Between Lava and Asphalt
In February 2025, there was intense volcanic activity on Mount Etna with the opening of an effusive fracture that generated a significant lava flow. This lasted until a few days before my departure for Turin.
I had never seen a lava flow up close. It was time.
Etna's Gift
Despite not having suitable shoes at all, I decided to go. The trail was very long, covered in snow. At a certain point, you walked on the ancient extinguished lava flow, next to the new semi-extinguished one. Probably quite dangerous and not recommended without a volcanological guide. But I wanted to see it.
It was tiring but satisfying. Obviously I didn't get too close, it would have been illegal without the guide. But I was there. I felt this as a gift from Etna, from my beloved land, before departure. As if the volcano was saying goodbye to me. Or perhaps preparing me for something.
I left with only carry-on luggage and arrived in Turin without problems. I was positively impressed by the efficiency of public transport, being used to southern Italy...
Hostel: The Test
I decided to push my digital nomad experience to the limits, to test myself. I would stay and work for a month at a hostel.
For those who hear all sorts of things about hostels, it wasn't a simple choice. But today I wouldn't go back.
With the right noise-canceling headphones and good microphones, I had no problem working. I also made sure I had a good cellular connection to avoid connecting to shared wifi for security reasons.
Every day it was very easy to talk with other travelers about everything. Very pleasant to converse in English with foreigners. In the dorms I had no particular issues, except for one night when a guy above me seemed to have convulsions in his sleep...
In my free time, I took long walks in the parks and went to visit my friend Anna. One day I went to eat Chinese food and in the fortune cookie I found the phrase in the photo.
It would soon prove true. But not as you might expect...
When Technology Betrays You
One day I noticed continuous reboots of my phone, the one that served as a hotspot every day allowing me to work. I bought a new smartphone that same day to solve the problem.
After a few days, perhaps due to rain, it turned off and never turned on again.
But the worst part? It stopped working when I was on the other side of the city.
No navigation app. No way to call anyone. And most importantly: no money. I didn't have my wallet with me, used to always paying with my smartphone, especially for simple walks like that one.
So this was the adventure? Finding my way in a large unknown city, completely disconnected?
The City Without a Map
Somehow, on foot, reading the bus line signs, I managed to reach the hostel after many hours. I got my wallet and bought another smartphone to "survive."
I must say it was an interesting experience. By now we're too used to taking for granted that we always have our smartphone technologies available. We've forgotten how to live without them.
I'd say I tested myself quite enough in this Turin experience.
And despite everything, I continued to enjoy the walks in the riverside parks, the chats with travelers, and time with my friend.
Perhaps the real adventure isn't just traveling and exploring new places. It's discovering that you can manage even when everything goes wrong. And that when it happens, when technology abandons you or plans change, it's not the end of the world. It's just the beginning of a different story to tell.
So my advice? Sometimes leave your smartphone at home. Walk without maps. Put yourself in situations where you have to rely on instinct and people. I'm not saying to do it on purpose like it happened to me, but don't be afraid when it happens. Because it's right there, when you don't have total control, that you discover what you're really capable of. And you often discover that people are more willing to help you than you think, and that your sense of direction still works, even without GPS.
📻 Soundtrack
📻 Colonna Sonora
🎵 Caricamento...
YouTube Music
In Turin, my friend Anna introduced me to EPIC: The Musical by Jorge Rivera-Herrans. In particular, "Storm", which talks about not giving up, about continuing to "row" even when it seems impossible.
Like walking on the still-hot lava flow, without proper shoes, defying cold and snow; or like finding yourself on the other side of Turin without a smartphone, without maps, without money. Two storms, two different tests, both requiring courage and attention, and the ability to rely on people and instinct.
And just like in the song, I discovered that you can get through the storm. Not because you're invincible, but because when you have no other choice, you find the way.