Borders can often turn into real walls. They begin to oppress us, to make us feel like birds in a cage with the fixed thought of freeing us and taking flight. Thus was born that desire to travel, to know and to push ourselves further and further. From prisoners we turn into travelers and make the world our home. Just like Gabriele Saluci.
Gabriele Saluci: from Iceland to the Sahara via the Po
Gabriele's passion for travel developed from an early age. "As a child I often went around with my parents. They teach and every summer, during those three months of celebration, we all left together with the camper. We made up all of Europe, Russia, Turkey and many other places ».
It is therefore thanks to the parents, but also to Gabriele himself who over time has found new ways to live these experiences. "Growing up I researched and developed new methods for my travels, to make them more and more unique ».
As unique as the one in Iceland. In the summer of 2011 Gabriele decided to face the heat starting north. From Turin to the land of ice and volcanoes, all with a bicycle purchased at the Department Stores. "I wanted a challenge, to measure myself against a path that few have had the courage to do. Feel totally free, have no timetables and try a real journey ».
Returning from cold Iceland, the following year he decided to repeat. But this time instead of ice the chosen destination was the desert. "I was tired of pedaling in the cold, I wanted balance so the Sahara seemed a good solution to me ».
Whether it's snow or sand, the bicycle has always been a faithful companion. "It made me feel totally free, in contact with the open air. But above all, I couldn't afford anything else ».
And if you can't pedal, there is certainly no shortage of solutions, as on the occasion of the crossing along the Po river. A journey undertaken above Postiki, a raft made entirely of plastic bottles. "My friend Lorenzo and I wanted to do something fun, but also useful. So we decided to collect as many plastic bottles as possible and build a small boat. To demonstrate that this material, once thrown away, can still be useful. But also to do something very original ».
Travel stories
Every experience, every trip, every adventure is always documented and accompanied by videos, photos and daily stories on the page Facebook and on his site. This allowed Gabriele to make himself known and become one of the envoys of the Kilimanjaro program. But won't all this traveling make parents apprehensive? "By now the concern has eased. Before, they were always worried, also because after all, mum is always mum. Now they are able to feel more comfortable. They understood that my life is a constant travel and therefore it is difficult to keep me still. I also have to thank them because they have always supported and encouraged me to do the things I love. Not everyone has this luck ».
However, unexpected events, especially when crossing certain areas of the planet, are not lacking. It only changes the way of dealing with them. "Traveling continuously, problems always come back in a different way, but with experience you can almost always solve them. Ten years ago I didn't think I could face the desert, but now I would know how to behave ».
Challenges that lead to many experiences. Gabriele lived one of the most significant in Vietnam: «AIn August we crossed Vietnam on mopeds. We distributed materials to orphanages. We have encountered a lot of difficulties, but people have always been close to us. Thanks to their help, we were able to do something extraordinary. A magical, unforgettable atmosphere had been created ».
All this going around still makes you hungry. And being away from home means experimenting with all kinds of cuisine. "My favorite is the Thai. I like spicy and then I find it as good and artistic as the Italian one. While in Mongolia I learned to appreciate what I had in front of me, without pretensions or whims ».
Future projects
There is certainly no shortage of commitments for 2017. Numerous trips are scheduled on behalf of Rai3: «I have a small weekly space on Kilimanjaro and we are producing a series of reports on our adventures. They will be trips on the road, mainly by car, but there will be surprises such as the Amazon River in a canoe ».
But is there a dream for Gabriele? "In truth, I managed to make my dream come true last year by touring Vietnam. Now I'm aiming for Patagonia, but who knows, in the future I might discover others ».
