Leaving My Art in a Secret Alley = European Street Art Tour Episode 02

This is more than just travel. It’s a journey across Europe where the streets are the real gallery. Loud, raw, and illegal. Art that doesn’t ask for permission. I am a designer and an artist myself. And I’m on a mission to document street art while traveling with my family and leave my own mark behind. Welcome to the European Street Art Tour of 2025.

Good morning from Rybnik, Poland. I’m sipping coffee in this small town near the Czech border, where the last YouTube episode ended with an Airbnb tour, gathering my thoughts and letting the early spring air wake me up. It looks like it’s going to be a wonderful and sunny day! Yesterday slipped by without a chance to leave any of my art tiles behind that I have been working on for so long and so hard – today I’m determined to change that. You can check out creation video on my YouTube channel here:

Long story short, these are my street art tiles that are very similar to my original paintings that I sell online. I created these specifically for this trip to leave something monumental behind, appart from the usual stickers that are always in my pocket.

I Googled that there’s an old town in Rybnik, and there is a weird little funky alleyway full of Tibetan cafes, pizza places… all around a very eclectic place – fun for a quick visit and some street art mischief. So let’s go!

We’ve parked right next to the narrow alleyway I googled and it didnt disapoint! An old brick wall covered with faded canvasas of Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison and other very known musicians. It’s the kind of place where creativity lingers in the air, so I guess noone will mind if I leave one of my artworks on these walls.

I reach into my bag and pull out one of my Mustache Men art tiles — the first of this tour. It’s carefully wrapped for the journey, and I can’t wait to place it here. It feels like the right spot: a quiet corner of a vibrant alley, a place that already welcomes art and music. I use my trusty glue gun (because let’s face it, some adhesives just don’t cut it), press the tile into place, and step back to admire it. It’s always a small thrill to leave a piece of myself behind in these cities. Not knowing for how long it will stay up and if even someone will notice it.

If you’re ever in Rybnik, wander through that alley — you’ll find my Mustache Man waiting for you, alongside the hanging hats, the random ski pair, the “Nepal this way” sign, and a touch of that hippie vibe all around. It’s a small contribution to the local creative landscape, but it means a lot to me.

The town of Rybnik is getting ready for the Easter celebration, and the old town square is decorated not only with wonderful flower ornaments but also with fake plastic sakura trees, which is a bit odd, in my opinion. But gotta love the polish people for trying to be festive, love it!

Not much else to do here, and with the tile in place, we continued our journey. We’re headed south, crossing the border into the Czech Republic and then on to Austria and into Slovenia. It’s a long drive, but I wanted to make sure we stopped in Rybnik to leave something tangible behind. After all, this tour is about more than just seeing street art — it’s about contributing to it, one piece at a time. We chose to stay in Slovenia for Easter because everything will be closed in Poland—shops, cafes, grocery stores… no use hanging around; better we move forward and spend the Easter holidays with an outdoor patio and a view of some hills or mountains.

On the road, we I stopped in local LIDL store to buy some Czech beer as it is one of the best in tyhe world and also Kofola.

Kofola is a popular Czech and Slovak soft drink that tastes a bit like cola but with a unique herbal twist. It was first created in the 1960s as a local alternative to Western sodas during the communist era. Unlike Coca-Cola or Pepsi, Kofola is less sweet, slightly more bitter, and has hints of licorice and spices. If you’re visiting Central Europe, it’s a must-try local favorite!

Watch the Street Art Tour episode 02 via YouTube:

Found this funny electric box with a yellow HUP stencil which someone with a white marker altered and turned into HIP HOP sign – very creative!

We made few stops on the highway, got frustrated you have to pay for toilets at a rest stop that charges almost 5 dollars for a small esspresso coffee.. god damn! In Italy that coffe costs 1$ tops and even on high speed highways! Austrian highways are so expensive, it’s better to ride through it without stoppping or you’ll get a serious dent in your trip budget. Don’t get me started if you want to eat a normal second course meal – 24.99$! No thank you! Left them some stickers in the pareking lot…

Hours later, after winding through the mountain roads of Austria, we finally reached Slovenia. We pulled into our Airbnb — a place that genuinely surprised me. As an artist, I always keep an eye out for creative design and thoughtful details, and this apartment had them in spades: exposed wood, warm colors, and even a cozy reading nook for the kids. The hosts left us a bottle of local wine as a welcome gift, which felt like the perfect ending to this long day.

The Airbnb itself deserves a quick mention because it’s these kinds of stays that make traveling memorable. It’s not just about a place to sleep — it’s about feeling at home, even if it’s just for one night. I’ve had some success with Airbnbs in Latvia, and I’m hoping to influence the way travelers choose their stays. So, if you’re in Slovenia, check out places like this — a little creativity goes a long way:

Hiša Galeria: airbnb.com

Tomorrow, we’ll be celebrating Easter and crack open that gigantic ostrich egg we bought in episode 01! For now, I’m grateful we found a place that feels like a home base, even if just for a few nights. And if you’re wondering what’s next — don’t worry, there’s plenty of art, inspiration, and adventure ahead.

If you’re enjoying this journey and want to support me, consider checking out my Patreon page where I share behind-the-scenes updates, work in progreess, ideas, and more… I just started it so please be patient with me. And don’t forget to visit my Etsy shop — that’s where you can find my stickers, art prints, and t-shirts…

etsy.com/shop/mycreativedisorder

Thanks for being part of this trip — it means the world to me. Until next time.