Travelogue Italy – Tarifa Spain
Today is my 19th day of travel; I am in Tarifa, in the far south of Spain.
Here ends the first major leg of my journey, 4300 km crossing France to the Atlantic coast, then northern Spain and then the whole coast of Portugal.
I made some very nice stops in Biarritz in France, a place famous for surfers, then Santiago de Compostela, fantastic with its pilgrims, visited Porto and Lisbon where if and when I get to retirement I might even go there to live, and finally another surfer’s paradise here in Tarifa.
Thus ends the first phase of the trip, the European part, if you will the more touristy part, from tomorrow things change, I enter Africa with all the problems and fascination that a continent very different from ours will bring me.
Santiago de Compostela
I did not do the Camino de Santiago, here I got there on my Vespa from Italy, traveling 2800 km, always heading west.
Today, however, I savored and benefited from the happiness of all the pilgrims I saw arriving in Praza do Obradoiro, in front of the cathedral.
Many, many kilometers walked, braving fatigue and in the last few days bad weather.
Their satisfaction could be seen in their looks, in the silences and in the hugs of those who were able to share this, day after day.
Pure emotions in a world of seemingly hyper-connected but lonely people, a complicated and increasingly divided world.
Walking stories
Like in a movie, three Italians, a Brazilian, and a Dutch woman who did not know each other until recently meet. Antonio, from Taranto, makes food for everyone and begins an afternoon of having fun and sharing experiences.
Brenda is Dutch, has done the Camino and has to decide what to do, maybe she goes to Portugal, maybe not.
The only Italian, I don’t remember what his name is, has the red jersey, did the Camino from Seville to Santiago, walking 1007 km, arrived today after 40 days of walking and is returning to Italy on Friday.
The Brazilian, the one in the white shirt, and Antonio, in the blue cap, met while walking, have been together for 20 days but communicate only by gestures.
Antonio’s story is incredible, recently retired, although he has not yet seen retirement. Three months ago he had surgery for a brain tumor, not serious but delicate, after two weeks he decided to go for a week in Madrid with his 22-year-old son. When the week is over he stays a little longer to visit Seville, Valencia and other Spanish cities. He lands in Barcelona and sees a sign for the Camino de Santiago, in a flash decides, buys the necessities at Decathlon and sets off on foot to Santiago, where he arrived yesterday, after 40 days.
He was supposed to take a week’s vacation and instead he has been gone for two and a half months but he is still not coming home because he is starting from here for a new journey of another 30 days and then we will see.
At home his wife, children and grandchildren are waiting for him, and he reassures them, I’m coming!!!
The African part of this trip I virtually divide into two parts:
The first one to Dakar, crossing Morocco, Sahara Desert, Mauritania, to Senegal for a total of about 3,200 km.
The second from Dakar to the In My Father’s House mission in Abor, Ghana. Again 3,200 km crossing Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast until Ghana.
So far I have experienced a very different journey from Nepal, easier if you will given the countries crossed, or perhaps due to greater awareness of the goal and also greater preparation both technically and internally.
I know that as of tomorrow that will not be the case, I have read from many travelers who are in those parts or have been there recently, some have also given me invaluable information that I will treasure. Everyone rides enduro bikes, more or less modern, more or less powerful, but still enduro bikes. I am aware of my medium, its limitations, but also its possibilities, so I face this new experience with the right determination to get to the end.
The first big goal is Dakar!
FOR LOVERS OF NUMBERS
Miles traveled: 4,300
Speed: 78 km/h the maximum and 50 km/h the average
Fuel consumption: 32 km/l
Highways: o km
Costs: €734 in 19 days equal to €39 per day including food, lodging and gasoline which accounts for about 1/3 of the total costs
FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO FOLLOW AND SUPPORT ME
To make a donation to the mission in Africa (you really make me a great gift, any amount – as a company you also have the tax deduction)
To purchase my book NEPAL IN VESPA (making this second trip made me realize even more the value of what I wrote)
To follow me in real time during my journey
To see the photo gallery of the trip
Thank you from the bottom of my heart
