I write most of them, though Adrian has written a few texts. Adrian mainly manages the YouTube channel. I also handle Instagram. So, you could say it’s split evenly (laughs).
Many of the places you visit are abandoned. Why are you so fascinated by those types of places?
KS: We visit less obvious places, which are often abandoned, mainly because of their history. In these spots, you can stop and think. Some might say it’s just a pile of stones, while others see something truly interesting…
The second part of the interview coming soon