Traveling aboard a van looking for alternative lifestyles

Voluntouring staff

6 years ago

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Slow travel in search of a different life

We are Andreea (20), Denise (30), Shikiki and Coliflor, two girls and two dogs who have been travelling through Europe in a van for more than a year, looking for alternative lifestyles.

We travel by honouring slowness, financing ourselves with craft projects to make people aware of reducing waste and reconnecting with themselves; also, we play and sing to share the strong energy of sacred songs, and we exchange our work in rural places for the preservation of territories and ancient works.

In a nutshell, we love strong contact with nature, with people, and we believe in the wonder that is this Life; for these reasons, we entrust ourselves with joy…

The beginning of a friendship

We met one summer three years ago working in the kitchen of a Yacht Club on Lake Garda, Italy. We immediately realised we shared passions and dreams and thanks to the union of our intentions we managed to start this adventure!

From Italy to Portugal

We moved to Barcelona, a place that welcomed us for some time! Eventually, it gave us the opportunity to buy what later became our home on wheels: a magnificent Nissan Vanette of ’92.

Finally, our journey began in January 2018. Our aim was leaving behind us a life locked up in a social model that was too tight for us. For this reason, we wanted to discover new places and people that live in honour of freedom, of sustainability, social change, ecology and respect. Passing through France, Spain and Portugal, we got to meet interesting realities that every day, in small steps, bring us to ourselves and a new awareness.

Voluntourism in a van

In Spain, we worked as volunteers in the beautiful Sierra de Cazorla. Here we were helping a shepherd who lives as a hermit in the mountains, in a small stone house, with goats, sheep and many other animals such as dogs, cats, roosters and hens, rabbits, a donkey and a horse. It was an exciting experience to be immersed in the wildest nature!

Moving further south we helped a family design a vegetable garden according to the principles of permaculture and learned the wonderful techniques of green building.

Intentional communities

We met a small community that lives in the maritime pine forest in beautiful Bolonia, with little more than a small natural source of fresh water and some self-built tent or shack, contemplating an ocean that touches Africa, and a anarchist community that has occupied the remains of an unused farm at the gates of the windy Tarifa.

Savage Portugal has given us the opportunity to meet with many people who share our nomadic lifestyle, with whom we have shared the immense joy of being one.

Moreover, the small difficulties that arise during the trip have always shown us that our beautiful Earth is full of equally wonderful people, always ready to share and help.

Travelling slowly…

At the end of the summer, we experienced the beauty of walking for a month backpacking, walking the Rotta Giacobea with our two dogs and staying only in a tent.

A magical experience that among the many emotions, brought us the clarity of wanting to continue this travel project in our country of origin, Italy.

Future travelling plans

After a short period of rest that we used to make treasure and share the experiences gathered in the last year, we are preparing to get back on the “move for change” through the Bel Paese. A new stage that will lead us to the discovery of eco-villages and libertarian schools, of the bond between agriculture and spirituality, of the joy of learning and sharing, and of the great treasure of our humanity.