Some time ago we spoke to you of the adventure of Federico and Yumi, the two young lovers who went as far as Japan on a Vespa. Last summer it was instead the turn of Luca and Matteo who toured the length and breadth of Sicily, always everything on a Vespa. And there are so many similar journeys aboard the historic Italian vehicle. But there is someone who has gone further, someone who has made those trips on a Vespa their life. We are talking about George Bettinelli, one of the greatest Italian travelers who passed away in 2008.
The 5 Continents by Giorgio Bettinelli
Actor, musician, writer, journalist and traveler, Giorgio Bettinelli was all of this. Born in Crema in 1955, he has been passionate about music and writing from an early age. At twenty he joined the Pandemonium, a musical and theatrical group. With this parenthesis he has the opportunity to collaborate with some of the greatest Italian artists: Rino Gaetano, Gino Bramieri e Gigi Proietti. Later he began to devote himself to writing, and especially to travel.
In love with his Wasp, Giorgio gives himself unique trips already in adolescence. But it was in 1992 that he made his first venture: from Rome to Saigon, Vietnam, aboard the small Piaggio scooter. Over 24 thousand kilometers alone through Europe and Asia, all told in his book In Wasp. From Rome to Saigon. Book published in 1997, which today has ten reprints.
Giorgio made a second trip between 1994 and 1995: from Anchorage (Alaska) to Tierra del Fuego, in the southern tip of the American continent. Also in this case aboard a Vespa, always telling his adventure step by step. Not in a book, but directly in the Piaggio company periodical.
Not satisfied, in the same year Giorgio made a third trip: departure from Melbourne, arrival 52 thousand kilometers further west, in Cape Town. Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Africa witness the passage of his Vespa.
Between October 1997 and May 2001 Giorgio realizes his greatest adventure: from Tierra del Fuego in Tasmania, passing along all 5 continents. 144 thousand kilometers, more than three years away from home and a kidnapping in Congo at the hands of some guerrillas. All of this has a name, namely Worldwide Odyssey.
In 2006 the last trip, the last adventure. Where is it? In China, the only town that Giorgio lacked. This last experience told in the last written book, that is China on a Vespa.
On a Vespa beyond the horizon
In 1997 Giorgio collected the most significant shots of his first three trips. The book On a Vespa beyond the horizon it sold like hot cakes and within a few years it became nowhere to be found. This is because the publishing house went bankrupt before moving beyond the first run. Today it is considered a rarity, and finding it is practically impossible. It is even defined as the ghost book of Giorgio Bettinelli.
A friend of mine left a few weeks ago crowdfunding to reprint the book. The authors of the project, Fabio and Andrea, hope to be able to collect the useful sum and re-propose the work. To make anyone relive the emotions of those incredible adventures that made Giorgio and his Vespa the travelers par excellence.
