The group was made up of three Australians, a German and – naturally – an Italian: Francesco Vinali from Melbourne, who celebrated his 21st birthday last Tuesday, on the day he arrived in Adelaide.
The group all share the same desire to discover Australia in the most intimate way and write a book about their travels.
While they have saved enough money to get by for the duration of their trip, they said they’re open to a few days’ work here and there, especially if it’s on a farm.
The group departed from Melbourne on June 2 and will set off from Adelaide on July 1, heading towards Port Augusta.
According to their itinerary, the group is expected to be on the road for around two and a half years.
When asked why he decided to embark on this adventure, Vinali responded:
“I’ve been in Australia for around five years and despite living close to my loved ones, I felt like something was missing. I think it was the desire to escape and I was drawn to Australia’s natural beauty, its immense desert and the various lifestyles and cultures in its different locations. I’m so happy to be a part of this group and, with each day that goes by, I’m slowly discovering who I am.”
Vinali, a lively young man from Tuscany, doesn’t look a day over 18.
While his Italian and English are impressive, he still has that distinct Tuscan accent.
Six months ago, he started writing a book in English that he intends to finish when the trip comes to an end.
He will most likely call it An Italian in Australia.
It was interesting to see that all five travellers were well-groomed and clean-shaven – something not common in these times – especially considering this group sleep in a tent most nights and don’t have access to every creature comfort.
We also discovered that the group enjoys Italian cuisine; last Thursday, they had dinner at the Sandrini household, in Hyde Park, where they devoured bowls of ravioli in record time.
