I will try to update as quickly as possible my journeys.
June 14, 2008
Milan - vers Paris (fin du voyage.....)
June 13, 2008
Milan - İtalie
June 12, 2008
Milan - İtalie
June 11, 2008
Ancona vers Milan - İtalie
June 10, 2008
Thessaloniki vers İgoumenitsa - Grece
The idea is to make a motorbike solo trip, driving about 25 000 kilometres from Paris up to Thailand during a sabbatical year from May 2007 to May 2008.
I will pass by Italy, Croatia, Albania, Crete, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. In Bangladesh put the motorbike in an airplane to Singapore. From there to go up the peninsula of Malaysia finishing the trip in Thailand. On my way back I will choose the plane for me, and the ship for the motorbike.
Why in motorbike?
Because I can't imagine a better way to make it!! The motorbike for me is the meaning of freedom. When you travel in motorbike everything is much more intense. The landscapes, the rain, the sun, the curves. You are closer and more open to people than being on a car.
If you ask yourself what does rakatanga mean, don’t hesitate and ask my folk Jaco. He will answer you with pleasure from Argentina.
In 1991, the first time I went to India, an English girl told me about her incredible trip by land from London to Delhi. I told to myself that one day, I will do it driving a motorbike.
When I lived in India in 1996 and 1997 I planned to return to Europe driving an Enfield. For reasons of time and of money I could not do it.
Fifteen years later I'm finally doing this trip!! I have time and money, a reliable motorbike (I hope) and the political conditions are good enough to cross most of the countries without big trouble. I also have fifteen years more on me...
During a holydays in Macedonia in September 2006 driving my motorbike on the fringes of Lake Oghi, I decided that it was the right time to do it. When I return to my house in Paris, I organised the main part of the trip in one night in front of my computer. Internet, maps and forums on line and a couple of guides were enough to do it. In less than ten minutes the Encarta encyclopaedia told me the kilometres and traced the path to Asia.
Easy, really easy... The most difficult thing is to organize everything to be able to leave. I had to request permission to leave at work, rent my flat, and leave the entire paperwork ready, the bill to be paid while travelling, to fix the motorbike... But all this is other story, a story that I have already forgotten. The most difficult thing was made, the real thing begins now.
The 9 May 2007 I pulled up the motorbike and I rode on the pavement. The Eiffel tower was behind me, the whole East was ahead.
June 14, 2008 - Hoy llegué llegué a Paris a las nueve y media de la tarde. El viaje se acabo. Los últimos ochocientos kilómetros de Milan a Paris fueron los mas raros. Contento por volver y triste por llegar.
Final del camino, 114600kms en el marcador y 43000 kms recorridos en trece fantásticos meses pasando por doce países. Ningún problema con la moto ni de salud ni de seguridad. Solo me he encontrado con gente maravillosa en el camino.
Estoy en la torre Eiffel y la verdad es que no se si estoy contento o quiero llorar. Un poco de los dos.
El mejor año de mi vida, y un viaje que será, sin duda, el mejor que haga nunca.