is to run the world on two wheels. A dream that doesn't have a specific birth day - although it has way more than one year - but will have a concreteness day. I already have a day in mind but, as almost everything I do in life, setting a day for this or that, specially this far away, goes wrong. So I'll keep it to myself. It's not even important. The important thing is to go.
Everything started with a book, that I highly recommend, although I still have to warn for the 'dangerous' part that may be attached to it when you read it - the will to go. "Pedaling slowly - four years on a bike through Asia" (this is my direct translation, probably it only exists in Portuguese), from Valérie Collete and João Gonçalo Fonseca, was so revealing and stimulating for me that after twenty pages I closed it to no longer open it again. I was feeling a strange will to go. Not to go with them on their trip, in thought, but to go on my own. Do the same. And as that didn't match a single bit with the person I was neither with the life I was having - of a student living at parent's expense - I thought it would be better not to touch the book again until that little worm got tired of its existence. It didn't. On the opposite, it grew. Boundlessly. That I couldn't stop it. Not even ignore it.
I was the one getting tired. I didn't feel like fighting a battle with myself, when what I felt had already become pretty clear. I said to myself: "When I finish my course I'll ask my parents to go on a trip throughout Europe. One year with a backpack, by train and bus". For my parents it never made much sense to travel around. Fifteen days and an expensive paradise, with beach and sun, twice a life, till now, was more than good. As for myself, the four times I travelled was to Europe. With the money I gathered during months and years. I went to Amsterdam; Milano, Padova and Venezia; Praha and Berlin; and twelve cities of the United Kingdom. Last of which I went alone. It was a revelation, the second one. I didn't want anything else. Not even to come back. Twenty days running the UK by train. From city to city. From architecture to architecture. Amazing! Nothing else suits me the most than enjoying to be independent, in every single way. Each day a bit more. And while travelling I realized I was no different.
The third revelation was given by a great friend - Rafael - that, after reading the same book I mentioned before, said to me he was leaving with his girlfriend - Tanya - on a bike. First through Europe then Asia. I stood astonished. I couldn't believe the coincidence... Day by day my little fears were disappearing and even before their departure I was already sure. They are persons as many more (yes, incredibly special for me, but still as many more) with a will. And they grab it and went for it. I'm also so I'll go for it. I follow them daily on their blogs - he 2numundosobrerodas, she Les Ciseaux Pointus. I know they write in Portuguese… but still you can check out the photos, the route or try the Google translator, which is probably another great adventure. Nowadays I read them over another perspective. "I'll go another way". "I don't want to go through that city". "This city seems interesting, I'll add it to my map". "I'd stay longer in this place". "I'd do a shortcut there". "I like this route, I'll follow it". And so one and so one.
The idea crossed many ideas starting with my parents' negative answer concerning the first idea. (Gladly!) Therefore I started to make my accounts. The sum of money was making me a lump in the throat. And with no 'youth' discount because with the time I'd take gathering it, I'd no longer be 'young' by the law. Then I looked at the map. "I'd love to go to Asia. I'd love to go to South America". I thought: "Europe is too little... what about the rest of the world?" It grew like this. And even not knowing how to ride a bike, yet, it was the only means of transport that was making sense. Over my accounts I'd take years and years straight to gather the enough money to travel by train or bus around the world. And I didn't want to risk hitchhiking, alone. Not to talk about my back, completely messed in the meanwhile, because of the extremely heavy backpack I'd have to carry. If it was by stages they would stay separated from each other too long. I didn't want that. What I wanted was to go and only come back after seeing everything I wish for. Everything. And only this way it definitely made sense.
I bought a huge world map - apparently Portuguese people don't use this kind of stuff so I had to order it from the UK - some good months ago and I hanged it on my bedroom's wall in Lisbon. Helps me dreaming and having a better perception. And I already read the book. Now that I know I'm going.
It went from dream to idea. From idea to intention. And now to future. Something without which life won't make any more sense. That's why I've created this blog and its disciples. It's another way of preparation. Between many others I'm already in a long time ago. The route will pass by (almost) all those marks I already pinned on my map. They were a result of conversations with friends from Couch Surfing and Hospitality Club that I host in my flat in Oporto. A result of hours and days and months of internet researches. Of whole afternoons spent reading guide books. And also a result of researches by architectural works I don't want to miss on my way.
Accounts and more accounts gave me the verdict: Three years working. Five years pedaling!
See you!
