Hello! My name is Kamila Napora but everyone calls me Kami. I’m more than happy to see you visiting my blog and I hope you will enjoy your stay here. If you have any questions about places I’ve visited, especially travelling to Central Europe or former USSR, or just want to say “hi!” you’re more than welcome to contact me!
About Kami
Ever since I was a small girl and since I remember I was travelling. My parents used to drag me first around Poland and then, around Europe. Each summer was spent visiting mountains, seaside, lakes, cities and so many other beautiful places. That gave me a serious travel bug that is getting worse and worse with time…
My first solo trip took place before my 18th birthday when I went to visit a friend in Austria and came back home via Slovakia (with some minor adventures on the way). It gave me the courage and confidence for solo traveling and pushed me to travel to more faraway places. Almost 20 years and over 70 countries later I find myself travelling more than ever!
After seeing every country in Europe I started travelling further away. My first exotic country was China in 2012. Since then I’ve been to 5 continents and visited places I hadn’t even dared to dream of seeing. The majority of my trips are solo – not because I’m antisocial (quite contrary, actually…) but because I value my independence on the road way too much. Still, the journey I remember the most are those when I met amazing people who often are still part of my life (like the one to Israel or Georgia).
Over the years my interests have changed a lot. At first I was all about Western Europe, now I find it kind of boring and my travel choices focus on Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, former USSR and Middle East. That’s also where you will most likely see me travelling. I remember my first visit in Romania in 2010 when I was almost shaking with fear, now all those unknown and off the path countries feel completely normal to me. I even went solo to Iran and found it one of the safest countries ever! At some point I got really into street art and alternative culture and I always try to find those kind of places during my travel. And even if I don’t try, I keep bumping into them anyway. I’m also very much interested in architecture, especially from the 20th-century. In each place I visit I need to find a cosy cafe that I can later on recommend here.
Despite what people think I do work, full time, and travel only in my free time. It takes a lot of determination and organization skills to balance both worlds but at the end it’s totally worth the effort! Here you can read more on how to have a full time job and travel the world.
When not travelling you will find me in Warsaw, Poland – a city I used to have a difficult relation with but now adore with passion. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to live in, it has everything I need: great cafes and pubs, decent alternative culture, lots of street art and green spaces and the best friends I could imagine! With so many connections and really good offers every other day I can’t think of a better base for traveler interested in destinations I like.
About the blog
This blog was founded in July 2012. At first I started writing for my friends abroad who wanted to know more about my travels (hence the blog is in English). Very quickly I got more readers, interested in unusual destinations I tend to visit, alternative culture and solo female travels. And that’s what I enjoy to write about the most, encouraging fellow travelers to go off the path and showing women that traveling solo isn’t as scary as it seems! I want to introduce you to places you most likely never considered worth visiting, break stereotypes about misunderstood destinations and talk about difficult histories and issues around the world. This is not another travel blog with unicorns and rainbows, it’s much more than that! But I do enjoy sharing with you all the travel tips and beautiful pictures too!
To see the list of places I’ve been to please visit “Destinations” page. In the lower menu you have links to all the countries I’ve written about on the blog, divided into continents or parts of Europe; there’s also map with all the posts. You’re welcome to message me with your questions/comments or just to say hi, you can find my contact information here. If you’re interested in partnership please visit “Work with me” page.
Thank you for being here with me! Happy travelling!
82 Comments
Kevin Bruce
08/01/2015 at 23:32Thank you for your article on Kosovo We are going to Skopje and will take the day trip as your recommended. We are then off to Belgrade and Sarajevo.
kami
23/01/2015 at 19:51you’re very welcome! I hope you will enjoy it (or maybe you’ve already gone?)! Please let me know how it was!! I think from all of these cities Sarajevo is the best!
ken Clarke
22/09/2019 at 11:29Hi Kami well into the 60’s now & about to head off to Malaysia & beyond in Nov !
kami
04/10/2019 at 21:20Nice! Have a great trip!
Michael Astel
23/04/2021 at 17:29My family is originally from Przemyśl and I have been coming to Przemyśl often for more than 30 years and thank you very much for the article you did. You revealed many things to me that I did not know.
kami
27/06/2021 at 12:31Thank you, I’m glad you found it interesting!
