Poland
Warsaw
I remember being utterly intrigued by this city when I was younger. An almost noir feel of a dark rainy cityscape, the mob, the post transformational wilderness. At that time, you could really feel its gritty character (…)
Warsaw (Prag)
Every large city I have ever been to has its ‘scary’ district, the one shrouded in mystery and the stuff of urban legends - crime, addiction, violence. Places like Raval in Barcelona, Kabukicho in Tokyo, the infamous Tenderloin in San Francisco, or Praga on the other side of the Vistula River in Warsaw, all ignite the imagination of its inhabitants alike and visitors alike (...)
Warsaw
(old town)
There’s something incredibly calming about returning home—the familiar architecture and sights, the food, smells, and sounds that bring back childhood memories, or the customs and expressions understood only by locals. It’s also the little things: the shade of green on the leaves, the color of the stone used for buildings, the font on street signs, or the cold feel of a northern wind in the morning.
City parks often serve as a lungs in our urban landscapes, offering a breath of fresh air amid the confines of concrete. They provide a space for socializing, exercising, and connecting with nature, and create a place for friends and families to enjoy their time together. When thinking of a good example, many places come to my mind, but there is one in particular that holds a very special place in my heart. I’m talking of course about The Royal Baths Park in Warsaw, Poland (...).
Royal Baths
Wrocław
(…) The story tells of a hidden and ancient city resting beneath the waters of the Oder River which flows through the city of Wrocław. This submerged city, is said to predate official records, and has now been lost to time, concealed beneath the river's currents for many centuries (…).
Gdańsk Winter
As the first snows of winter cover the landscape, the shopfronts and streets adorn themselves with holiday ornaments, it becomes apparent that the telltale signs of the Christmas season are upon us. For many cultures—and especially here in Europe—it marks the grand conclusion of the year, the most magical of moments (…)
Gdańsk Summer
For a long time, I struggled with wanting to do too many things at once. Honestly, I still have that urge to chase every goal I’ve set. But I’ve learned the hard way that trying to make progress on everything at the same time usually leads to achieving very little. When progress is spread thin, it can feel like an entire year passes with little to show for it.
This year, I made a conscious decision to actively prioritize what truly matters (…).
Szczecin
I’ve met so many talented and passionate people in my life. People creating inventions and finding solutions to problems I wouldn’t even think of. It always makes me happy to listen to their plans and ideas. Sadly though, I rarely see any of them succeed or reach their full potential.
Kraków
I love being tourist in my own country. To learn more about my country’s urban legend and stories is such fun activity. And I thought that it might be an interesting experience to start sharing some of I’ve learned with a wider audience. So here is something to start with — the legend of Hejnał Mariacki, also known as the St. Mary's Trumpet Call, a story deeply woven into Kraków's history and closely associated with St. Mary's Basilica (…).
In the mid-19th century, the city of Łódź I Poland underwent a rapid Industrial transformation, gaining recognition as a bustling working-class city famous for its materials and textile products. New factories sprung up all over, powered by steam engines, spewing smoke, casting a pall over the city. For the labourers – many of whom came from nearby countryside – it wasn't the promised land they dreamed of but a place filled with strange, infernal odors and unrelenting toil (...)
Łódź
Lublin
By this point, I have wandered the world for a couple of years, with hardly any break in between. While a significant portion of my journey revolves around exploration, work, and meeting new people, some of my trips happen to coincide with an important personal events in my life. Experiencing these deeply personal moments within an ever-changing environment provides an entirely unique and unexpected twist, often offering a completely different perspective on the situation. It's a perspective that one would never fathom while stuck in the monotony of their stationary life (...).
Poznan
One of the goals I have set for myself this year, was to finally visit all of the major Polish cities. At least the old ones. While I have to say that, there are still some unexplored places remaining on that list, I did managed to visit most of what I’ve planned this year (…).
Sandomierz
Hearing about the recent wave of flooding in the south of Poland, as well as in Germany, the Czech Republic, and other neighboring countries, has reminded me how vulnerable our cultural and historical heritage can be in the face of natural or man made disasters. These events echo a recurring theme throughout history—the loss of irreplaceable monuments, artifacts, and traditions, often caused not just by time, but by wars, political upheavals, and environmental catastrophes.
Sopot
Just like what is Brighton for Londoners, Coney Island for the residents of New York, or Nice for those seeking escape from the busy streets of Marseille. What all of these places share is a blend of family-friendly attractions, quaint architecture, fresher air, and an unmistakable Sunday vibe—lacking a better term. Here is another place like that for you (...)
Wejherowo
Located in the charming and peaceful region of Kaszuby in northern Poland, Wejherowo is an old European town with a complicated history and unique culture. Every time I return to this place, and walk along its safe, clean, and green streets it deepens my appreciation for this town. There are aspects of it that I never thought would be so crucial—like the close contact with nature. As a kid, I never imagined that ancient Kaszubian forests, hills, rivers, and medieval architecture could be anything but abundant in the world. Traveling through half the world showed me that these are treasures many can only dream about seeing one day.
