#1 Hiking &
the ANDES
Every great adventure has a starting point. Mine starts with a climbing and mountaineering journey through the Andes, after these mountains my life would never be the same.
When I made the decision to change my lifestyle, I was still a little apprehensive about leaving my ad agency membership. It was then that in 2008 I decided to cross the Andes mountain range. At the time, internet information was not as widespread as it is today, so good preparation was essential.
Every great adventure has a starting point. Mine starts with a climbing and mountaineering journey through the Andes, after these mountains my life would never be the same.
When I made the decision to change my lifestyle, I was still a little apprehensive about leaving my ad agency membership. It was then that in 2008 I decided to cross the Andes mountain range. At the time, internet information was not as widespread as it is today, so good preparation was essential.
I left for this journey that started in the city of Bariloche, I covered the entire central/southern part of Argentina, passing through Patagonia. I went to Puerto Williams, in Chile: one of the most uplifting cities I've ever been to. I got a “ride” with the Chilean navy and went to the island called Cape Horn, to visit the last human being before Antarctica.
Returning from there, I traveled through the great Chilean glaciers to Santiago. From Chile I went to Easter Island, from there to French Polynesia where I was in Morea, Bora Bora and Tahiti.
Most of the time I was alone, me and nature. As the days went by, I felt a real peace of mind, which I didn't know until then: happiness with the simple things in life. That's when I really started to realize that we don't need much to be happy.
Saí para essa jornada que teve início na cidade de Bariloche, percorri toda a parte central/sul da Argentina, passando pela Patagônia. Fui até Puerto Williams, no Chile: uma das cidades mais alto-astral que já pude conhecer. Consegui uma “carona” com a marinha chilena e fui até a ilha chamada de Cape Horn, para visitar o último ser humano antes da Antártida.
Being fluent in English and Spanish has opened many doors for me along the way. I was able to make genuine friendships that last until today and that allowed me to get to know the local culture through living with the villagers. It wasn't something I watched on National Geographic, I actually went there with them and saw what their lifestyle was like.
Now it was a path of no return. I was determined that my old life was no longer suitable for me. After finishing such a great physical challenge, I felt like nothing could stop me. It was the beginning of my journey around the world and it was a great empowerment that opened my mind so that it could today be a mind that fears nothing.
He was more and more sure that he needed to have a strong contact with nature. After reflecting for so long in the mountains and reaching the beaches of Polynesia: I came to the conclusion that diving was something I wanted to do professionally in my life. He had finally found what would take the place of the old marketing and advertising professional. The adventure was just beginning.