When I heard the news that Zouka (20 year old son of my good friends) was going to travel around Europe the first question I asked was where did he fly to. They told me that he was NOT flying, and then I assumed that he was taking a train, they said: “No train”- “Bus?”…”Motorcycle?”…Apparently he’s NOT going to use transportation…He’s going to travel by foot!
I photographed all stuff he’s taking and will carry on (see photo).
My research how many transports in our era of mass transport are around
came up to a long list, here’s some part of it:
Aviation or air transport: aircraft (aeroplane), balloon, hang glider, helicopter, jetpack, etc;
Road transport: bus, coach, car, motorcycle, truck, trolley bus, etc;
Ship transport: boat (sailboat), ship, etc;
Rail transport: metro (subway), tram, train, etc;
And I don’t even mention transportation like rickshaw or submarine, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mode_of_transport).
The idea of somebody traveling by walking seems not only unusual but exotic!
I knew I wanted to write about it the moment I heard about his plans. To be part of this voyage if not for real then virtually is the dream come true.
Zouka plans to use some sorts of transports mostly as hitchhiker and wants to complete this route:
Brussels (point of departure)- Strasbourg-Dijon-Lyon-Avignon-Barcelona-Valencia-Malaga-across Gibraltar-morocco coast (Melilla)-Tunis-across canal de Sicile-Palermo-Messina-Naples-Rome-Pisa-Milan-Turin-Bern-Strasbourg-Brussels.
Of course changes are going to occur simply because Zouka might wonder around all these cities and countries if he wishes to do so. How many of us think:” if only I could be as free and brave??”-or maybe some of us are terrified and have all reasons against this kind of plan simply since it’s not safe, not smartly planed, not carefully thought thru, etc.
But I want to salute Zouka!! Bon Voyage and thank you for being brave and careless, romantic and adventurous, free spirited and curious-thank you from all of us who heavily chained to everyday life routine…