Gdynia
For most people, too cold and windy through the year - even in summer. I on the other hand, love its raw, autumn nature. The darkness of the water, the thickness of its clouds, a freezing northern wind on one’s face. No year feels complete, without experiencing one of its capricious days raging through the coast, at least once (...).
Kazimierz Dolny
(…) Over the years, I’d heard their stories and anecdotes about its charm, the artistic atmosphere, the old houses and narrow streets, and the scenic landscapes around it. But I wanted to see it for myself — and indeed, Kazimierz Dolny lives up to its reputation. With its timeless medieval ambiance, it feels as if the centuries have barely touched it. Small, yet bustling and vibrant, it’s one of those rare places where you can truly step back into the Poland of centuries past. There is something that really touched my soul, i feel like I seeped into something deeper - a proverbial “heart of the land” (…).
Zamość
Zamosc had been on my list for years. I knew about its colorful Renaissance townhouses and the striking city hall with its elegant staircase, but once I arrived I realized there was so much more to explore. The old town is enclosed within star-shaped fortifications, and inside you’ll find not only lively marketplaces and museums—something I expected—but also schools and other civic buildings that give the city a unique character. Wandering through the narrow passages beyond the main square, I found smaller backstreets with quiet, overgrown courtyards and hidden cafés, which I’ll share more about next time.
Gdynia Orlowo
Normally, I’m not a huge proponent of modernist architecture. Mostly because it is often brutally and unceremoniously injected into the existing fabric of a city, disturbing its cohesiveness and sticking out like a sore thumb. “The modern need to shock and surprise,” as they say… yeah, no thanks — I’ll pass.
However, when it’s done right, even I can’t deny its charm. And thankfully, there are examples of such architectural success that I’ve always had close by. One of them is Orlowo in Gdynia, Poland — my university town — a place that hardly needs an introduction for my fellow countrymen and which stands as a testament to Gdynia’s more contemporary architectural design.
Elblag
On my recent journey across Poland, I revisited some places that for years, both vaguely and vividly lingered in my memory. Among them, one stood out in particular: my father’s hometown, and a place of my childhood — Elbląg!
I thought I remember this place, but coming back here felt less like visiting a city and more like walking through a half-remembered dream. I recalled scattered details — a black steel monument in front of a building, a fountain, the sound of a dam in the distance, and the long, dimly lit living room of my great-grandmother’s house. Yet I couldn’t quite recall the actual layout of the city, nor most of its landmarks (…).
Elblag (part 2)
Plans change — and so they should. The ability to reevaluate one’s priorities and adjust course is not a sign of inconsistency or failure, but a sign of growth. It’s often better to start moving forward right away, leaving room for improvement later, and adjust your direction as new information comes in along the way.
Yet it’s surprising how often people struggle to accept that others can change their minds. What they perceive as inconsistency is often just evolution. And when someone acts decisively on their growth, it can unintentionally highlight another’s unwillingness to do the same — which, I suppose, can feel frustrating.
Chelmno
We all have places from our childhood that linger in our memory — places we’ve always wanted to return to (…).
I remember traveling with my parents from Toruń back to Gdańsk. I’m not sure whether we got lost or my father simply decided to take a detour, but we stumbled upon a charming medieval town on a hill — seemingly in the middle of nowhere. I remember its old brick walls, the city gates surrounded by greenery, the cobbled market square, and the cathedral nearly as old as the country itself. It was a place that felt romantic in the purest, most timeless of forms. For years, I often returned to it in memory, though it always felt out of reach (…).
Back in Kraków
As I arrive in Kraków for the Geografica Festival, organised together with the Jagiellonian University this weekend, I realised two things.
First — I have an entire collection of photos from this city that I’ve never shared with you. Honestly, I’m not even sure why. Maybe I simply forgot, or maybe I was waiting for the right opportunity? If that’s the case, then once again I unintentionally hit the mark — the opportunity has arrived (…).
Przemysl
I’ve voiced my love for rail transportation many times before, and after my recent trip around Poland, I feel like talking about that one more time! Being able to cross an entire country by train, comfortably and reliably, matters to me more than I sometimes realise.
It’s not something you can take for granted. In many parts of the world, rail travel is treated as an afterthought. But both of the places I call home—Poland, my homeland, and Japan, famously one of the global leaders in rail travel—take trains seriously (…).
Churches
The small, unassuming town of Przemyśl, located close to the Ukrainian border in the south-east of Poland, ended up offering more than many of the towering metropolises I visited in this year.
I’ve already mentioned its beautiful late 19th-century railway station, but that was only the beginning. Przemyśl revealed a uniquely situated old town, a charming small castle, vibrant nature, fantastic food, pastries, and wine.
But what truly left me speechless was the sheer number and grandeur of its churches and cathedrals scattered across the town (…).
About Poland
This past couple of months was the longest I’ve stayed in my home country since the pandemic — a very different time and circumstances. Before that, the last long stay was even earlier, before I ever began my nomadic lifestyle. Honestly feels like an ages ago.
Not only did I stay in Poland, but I used this time to revisit places I only vaguely remembered from my childhood (…). I also visited many new places never had the chance to see before. And honestly, I had an amazing time rediscovering my own homeland (…).