We are not tourists anymore, but travelers. We go in search of actual experiences, we leave to find ourselves and know the other, the rush begins to scare us, we become increasingly aware of our impact on the environment, we escape the hit-and-run holiday and the travels becomes a lifestyle.
The world of tourism is changing and it does it fast, new ways of travel always arise: the home exchange, the journey in a shared car, social lunches and much more. We are seeking greater authenticity and someone finds it in incredible and long journeys around the world without ever taking a plane. 100,000 km trails on foot, by bike, by train and by sea. Slowly, to savor every moment and every place. And so you know more about geography, mountains to overcome, closed borders, countries at war and the oceans to cross. With slow means the world is bigger and every corner has a story to tell. On the buses we meet the locals, on train we can admire the landscapes change, the boats give us our space and solitude.
Some of these new travelers are also writers and so on Amazon you can find 3 Italian books (and for now only in Italian), halfway between diaries and travel guides, that tell stories of life and incredible journey.
There’s Carlo Taglia that in his Around the World Without Planes (Vagamondo. Il Giro del Mondo Senza Aerei) recounts his exciting journey from the Himalayas to the Andes and to Siberia of 528 days spent in 24 nations. Looking for deeper truths, awareness and happiness.
And then Darinka Montico, born in Italy who after years of traveling around the world decided to return and discover Italy on foot. Alone and with little money she has gone through the whole country, meeting new people and traditions then tell her trip in Walkaboutitalia.
And finally there is Eddy Cattaneo, who was also on his long journey has never travel the sky. He left his home and permanent job. And he spent 467 days covering 108,000 kilometers, he understood the world, its barriers and its wonders.
Now it’s up to us, we may not be able to make a year long trips, but we can easily discover the authenticity, curiosity, the encounter and pleasure of slowness, sometimes giving up the plane, becoming travelers.