KENNETH M. Brown
29/04/2020 at 07:39Kami thank you for your blog. I admire your zest for travel and I share that with you. In my youngrr days I traveled the States modestly. Thank you so much.
kami
05/05/2020 at 08:40Thank you! :)
Joanna
02/02/2015 at 13:25I have just come across your blog (thank you onet). Thanks for a lot of new inspirations :) Where in Finland did you stay in 2007? I, myself, was an exchange student in Finland in 2007 as well (what a coincidence, right?) :) We stayed in Lappeenranta ;) And I also agree with your statement that you have to have a trip to look forward to – I function just the same way ;)
kami
02/02/2015 at 19:18that really is a big coincidence! I was in Valkeakoski, a small town in the middle of nowhere, close to Tampere. It was so much fun! :) and welcome :) I hope you will stay around for a while :)
Toni
22/02/2015 at 20:01Hi Kami,
You and I seem to have a similar mindset. I think we would do well traveling together. Just started reading but I’m enjoying your blog so far. Cheers!
kami
28/02/2015 at 15:01Thank you!! :) happy travels!
Christina
06/06/2015 at 19:10Suddenly stumbled upon your blog, Kami, and I totally love it! Especially the Sarajevo posts. Safe travels. xx
kami
19/06/2015 at 23:43Thank you! Happy traveling!
ag
06/08/2015 at 08:03Uf, dotarłam do końca, zobaczyłam, że pracujesz :)
Już myślałam, że jesteś szcześliwą posiadaczką fortuny i sobie jeździsz tam i siam, a tu proszę: normalna dziewczyna z ponadprzeciętnymi wymaganiami od życia, to mi się podoba :) Inspirujące.
kami
13/08/2015 at 21:46nie, nie mam fortuny, za to ciężko pracuję, żeby móc sobie podróżować tak dużo (kasa to raz, a czas to dwa). ale jak widać mozna połaczyć jedno i drugie. Dzieki!
Bożena
14/08/2015 at 21:43Witam!przypadkiem natrafiłam na Twój Instagram i tak poszło.Wspaniały blog,opisy,fotki rewelacja,kilka miejsc jest mi bardzoooo bliskich,szkoda,że nie mam takiej towarzyszki podróży,gratulacje,uznanie i pełne serce podziwu,pozdr.Bożena.
kami
03/09/2015 at 21:54Dziękuję bardzo za przesympatyczny komentarz, bardzo mi miło! Pozdrawiam serdecznie!
Alicia Kartuzinski
29/01/2019 at 01:27Hi Kami!
I’m Alicia. I’ll be in Paris all summer and for a month in Kotor from Sept to Oct as I must leave the Schengen countries prior to 6 months in Paris.
I’m very excited about staying in Kotor for an entire month but some of my worldly travel friends are suggesting I also visit Croatia.
And you, what do you think?
Big hug,
alicia
kami
01/02/2019 at 10:54I personally prefer Montenegro over Croatia to be honest. It’s cheaper, stunning and people are really nice and friendly. Being based in Kotor you will have plenty of chances to travel around (I’m actually working right now on post about day trips from Kotor) and the town itself is a real gem. You will love it! :)
Anna
03/02/2019 at 02:12I came across your blog via being recommended by joaoleito.com and I’m glad I discovered it. You have been to all the places I dream about, like Iran, Uzbekistan and Georgia! I look forward to exploring your pages more! Greetings from Australia! X
kami
12/02/2019 at 12:16Thank you Anna! I hope you will make it to all these great places too! Happy travels!
PHINELLA HENDERSON
02/03/2019 at 15:27Interesting blog; many thanks Kami. I am hoping to go to Skopje to check out its history. And reading about the place made me realise it would be worth visiting anyway even if the earthquake destroyed a lot of its past and to use it as a base for some travels in the Balkans perhaps.
kami
05/04/2019 at 14:02I hope you will like Skopje, it’s such an underrated city! All the best and happy travels!
Victoria
21/04/2019 at 09:37Just came across your blog. We are a retired couple from Canada on a 9 week European adventure. We have done the west coast of Italy as far as the Amalfi coast. We come from a small community so we are not city travelers..We love nature. We are in Opatija Croatia now and over the weeks heading down to Dubrovnik. Your blog is giving me courage to be free in the moment, live large (on a budget) and enjoy every moment of our journey.
kami
27/04/2019 at 13:16Thank you, that’s so sweet of you! Enjoy your trip, you will see some spectacular places along the way! All the best and happy travels!
martina
25/04/2019 at 19:15I love warsaw because of the street artits, great vibe on your blog!
kind regards
travelling solo mum(yes , I am injecting my kids … at least…. I hope)
kami
27/04/2019 at 13:31Thank you for your comment! I love how you show your kids the world! All the best and happy travels!
