ENThis study answers the question of how contact with devices or items unknown domestically influenced a traveller’s perception of familiarity and foreignness. Travel journals as egodocuments are analysed here, which may lead to the conclusion that confrontation with strangers strengthened the feeling of familiarity with regards Poland treated as a whole – the Republic of Lithuania and the Crown. This boosts ties with Poles as commoners. However, the stereotype of Poles as Catholics is broken. Keywords: Egodocuments; Italy; Germany; 18th century; one’s own and stranger. [From the publication]