then we started planning our motorcycle adventure , completely self-financed , with the destination being Dakar .”
An iconic destination for any motorcyclist plus Legs4Africa collaborates with a rehabilitation centre there , it seemed a perfect place to ride to .
“ Nobody really believed we could leave during the Pandemic ,” suggests Giulia . “ We did our homework and after preparing all the necessary documentation , we bought the ferry tickets that would allow us and our Africa Twin 2018 DCT to land in Tangier , Morocco , where our adventure would truly begin .”
Luca and Giulia agree that suiting up , closing the paniers , and riding off , knowing that they would be gone for at least two months was incredibly emotional . October 17th , 2020 marked the day they were riding to Genoa , the next day boarding the ferry .
“ With a negative Covid test , a one-night hotel booking in Tangier , very few clothes and a load of hopes we boarded the ship without a hitch ,” they both agree . “ To our surprise , we realised that we were the only Italians on board ... and even the only motorcycle !”
Travelling through time was how Giulia and Luca described the ferry ride , passing from a well-known place , somewhere familiar , to a completely unexplored , unfamiliar destination . The ferry took 52 hours , “ between card games and walks on the deck we finally landed in Morocco ”.
“ We knew that the border with Mauritania was still closed ,” they added . “ We decided to slowly visit the country we arrived in . We travelled far and wide discovering a variety of landscapes we didn ' t expect . Everyone was welcoming and happy to chat with us , especially because Morocco has been in lockdown since March and we were the first foreigners to visit them .”
The Africa Twin took Luca and Giulia south , discovering such cities as Chefchaouen and Moulay Idriss , the Atlas Mountains with passes that every motorcyclist would love .
“ We usually moved every two days , choosing a different guesthouse or B & B at each destination , but we were a bit tired and in Dadès we decided to stay a little longer . It was a great decision that , in addition to rest , allowed us to get to know our new host .”
This is what travel is about , discovering , meeting , learning . Luca and Giulia were deeply impressed by how their host was able to adapt during the pandemic , his rooms vacant for months , money was short . They ’ d been asked to prepay before arrival just so fresh food could be brought in for them .
“ Despite this , his spirit was serene , and he trusted confidently in a better future , without complaining or getting angry with the government or fate , as happens too often in our part of the world .
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