THE HISTORY Anda couple like many that of Marco Nebbiolo29 years old from Vezza, and Sofia Messa30, from Pocapaglia, but with the journey in his blood. In June 2021 they set off aboard their van, a camperized Ducato affectionately nicknamed Wollemby, to explore the world, driven by Marco's desire to reach Australia by land.
«The years passed and I wasn't living the life I wanted», explains Marco. «I worked as a cellarman in La Morra and Sofia studied psychology. We lived together in a rented house, there were bills and expenses to pay and in the end we had little free time and money left. Every weekend we would run away on the motorbike, but then we would return to the same routine.”
They both understand that that is not their path to happiness, so with great courage they decide to change their lives. He resigns, she graduates, then with their savings they buy the van, used, because they want “to travel slowly, to be able to stop and be with people, slowly adapting to the evolution of cultures”. Family and friends are on their side, an important aspect that certainly helps them take the first step, “once you get past that, everything becomes easier.”
First they head to Norway where they work all summer as raspberry pickers and in a pine nursery. Thus they manage to raise enough money for their trip on the road six months in Europe, visiting Poland, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal: here is the formula for living while travelling. After another eight months of seasonal work, they accumulate the budget to travel the Silk Road to India. In a year and a half they cross the Balkans, Turkey, Central Asia, China, Pakistan and Iran.
«It took several months to plan this itinerary, especially because there is very little information available online. Furthermore, we also had to apply for some visas, such as the Chinese and Russian ones, while we were traveling: a real challenge”, they admit.
The first to talk about the route to India through the “-stan” countries on Youtube
Sofia and Marco were the first in Italy to tell the story, via their YouTube channel BreaTheFreedom and the blog of the same name, the camper route to India through the “-stan” countries, where they were welcomed with open arms, especially in Pakistan. «Here the people are incredibly hospitable and are not afraid of foreigners; their great humanity is truly rare in our West”, declares Sofia, getting a little emotional.
«Instead, the first approach to India was shocking, between the incessant traffic of New Delhi and those who tried to open the van door just to see what it was like inside! We understood that we had to change our point of view to adapt to India and from that moment on we were able to appreciate it.”
Although the objective of this second van trip was to arrive in Australia, boarding the vehicle from India, they preferred to go back to organize their arrival in the land of kangaroos differently. Now they are in Norway to work in the now familiar nursery.
«Our next destination is New Zealand, then finally we will go to Australia. We requested the Working holiday visaa visa to work and travel in these countries where we will continue our adventure on four wheels. We want to be free to travel with our own vehicle, reach isolated places, sleep in nature, wake up every morning with a different landscape. Traveling doesn't just mean seeing beautiful places, but also building yourself in your way of life and thoughts, taking inspiration from the cultures of different parts of the world.” Perhaps this is also why they have no intention of quitting.
Daphne Nota
