Almost a year and a half after I left my bicycle in Istanbul and returned home, on March 29 I flew back to Turkey, aiming to close the circle that I had started far back in June 2016 …... Read More
ISTANBUL and BACK

8 December, Istanbul ◀ Day 437 🇬🇪 – 🇹🇷 ▶ Turkey’s first welcome, with a chaotic and tedious border crossing in the middle of pushes, crying children and a heavy storm, was not absolutely the best. Probably it wanted to make me pay somehow my decision to cut it all – at this stage – with a long bus ride from Batumi, with no stop whatsoever in between.... Read More
GEORGIA: Caucasian chronicles (Part 2 – 26 November / 7 December)

26 November, Armenia – Georgia border ◀ Day 425 🇦🇲 – 🇬🇪 ▶ History, culture, traditions, food, mountains, lakes, monasteries, people: ten days in Armenia left me breathless. In all senses. For the cold especially. Caucasian frost started seriously to show its teeth. Someone told me that Georgia, with its slightly mild temperatures and famous wine, is able to offer more various choices. And warm ones. So here is the thirty-first frontier of this journey. With woolen socks wrapped around my crumpled trousers and the look of a beaver at the Oktoberfest, I think I could have started better with it. But if it must come to wine, then I can say I’m more than ready!... Read More
ARMENIA: Caucasian chronicles (Part 1 – 16/25 November)

16 November, towards Meghri ◀ Day 415 🇮🇷 – 🇦🇲 ▶ “But you’re such a fake!” – a friend told me yesterday. “You almost never pedal! You’re the worst cycle-traveller I’ve ever met!”, he added laughing, mocking me a bit.... Read More
IRAN: in Wonderland. The real one. (16 October – 16 November)

17 and 18 October, Mashhad ◀ Days 385 – 386 🇮🇷 ▶ After the discomfort experienced in less than 24 hours in Turkmenistan, Iran started with a boom. And what a boom guys!... Read More
TURKMENISTAN: a 23-hours transit!

15 and 16 October, from Farab to Sarakhs ◀ Days 383 e 384 🇺🇿 – 🇹🇲 – 🇮🇷 ▶ I anticipated it: I had no idea what would happen in Turkmenistan. However, I would never even think that I would have chosen to stay for less than 24 hours. What happened? Little, very little, surely too little. But enough to make me take a fast decision far away from all my initial “plans”.... Read More
UZBEKISTAN: the mythical cities on the Silk Road (23 September – 14 October)

23 September, towards Tashkent ◀ Day 361 🇰🇿 – 🇺🇿 ▶ I did it. With a chain in my hand and a broken camera, but I did it. Let’s start the game now, Uzbekistan!... Read More
KAZAKHSTAN: Almaty, Shymkent and Turkestan (15 – 22 September)

15 September, towards Almaty ◀ Day 353 🇰🇬 ▶ Kazakhstan, before leaving, was not in my plans. During the trip, however, I heard other travellers saying very good things about it. Mostly – always considering that it is one of the largest countries in the world (I believe the seventh) of the Southern part and Almaty. My Uzbek visa starts on Sunday, but I decided to wait a few more days to go in … and pass through Kazakhstan first.... Read More
KYRGYZSTAN: from South to North, wonderful nature all around (25 August – 14 September)

25 and 26 August, Osh ◀ Days 332/333 🇰🇬 ▶ I reached Osh on a Thursday evening. With the help of an offline navigator and Ruzik’s guide I looked for Tes Guesthouse, a place Fernando advised on the same day (during the everlasting stage from Kashgar). I was tired and hungry.... Read More
CHINA: from Hong Kong to Kashgar, on the Silk Road (28 July – 24 August)

RESTART There’s not much left to say. And I wouldn’t manage it, anyway.... Read More
Back Home with a Surprise – END OF PART ONE

29 March, Bangkok (Thailand) | Day 301 🇹🇭 And also the day number 300 went by, my friends. 10 months, 20 Countries, that’s true. Who would have dared to say so, one year ago? Not me, for sure.... Read More
THAILAND (Second Part): Koh Tao and Khao Sok (10 – 28 March)

10 March, Koh Tao (Thailand) | Day 282 🇹🇭 “Very good Vieri! Are you happy now?! You and your damn decisions! I told you to go to other places, cause Thailand is big and rich … but nothing! You and this idea of coming to Koh Tao! You and your head! Always following those silly unnecessary sensations! Bravo, indeed! Happy to be in this Hell now?! Hey, look … I’m leaving! “... Read More
LAOS briefly again and the entrance to THAILAND (25 February – 9 March)

25 February, Pakse | Day 269 🇱🇦 I met Donatella and Gaetano for the first time, even if we are distant relatives, only a few days before I left for this long journey. It was one of my dear uncles who told me about them, their travels and adventures around the world they went on when I was just a kid.... Read More
VIETNAM (Second Part): Ninh Binh, Hanoi, Hoi An and Hue (11 – 24 February)

11 February, Ninh Binh (Vietnam) | Day 255 🇻🇳 14 hours on train and another one on my bicycle to go back to … Yangshuo!... Read More
VIETNAM (First Part): Saigon, Da Lat, the Southern Coast and Hoi An (24 January – 10 February)

24 January, Phnom Penh (Cambodia) – Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam) | Day 237 🇰🇭 – 🇻🇳 Si sta(va) come d’autunno sugli alberi le foglie. Ed è subito Vietnam.... Read More
CAMBODIA: Phnom Penh and Koh Rong Island (11 – 23 January)

11 January, Don Det (Laos) – Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | Day 224 🇱🇦 ➡ With almost 600 km on my bicycle – between the mountains of the North, Luang Prabang, Phonsavan and Vientiane surroundings, the plateau near Pakse and the long, arid roads close to the Mekong in the South of the country – Laos becomes officially, and with no dispute, the country in which I pedaled the most, since the day I left.... Read More
LAOS (Second Part): Tad Lo, Champasak, the Mekong and Don Det Island (1 – 10 January)

1 January, Tad Lo (Laos) | Day 214 🇱🇦 The 1st of January, for me, has always meant only one thing. Another one of those habits I have unconsciously learned from my father and grandfather, and that every year I’m waiting almost with trepidation. 13 o’clock (or perhaps 14), Rai 1 (Italian Channel): New Year’s Concert.... Read More
LAOS (First Part): the North, Luang Prabang, Phonsavan and Vientiane (15 – 31 December)

15 December, China- Laos border | Day 197 🇨🇳 – 🇱🇦 After all the troubles to enter Russia, Mongolia and China, here everything went very smooth and fast. At Boten border control, you show up, fill out a form, pay 35$ and yes, after 5 minutes you have a visa for 30 days.... Read More
CHINA – YUNNAN II: Dali Lake and Xishuangbanna (9 – 14 December)

9 December, Dali (China) | Day 191 🇨🇳 After 4 nights there, I left Shaxi village. A village that was able to give me a lot – much more than I could expect – but it is now time to move on. I only have six days lefy on my visa and Laos is not around the corner.... Read More
CHINA – Shaxi: the Way to a Dream (8 December)

8 December, Shaxi (China) | Day 190 🇨🇳 I’m not used to write down the detailed history of my days (as I think it’s boring for me and for those who read me), but today I’ll make an exception. What will follow may seem coming out of my fantasy, but nothing is invented. A surreal day, between dreams and reality, which I’ll keep forever among my best memories. Of this journey, and of my life.... Read More