Jakie niezwykłe historie kryją w sobie Miejsca? Jak dowiedzieć się o nich? O tym w drugiej części rozmowy z Karoliną Skowronek i Adrianem Ślesińskim – twórcami popularnego bloga My – tu i tam. What fascinating stories are hidden in these Hot Spots? How can we uncover them? In this second part of our conversation with Karolina Skowronek and Adrian Ślesiński, creators of the popular polish blog ‘My – tu i tam’, we dive deeper into their adventures.
Editor: Many of the places you visit are abandoned. Why do they fascinate you so much?
Karolina Skowronek: We explore less obvious spots, often abandoned, especially because of their history. In such places, you can pause and reflect. Some may see a pile of stones, while others might find something truly captivating…
Aren’t you worried about your safety in such places?
Adrian Ślesiński: Karolina often doesn’t realize the risks, but I do think about it more (laughs). The older I get, the more I focus on safety. Sometimes we enter a place and suddenly think, ‘What if this collapses?’ And Karolina responds, ‘I hadn’t thought of that!’ (laughs). Once, we had to dig out a tunnel just to get inside. I thought, ‘What if this caves in?’
KS: Sometimes we explore with another couple of travelers. It feels safer, but in reality, it shuts down rational thinking. We become braver, wanting to prove we can get in. So far, we’ve had no bad experiences, but you never know what might happen. You have to be cautious.
AŚ: So far, everything’s been fine, and that’s why we take photos and document these places.
Do you have any memorable stories to share?
KS: At the end of last year, something happened that perfectly illustrates what we do. The first place that sparked our adventure was a dynamite factory in Bydgoszcz. We live right next to this spot. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a course for local tour guides, so I signed up to learn more about Hot Spots.
Dynamite factories are my thing. For example, last November, we traveled with friends to a gunpowder factory near the German border. It was cold, raining with snow—awful weather. In that factory, Adrian had the brilliant idea… he proposed! We’re unconventional people, so this spot, in the middle of the forest, 30 meters down, was perfect. Like the meme says: propose, or push her off (laughs).
AŚ: One way or the other (laughs).
Can we say that your shared passion has brought you closer in everyday life?
AŚ: At first, Karolina was someone who would never sleep in a tent. Now, she’s willing to crawl through collapsed concrete (laughs).
KS: Definitely (laughs). Just tell me when and where, and I’ll go (laughs).
AŚ: The tunnel digging story happened on New Year’s Eve. We were exploring the area. The tunnel was filled with water. There were other underground explorers preparing to wade through it. I was a bit scared… and suddenly I see Karolina joining them (laughs).
KS: You could say I took a swim just to see a section of the tunnel that didn’t look much different from the dry part (laughs).
What does content creation on social media and your blog mean to you?
KS: It’s like a second job, but it’s also part of our life. I write articles with someone in mind who might find the information useful. When I go through the photos for publication, it takes me back to those Spots.
AŚ: The spots we choose are unusual, with interesting stories. We want people to discover something new, something unique. You don’t have to travel far to find a Hot Spot. For instance, I didn’t know there was a great cave, “Bajka,” near me. Now I do, and I realize you don’t have to go far to see something extraordinary.
KS: We want to show that you don’t need a lot of money to travel. It’s worth getting out and exploring.
What can users find in the Findia app?
KS: We love the app. We’ve already visited several Spots nearby that other Travel Creators added. We, in turn, have added many interesting spots ourselves, though not all of them yet… A great place worth recommending is Forst Zasieki. It’s a fascinating city that disappeared after the war.
AŚ: On the German side, the city was rebuilt, while on our side, only remnants remain. Interestingly, before the war, the Polish side was actually in better condition…
KS: What makes this place particularly fascinating is when you compare it with old photos…
We add a variety of spots, from castles to abandoned villages. This year, we’ve been exploring a lot of military-related places, especially from World War II and the Cold War era.
AŚ: But we also visit palaces and manors. These Spots have unique histories and charm.
What are your travel plans for the future?
KS: I’m usually the mastermind. I throw ideas at Adrian, and then we go. We don’t have specific plans; there are so many places worth seeing. For instance, we plan to visit the Czech Republic, hike through the mountains, and find one of the special facilities. We choose a base where everything is nearby.
AŚ: We have a main spot to visit but also look for other interesting places along the way. Sometimes we visit a place by chance because it catches our eye. That’s why we don’t have rigid travel plans—it helps us relax.
Now we explore longer, even at night, as long as we have our own light (laughs). We choose a main spot and maybe something extra. We always pick things that are fascinating and special to us.
Do you have any other passions besides travel?
KS: Adrian enjoys filming and photography. I love reading, especially the “Forgotten Places” series. Often, reading gives me ideas for trips.
What ’s your process for editing videos?
AŚ: It depends on the footage. The best videos come when I have an idea during the trip. Then I review the material and organize the frames chronologically. A video like that takes about 20-30 hours of work. The hardest part is the beginning, but once I get into it, the rest goes smoother. Strangely enough, shorter videos require more effort.