Barry Maguire
07/05/2019 at 16:07Kami,
I am delighted to stumble across your blog after reading about your sojourn to Bergamo. I am a retired public school teacher from Washington, DC. It seems that you are traveling here in June, so you will have my email if you decide to get in contact. I have been traveling solo in Europe since 1969, and like you I treasure my independence. After all, sometimes my travels turn into ADVENTURES that others might not enjoy as I do. This year I will be in Italia from Oct. 20 to Nov. 9. Will be saving Bergamo, Treviso, and Vicenza for October 2020. You are an inspiration to all of us. As for me, I never met a stranger, so I connect with people wherever I go. Last year I shared a running email with 18 contacts who are REAL friends during my three weeks in Europe. Would like to know how I might expand this kind of essay into a blog. Please advise. All the best always–
kami
25/06/2019 at 17:16Hi Barry. I’m in the US right now but I’m not visiting Washington, DC this time. Have a great time in Italy! It’s such a wonderful country to visit. All the best!
Jason
24/06/2019 at 05:02Hi Kami, just came across your blog now and it’s really interesting all the places you have visited. I want to take a trip to China/Hong Kong some day and was searching online for some info about that, and am actually trying to learn some Chinese on YouTube from a great teacher yangyang. Man i thought learning Russian was hard years ago, but Mandarin makes it seem simple in comparison. I see you are in USA now, what part of the country are you visiting? I live north of New York City so if you would like any advice just send an email. Happy travels, Jason
kami
25/06/2019 at 17:17Hi Jason! Good luck with your Chinese, I can only imagine how challenging this might be. I’m in NYC right now and tomorrow I’m back to Boston for the conference. Only these two cities for me this time. All the best!
Shirley
01/07/2019 at 05:22Love your blog. I love traveling!
kami
01/07/2019 at 07:01thank you!
Carol Rasponi
26/07/2019 at 03:57Kami, So happy to have found your blog. When you look at me you see a 68 year old woman from the USA. But, looks are so deceiving. As a 21 year old I traveled solo overland from Europe to India and spent 6 months in India. Came back via Moscow to Frankfurt. Stuck my thumb out on the highway and hitched to see my Canadian friend living in Munich. And I haven’t stopped since. It is so wonderful to see in you my legacy. Keep on truckin’ kiddo:) Husband and I are off to Uzbekistan in October and I think your information will be very helpful. I love the details that you give. Love Carol Rasponi
kami
31/07/2019 at 11:50Thank you so much for your comment, Carol! It looks like you had some crazy adventures that lots of us can be a bit jealous about :) Have a great trip to Uzbekistan, I’m sure you will love it there!
Thanh
15/08/2019 at 04:34Incredible work that you do Kami!
I have an immense fascination about Eastern Europe and regions of the former USSR after my first trip to Kiev last year.
So much so that I’m now returning to Ukraine, along with trips to Tranistria, Bucharest, Warsaw, Mink and Almaty, this coming Christmas and well into late January of 2020.
Finding what you do and your content is literally god sent and I will reach out to you very soon for assistance in planning my trip, as I know you have been on the ground and know the hidden gems of each places.
Keep doing what you do best!
Kind regards
Thanh
kami
19/08/2019 at 21:45Thank you for your comment, Thanh! I’m sure you will have a great trip! You can ask all the questions on the Facebook group, me and other members will be happy to help! All the best!
Mirka
17/08/2019 at 07:22Hi Kami, Google brought me to your blog when searching for Praha 7, congrats on your travels ! Plenty of useful info, will use in the future. I’m also Polish, since 20+ yrs living in California, and travelling the world piece by piece. Holesovice/Letna was my favorite destination in Praha, you forgot to mention amazing Národní technické muzeum, I spend there couple of hours looking at the household equipment from before 1990 – absolutely amazing.
Will use your blog as source of info for my Central EU travels.
