I was born in Venice in December 1982; my parents are Uruguayans but my grandparents were Italians. I have travelled a lot since I was a kid, especially in a campervan across Europe, a great passion of my parents that gradually grew in me, almost turning into an obsession.
Once 18, I immediately started traveling with friends whenever I had the opportunity.
The turning point comes at the age of 23, when I was hired by Costa Cruises, I find myself having a particularly demanding job for 8 months a year, but which allowed me to be free for the remaining 4 months. So, thanks to a sort of dark period, I decided to do what, at that time, seemed to me like a huge challenge, leaving by myself for 4 months with my backpack and the idea of discovering part of Latin America (Mexico, Cuba, Argentina and Uruguay). When I told friends and relatives about this project, the reactions were always the same: some were fascinated while others reacted almost with derision, telling me that it was complete madness, that it was dangerous, that giving up everything and leaving was irresponsible, basically that I shouldn’t do it. Usually, people who tell you that you will not be able to do something are actually those who hope that you will not be able to do it, because they would be too afraid to even try.
In any case, I managed to do that “crazy” trip to Southern America but not alone as I had planned: two dear friends (or maybe I should call them brothers as they practically grew up with me) joined me. That trip deeply changed us, much more than we could have ever imagined, and, once home, we never stopped asking ourself “When do we leave for the next trip?”.
I kept on travelling (Ireland, Spain and Cape Verde) and in the meantime I met Myriam (who is now my wife) with whom I left again to spend another 4 months in South America (Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Galapagos): that was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful adventures of my life.
By now we can definitely call ourselves mochileros (backpackers in Spanish); being a backpacker allows us to interact in an extremely simple and authentic way both with local populations and with other travelers. Leaving with only a mochila on our shoulders became a lifestyle for us and the journey became the moment in which we really feel ourselves and all the barriers fall. The knowledge, emotions and experiences that we bring home after each adventure is priceless.
Back in Italy, I was soon sucked back into the daily routine, but the desire for freedom was always there. I changed my job and, unfortunately, I could (and I can’t) have those 4 free months a year, so I try to accumulate holidays to be able to stay away for at least 1 month at the time and to leave as soon as I can.
In the years that followed my second trip to Latin America, together with my now inseparable travel and life companion Myriam, I visit most of Italy, Austria, the United States, France, Holland, Argentina, Uruguay, Hungary, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Slovenia and Croatia. Nonetheless, I was constantly hunted by the idea of wasting the most precious asset we have: “time”. The death of my grandfather, to whom I was very attached, forced me to reflect on the inexorable flow of time and on what I was doing with my life. I developed an awareness of being a very lucky person, surely thanks to my travels who had given me the possibility to observe what happens in the world, far from the reassuring comforts of the neighborhood where I had grown up. At the same time, however, I realized that if there was something I wanted to do, something that could really make me happy, I had the moral obligation to do it. I kept wondering “If not now, when?”, aware that postponing made no sense since none of us know what the future holds, we have only one certainty, which is that the time we have is limited.
Therefore, in 2014, I took a 6-month leave and off we went: I left with Myriam and Christian (who had already experienced the first 4-month adventure with me), my irreplaceable travel companions. We had planned an undoubtedly demanding itinerary that rewarded us with countless emotions: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico.
Returning to reality is always difficult, but I know that every coming back home also corresponds to a new departure, that little by little the unforgettable moment of the journey become an integral part of my life and myself.
In recent years, therefore, travel has increased and, as soon as I have the opportunity, I grab my “mochila” and set off on new adventures: Germany, Italy, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Portugal, Japan, United States (National Parks + coast to coast), Morocco, Poland, Norway, Nepal, Qatar, Argentina and Uruguay.
As for everyone, 2020 becomes a particularly difficult year. The coronavirus pandemic overwhelms me a few weeks before leaving for Namibia. Unfortunately, the trip will be canceled, as well as the others already scheduled for the following months. However, I take this opportunity to known more about the wonders of central Italy. The following year, travel restrictions finally relaxed, at least I resumed traveling in Europe. First the south of France (Camargue and Provence) and then the Portuguese Camino de Santiago, an unforgettable experience to say the least.
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