In recent years, the awareness of the value of time has taken over and pushed me more and more towards change in a new direction, very different and for this reason, perhaps, more difficult.
I decided to change my life and give up all professional and economic certainties to do what I felt inside, dedicating myself to myself and my passion: the Vespa. From that moment the journey began.
I had to face many choices and challenges, the path I took was not marked only by the kilometers traveled, but also by personal growth and the discovery of what I was, and which too many times you want out of habit I have never been able to see.
Knowing yourself is essential for your well-being and for understanding how to be happy.
I have enclosed my adventure in this book with the serenity and the conviction of having made the right choice once again.
A trip on a motorcycle, or rather, on a Vespa, alone, thrilling and exciting, certainly very demanding in some countries. 11,500 km in almost two months across Eastern Europe, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India and finally Nepal.
Each country has been a discovery and an emotion, from the beauties of Turkey, an amazing Iran to say the least, to the 63 armed escorts to cross Pakistan, to the control of anxiety and stress in India, for the break in a late afternoon of ' Rear shock absorber. Finally Nepal, the ideal place to rediscover your mental well-being and happiness.
Yes, I decided to change my life after the age of 50 because I felt the need to stop waiting for something, paradoxically to want time to pass quickly to see my wishes come true, regardless of the fact that that time, passed so quickly, would never be more came back.
Believing in yourself and having self-esteem help you to overcome difficulties, both those related to life choices and those of the journey. Bureaucratic problems, Vespa breakdowns, dangerous situations, loneliness, are all daily challenges to be faced with confidence and determination.
Turkey - A country halfway between Europe and Asia that makes its diversity one of its main peculiarities.
The whole southern coast, beautiful and spectacular. The Anatolian Plateau with its thousands of kilometers at altitudes between 1500 and 2500 meters, uncontaminated and almost uninhabited places that offer unique views.
Turkey and Cappadocia are one, Göreme with its balloons, Istanbul with the mosques and the Grand Bazaar and Erzorum, at 2000 meters, with its characteristic corners and this slightly "vintage" look.
Iran - In Italy, Iran is thought of as an extremist and dangerous country, but it is quite another, a real discovery.
• Nature reigns supreme, beautiful mountains, hot deserts from north to south, the salt lake.
• Cities, one more beautiful than the other where Persian origins are fully perceived. Yazd, Tehran, Bam and many others, each more beautiful than the other.
• The people, hospitable and helpful, in an almost embarrassing way. They love the outdoors, even in the evening, they picnic everywhere.
An ideal place for solo or group motorcycle trips.
Pakistan - A country difficult to understand and very demanding to cross, always and only escorted by the police.
The history of Pakistan is clear, the continuing tensions and difficulties in relations with Afghanistan and India are symptomatic of a situation that is anything but calm and stable.
From the border of Iran, up to Lahore, in the far east 20 km from the Indian border, 1600 km traveled by changing 63 police escorts and sleeping in the barracks, without having my time and being able to decide what to do. It is practically impossible to visit Pakistan as a normal tourist.
India - The country where the Vespa is the story of a legend, to the point that for many years the Vespa with the LML brand was produced in India.
In a situation of apparent difficulty due to the breakage of the rear shock absorber, I discovered and appreciated the free and unconditional solidarity of the Indian people.
Magical places where you can breathe the spirituality and culture of how to fight stress, in short, the ideal country where you can learn to love yourself and learn the art of being happy.
Nepal - Despite its condition of poverty, Nepal has a completely different air and atmosphere. People are calm, positive and respectful of the rules; it is a people that has learned to be happy even in situations of apparent discomfort.
A nature that is the master, in the time of monsoon rains the frequent landslides make travel difficult, even if not impossible, especially with the Piaggio Vespa.
When I arrived, the satisfaction was such that my first thought was: "Happiness comes when you choose to change your life".