Happy travelling !
kami
19/08/2019 at 21:49Thank you for your comment, Mirka! I’m glad you enjoyed Letna/Holesovice too! It’s such a wonderful area of Prague, isn’t it? I admit I completely forgot about the Technical Museum! Will have to visit it next time I’m around. Thanks for reminding me about it. All the best and happy travels!
Aimee Smith
22/08/2019 at 16:21Kami – your post on Minsk was awesome!! Practical advice at the beginning was just the best. Flying off tomorrow and got everything sorted thanks to your post. Really looking forward to checking out some of your recommendations whilst visiting my friend there.
kami
15/09/2019 at 15:15Thank you Aimee! Hope you had a wonderful time in Minsk!
Mrunmaya
18/10/2019 at 12:41Graphic, insightful and informative !!! it is delightful to read about your experiences, especially the useful tips.
kami
06/11/2019 at 22:33thank you!
Haider Ali
28/11/2019 at 08:24Hi , Kami , Just came across ur blog as I was looking for Some suggestions and pre idea for visiting Uzbekistan, and ur blog was superbly described and hope to get more interesting location from ur blog ….and Solo trip is quite a fun isn’t it ..? …. Lots of Love from India ❤️:-)
kami
02/12/2019 at 09:28I’m really glad you found the blog useful and interesting. All the best and happy travels!
Katji
26/12/2019 at 14:03hi Kami :) Really a great travel blog, really good work, and mostly places i am most interested in. I saw Lviev mentioned in a Reddit post showing Belgrade housing projects and I needed to google Lviev, could not remember where is it, and so found your blog. So now Ukraine moves higher on my list. Then I read the page on the Bulgarian monument (wonderful!)…then I saw a photo of Cape Point, so you have been to SA. So, next I will check about visa for Ukraine, and then read another page about Georgia (which is very high on my list, and a good one because no visa needed.)
kami
13/01/2020 at 12:17Thank you for your comment! I hope you will go to all these places soon, they are great!
Chris
12/02/2020 at 13:18Hi Kami,
What travel agency did you use to visit Brest visa free? I’ve contacted two and haven’t heard back from them. Thanks.
kami
12/02/2020 at 16:09Hi Chris,
I used the website “bezviz” – you just feel the online form, pay and should get all the papers to your email shortly after. It was a very smooth and quick process. I hope it will work well for you too!
Al
28/03/2020 at 21:06Hi Kami,
While randomly looking on the web for info on Belarus, I came across your amazing posts. I am so happy I found this site. I am a Canadian with passion for traveling and look forward to someday visiting Belarus.
I wish you all the best. Please keep writing. Cheers, Al
kami
05/05/2020 at 08:08Thank you Al! I hope you will visit Belarus one day, it’s a very interesting country! All the best!
Kami
05/08/2020 at 12:14Hello..
Your name was interesting for me… because my name is Kami too and i,m a boy …. (it was just for fun because i read your profile and your real name is Kamilia)
Have a beauty times
kami
27/08/2020 at 08:53Thank you :) That’s a nice coincidence indeed!
Gopalakrishnan
10/11/2020 at 20:43You are really great! I honestly appreciate you too much heartfully.
kami
25/11/2020 at 13:44Thank you.
Biserka pearl delgado
29/01/2021 at 18:04Hello Kami. I loved your article on the architectural buildings in Beograd and Novi Beograd. But i must say you have the wrng information on the 2 towers and in the middle is restaurant in Novi Belgade. That restaurant WAS opened in the mid sixties my mother used to work there as the nigth manager.
kami
01/02/2021 at 09:02Thank you for your comment and clarification about the restaurant. I’m glad you liked the article.
Lynn
05/02/2021 at 01:19Hello Kami,
While searching for information about Meissen, I happened upon your site and am so glad I did! We will be sailing the Elbe next year, and I cannot wait to return to Germany. It is such a beautiful country. Thank you for your blog. Keep up the good work!!
Happy travels,
Lynn
kami
17/02/2021 at 11:07Thank you, Lynn! Germany is indeed such an interesting country, there is so much to see and do! I’m sure you will have a great trip there! All the best!
Virginija
30/04/2021 at 19:13Thank you for the information and your own impressions on Liberec, a lovely place in Czech Republic! Glad to discover your blog!
