Around the world in 467 days

Just a week ago we talked about how it was possible to make it around the world while never getting a plane, and now Eddy Cattaneo, 42-years old from Bergamo living in Liguria, has already covered 68 thousands miles and 34 countries in 467 days. He only traveled overland and by cargo ships.

The decision not to use airplanes was simple, "I had no time or space limits - Eddy says - so I wanted to see everything. The plane allows you to take shortcuts, but that's like cheating. I wanted to cover step by step all over the world, quietly, slowly, savoring every single place. Moreover taking a plane means contributing to CO2 emissions, which I wanted, as far as possible, to prevent”.

"I left in September, traveling to the south-east would have allowed me to remain almost always in an eternal spring - says Eddy - Once in Moscow, in front of me there were three ways to cross the Asia: Trans-Siberian railway to the north, the road through Turkey, Kurdistan,  Iran and Pakistan, or the Silk Road. I chose the latter and went down to Kazakhstan ready to cross the states of the former Soviet Union."

The route was mostly improvised, Eddy decided from time to time what would be his next stop. Like when he had face an obstacle called the Pacific Ocean: "The cargo ship that was supposed to take me to Chile from Honk Kong, was a month late…. so I had to change direction and head for South Korea for a ride to Panama." Even Africa was an accident "I found a carafe ship from Brazil to Tangier." But Eddy has not only traveled by commercial vessels. Among broken-down buses, camels in the desert and elephants in Nepal, bicycles, canoes, gigs and so much hitchhiking (in Patagonia he traveled 2.200 miles this way) he achieved his goal.

So, to live almost a year and a half wandering around the world, Eddy has spent just over 10 thousand euros, including camera lenses, a new phone to replace the one stolen on the tube in Shanghai, and a computer purchased during the trip.