Heliana Trovato

Age: 30

Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Quote: “Don’t worry about anything. Never. Things work out for themselves. You just have to be awake, to see the way. It’s as simple as that.”

How did you find out about Vagabonding, and how did you find it useful before and during the trip?

I found it diving the web. It was not a practical help. I found it useful because in that moment I was really doubting the righteousness of my trip. Like I was almost 30 and no socially correct life… and what happened if I wanted one later on. And I found out that a lot of vagabonds came along the same thing.

How long were you on the road? Almost 2 years.

Where all did you go?

Not so much, really. I consider myself pretty slow to travel. I need time to get to know places… In España: Barcelona and Terrassa… in France: Dijon, Paris and Cannes. Pretty much all Italia, except from Sicilia and Venezia. Deutschland: Düsseldorf, Berlin, Köln. In Serbia: Belgrade, Küstendorf, Gu?a. Luxembourg.

What was your job or source of travel funding for this journey?

In Buenos Aires, I used to work in producer companies, as a video editor. Before coming here, I was working at 4 places at the same time (including a call center and an office too), slept 4 hours, but could get the money that I needed to come here.

Did you work or volunteer on the road?

I worked in Italia, in a hotel in Puglia. After 3 months of travelling I hadn’t had any more money… I found this hotel in Vieste, Puglia and stayed. I consider it barely work. The job was sometimes hard (I loved to make the breakfasts, but hated the cleaning of the rooms) The owner called me at noon and told me to urgently go to her house, and when I arrived there was a plate of pasta waiting for me. Every day I went to the beach, 30 minutes walking from the hotel. The panorama was out of this world. Stayed there for 5 months. And I’m still in touch with my former employers…

After 2 months of travelling, arrived to Deutschland and ran out of money. Again. Got a job in a Cuban restaurant, got an apartment, and stayed… After 3 months, I switched from the restaurant to a call center, where I can speak everything BUT german… and I stayed a little longer.

Of all the places you visited, which was your favorite?

That’s very difficult to choose. I have my favorite moments, my magic moments, not places.

In Barcelona I lived for 10 days in a very little apartment, literally above the Plaza Real. I shared it with Samuel, a modern hero photographer.

In Cannes, didn’t have a place to sleep, and ended up sleeping in a bungalow with one of the 5 projectionists of the Festival who were staying there. They treated me like their daughter. They didn’t speak much English, I didn’t speak French. We drank wine, eat cheese, smoked petards, and will have them in my heart forever. In Deutschland, I met a Spanish guy in an airport and ended up staying in his house, with his Bulgarian girlfriend and another girl as well. In Neuss, I had a great welcoming for New Years’ with a group of german friends that treated me as a friend who’ve known for all their lives. I travelled around the world while walking through Köln several times, at night, with a friend of Catalunya. Gu?a was really special too… 24 hours of music, non stop. In Küstendorf, I met my hero Kusturica and the city was out of a fairy tale.

Was there a place that was your least favorite, or most disappointing, or most challenging?

My least favourites places were the ones I didn’t find my place. And I moved on right away.

Did any of your pre-trip worries or concerns come true?  Did you run into any problems or obstacles that you hadn’t anticipated?

I thought of my trip as a whole different way. It was meant as a Europe trip, and now I’ve lived in Deutschland for 9 months. I also stayed without moving in Italy for 5, while working in the hotel. I think problems are only opportunities, and I’m glad I ran out of money in Köln, so I got to stay here to know the place and decide to stay a little longer.

Which travel gear proved most useful?  Least useful?

With a backpack packed with clothes for 10-15 days, you’re set to go. You don’t really need anything more to travel. Even less, it’s more than ok. I had to pack for winter and summer, that was my problem…

What are the rewards of the vagabonding lifestyle?

Freedom. The way you see things differently. Everything is new and exciting. And awesome. And when you’re alone, you meet so many people. And also when you’re an alien to where you are, you learn so much about yourself. And you get the feeling you’re invincible. You surprise yourself, everyday. That’s what happened to me at least. I find me being proud of myself so often…

What are the challenges and sacrifices of the vagabonding lifestyle?

As you know a lot of people along the road, they or you are just passing by, and saying goodbye so often is sometimes hard. Also, it’s difficult to say which life is yours. This one, or the steady one. Sometimes it’s hard to see that you are the same person.

What lessons did you learn on the road?

I said that in the rewards part.

How did your personal definition of “vagabonding” develop over the course of the trip?

I stopped the travelling and stayed in a place for a year. And yet, it still feels like vagabonding. Because I feel this is not really my home, my place, and I get the feeling I’m still moving, even though I’m not. And that’s a wonderful feeling.

If there was one thing you could have told yourself before the trip, what would it be?

Don’t worry about anything. Never. Things work out for themselves. You just have to be awake, to see the way. It’s as simple as that.

Any advice or tips for someone hoping to embark on a similar adventure?

Leave, NOW.

When and where do you think you’ll take your next long-term journey?

Don’t plan to end this one yet. But maybe some place warmer…

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