Virginija
kami
27/06/2021 at 12:33Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Shahar
29/06/2021 at 14:52Hi Kami! After reading your Athens articles, I just can’t wait to get there this coming September :) Thank you so much! If you happened to run across platforms to get any information on local cultural events, I would love to know about them :P
Anyhow, thank you very much for all of the information :)
Keep enjoying!
kami
12/10/2021 at 19:52Thank you! Hope you had a good trip to Greece!
Ibo
14/02/2022 at 00:13Your experience in Uzbekistan was wonderful!
kami
05/03/2022 at 20:13Thank you! I really enjoyed my time there!
Gerry Kataoka
13/09/2022 at 22:11Very nice blog, enjoyed it. Will read others. I am also a solo traveler now, though not always in the past. I have a dear friend in Poland who is having trouble finding a job as a nurse. I hear the refugees from the Ukraine are consuming the few social services that you have. She has been forced to work a garbage detail just for food money. I hope you and your country are safe, and will soon get back to a more orderly way of life.
kami
18/09/2022 at 10:22Thank you!
Ghazi Ghulamrazaa
19/10/2022 at 07:40Thank you for your article and beautiful images on Baku Azerbaijan.I like and love your work.
kami
29/10/2022 at 18:18Thank you!
Khalid
19/02/2023 at 11:59Hi, i really enjoyed reading about your visit to Croatia, i invite you to visit my country Saudi Arabia, it just 4 hours or 5 from Poland to here, you can get your E-visa very easily by email, think about it.
kami
20/02/2023 at 13:08Thank you! Saudi Arabia has been high on my list, especially now that’s easier to travel there. Hopefully one day!
Serafina
28/02/2023 at 10:31My husband suggested we travel to the Balkans next. Well, to be honest, this is first big travel plan as we got married when Covid-19 started and the travel bug was confined ever since. We settled by traveling locally in Malaysia. I was casually Googling about the Balkans and stumbled upon your blog and yes, it has poked the travel bug again! I shall be visiting your blog often as I really liked visiting places less traveled by, just like what you did! Thank you Kami, keep doing what you’re doing!
kami
01/03/2023 at 10:04Thank you so much for your kind words! And you should definitely visit the Balkans, it’s such a wonderful part of Europe you would enjoy it for sure! All the best and happy travels :)
Ewa Karwacka
13/06/2023 at 09:36Hi Kami,
I just found you and your blog as I was searching for a good article about my home city, Lublin. I wanted to encourage someone to visit this place and wanted to send them a link with some info. And here I am, stuck reading your blog at my work, I just cannot stop.
Thank you for this blog and promoting all these places!
kami
15/06/2023 at 13:14Thank you so much for your kind comment! It’s always a pleasure to promote those amazing yet less known places :) Dzięki i najlepszego!
Albertho Martins
16/06/2023 at 05:37Hello Kami,
My name is Albertho Martins, I live in the city of Porto Alegre, in the extreme south of Brazil and I visited Eastern Europe (Berlin, Posnam, Warsaw, Kraków, Budapest, Prague, Bratislava and Vienna) five years ago. Reviewing my photos, I couldn’t identify a place that had taken beautiful pictures. This place is in the central region of Slovakia. Through your blog, I managed to locate this beautiful place that is Banska Bystrica. I loved everything about this historic city. All your explanations and tips that you pass on about the buildings, squares, tower, city hall and the other sights of the place are very nice. From what I’ve read about you, you also like to travel like me. I work a whole year and take 1 month of vacation and spend the 30 days traveling. Nice to talk to you. I wish you great travels for the future.
Be happy.
A big hug…
kami
19/06/2023 at 11:30Thank you very much for your kind comment. All the best!
JoAnn Petrina
20/06/2023 at 03:21Hi Kami I am taking all your suggestions for Punta Arenas I hope the Hostel Boutique is as nice as you say and can’t wait to explore and eat all that delicious food! I will turn 75 when I am there and your blog has been extremely helpful and exciting. I have been traveling on my own for 10 years (backpacker too!) and I love it still working also Keep writing as I will be taking all those suggestions Thank you!
kami
20/06/2023 at 06:13That’s so great to hear! Have a wonderful trip, I’m sure you will enjoy Patagonia! All the best!
hal
05/07/2023 at 11:55love your travels!
kami
05/07/2023 at 16:13Thank you!