Between Railways and Roads Toward Freedom
The last weeks in Diamante were a continuous alternation of beach days, excursions with friends, and moments spent with the house's wonderful Bengal cat. But the most emotional moment was my sister's arrival for a weekend together.
Sharing with her "our Diamante," the one tied to childhood memories, and exploring the caves of Dino Island together was incredible. Swimming inside those caves, with bats flying across the ceiling, water of an amazing metallic blue, and very large fish calmly swimming in such deep waters. An experience I will always carry with me.
Among the places that stayed with me the most were also Arco di Enea and, above all, the Grotta Azzurra, with that almost unreal light that made the water feel transformed.
The Decision
Finally ready to leave Diamante, I prepared for departure. I was expecting 18 hours of train travel.
Which turned into 26 due to numerous delays and breakdowns on the railway line near Milan.
And there, stuck for hours, exhausted, dependent on public transport that was beyond my control, I realized something: I needed a van.
In the weeks before, I had already been thinking about it. The idea of buying a van to convert into a camper was already in my mind, but I was anxious. It would have been the first major purchase of my life. And I knew nothing about mechanics or cars.
But that bad experience on the train, and the limitations on my freedom to move around and go hiking during those months in Calabria, fully convinced me.
Today, I would not go back.
In Vigevano for the Purchase
I headed to Vigevano, in the province of Pavia, where I would buy the van. I spent weeks gathering information, reading forums, and asking for advice. I had never been interested in mechanics, but somehow I managed to prepare myself quite well.
My stay in Vigevano was also pleasant: a calm, elegant little town that welcomed me during such an important moment.
Not everything was straightforward: I had some issues with the insurance and with the payment of the van due to banking problems. But precisely in those moments, I encountered a level of human kindness I did not expect.
The seller, the ladies at the insurance office, and even some local people helped me in an impeccable way, with genuine availability and kindness.
It was a small personal confirmation: it is not always true that people in Northern Italy are cold or unwelcoming toward those coming from the South. In Vigevano, I found the exact opposite.
And in the end, everything went according to plan.
It is a small van that, in reality, is not ideal for camper conversion because of its limited size. But for my use, it turned out to be perfect: very agile for reaching mountain trails, easy to drive, and economical.
I still use it without any issues. And I am very happy with this choice.
The Unforgettable First Day
It was traumatic, though, the first day.
I was used to driving only very small cars, and I had not driven for at least five or six months. Suddenly, I found myself driving a small van, without a rearview mirror, and without parking sensors.
And I brilliantly decided that on my first day I would go visit some friends in Alessandria.
Finding myself in a city that was not exactly small, with a vehicle I still did not know, was not easy. But the best part was yet to come.
I did not notice a sign indicating that in a certain square parking was not allowed because the next day there would be the market. I parked there anyway.
The tow truck took my van and drove it away.
I had owned the van for less than 24 hours, and it had already been towed away, complete with a nice fine.
Fortunately, with the help of a friend, I managed to recover it quickly. Thanks, Matteo! But that moment, calling the impound lot, explaining the situation, and going to pick up a van I had bought the day before, felt surreal.
Towards the Next Destination
After this "unforgettable" experience, I was finally able to head toward the next destination: the Aosta Valley.
Where a truly unforgettable experience was waiting for me. But this time in the right sense.
📻 Soundtrack
📻 Colonna Sonora
🎵 Caricamento...
YouTube Music
“Sailing” feels like the transition between being carried by routes you don’t control, and finally choosing your own direction.
From a long train journey that felt endless, to the first real sense of freedom on the road.