Our second travel period (January to April) is not over yet, but we have already left Morocco. This seems like a good time to look back and share our experiences about this special country with our Globus 2 with you. What did we really like and what did we not like. And we share some tips. General Let's start with the conclusion: Morocco is a real camper country. You hardly see any caravans or tents or the like. It is really ideal for a camper trip. The roads are generally very good and there are many campsites where you can spend the night for between € 5 and € 10. Do not expect too much luxury. It often looks a bit run down and hot water is not always standard. We had heard in advance that you really always have to stay on a campsite in Morocco for safety reasons. However, we have 'wild camped' several times and we always liked it. We did not feel unsafe anywhere, while we sometimes do feel that way in large cities in Spain, for example. Route Most camper tour operators such as NKC ,Endless on Wheels or ANWB all make approximately the same round trip. And that is also a good decision. You pass all the important sights and cross beautiful areas. We would always do the round trip counterclockwise, because the surroundings become more and more beautiful. We would also skip the west coast next time. We are not water sports enthusiasts and nature is simply much more beautiful in the mountain areas. We really enjoyed the period January/February. Even though it was often only between 17 and 20 degrees. As soon as the sun comes out, the perceived temperature is immediately a lot higher. In the High Atlas we deviated from the standard routes a number of times. That gave us a number of beautiful, but also very challenging roads such as driving in the snow and muddy roads with deep abysses. To get used to Our experience is also that you really have to take some time to get used to the culture. As soon as you enter the country, everything seems different. Not only the Arabic texts on the traffic signs, but also the enormous piles of plastic (especially in the north and near the big cities) that lie along the road. In addition, the chaos, there seem to be no traffic rules. Everyone walks and drives criss-cross through each other and once you get used to that, it works surprisingly well. The donkeys that are still used here as working animals, the clothes that people wear, the shops, etc. Everything is so different from what we are used to. Practical matters Some practical matters that may be useful to know before you start your Morocco trip; Near almost every city you will come across a police post. Approach them very calmly and really wait until you get the signal that you can drive on. We, as foreigners, have never had to stop. Stick to the speed limit! There are many speed checks, especially in the north of Morocco. And they are often on 60km roads where you are just driving down a mountain. Despite the fact that we were so aware of it, we unfortunately still got two fines that had to be paid in cash. For 150 MAD (€15,-) you can drive on and you also get the apologies from the officer on duty that they find it so annoying. Speaking of money. Despite the fact that the dirham (MAD) conversion rate is so simple (10 MAD is €1,-), we just couldn't get used to it and a mistake is easily made. Is something really expensive or really cheap. In addition, everything has to be paid for in cash, including diesel (€1.16)! So you pay for a night at the campsite with a 100MAD note. " Happiness is only real when shared." At the market (souk) you can buy vegetables very cheaply. You can get a whole bag full for just a few euros. Bread is also for sale everywhere and costs about € 0.20. There are small supermarkets everywhere where you can get most other groceries. In the larger towns there are sometimes supermarket chains such as Marjane or Carrefour. We mainly bought meat there. However, these supermarkets are very expensive and you pay more than in the Netherlands. Because we drink from the tap in the camper, we decided to always fill the water tank of Globus 2 with 5L barrels that you can buy everywhere here. The people are so incredibly friendly and helpful that it really stands out. It has really positively adjusted our image of Moroccans. People who actively approach you, you have to know that they want something from you. They want to sell you something or show you the way, but then ask for money afterwards. They can be quite persistent and you often have the feeling that it is difficult to get rid of them. Keep smiling friendly and clearly indicate that you are not interested works best. If we have to name something that is really a negative point of Morocco, it is these 'salesmen'. We have had good experiences with the internet coverage of Inwi. For €20,- we had unlimited internet for a month. With the hotspot of your phone we had enough with one sim card. Note: when you get off the boat you can buy the same sim card there, but you pay the main price of €50,- Advertisement: Click on this banner and then buy something at bol.com A small % of the purchase goes towards financing this website. Poverty In many areas (outside the big cities) people are, by our standards, a lot poorer than we are. They sometimes live in mud houses without furniture or any luxury whatsoever. We also experienced these people as very hospitable and before you know it you are invited for a cup of tea. Children have learned that if they see a camper, there is something to be had. We also brought balloons, markers and sweets. Once you have given something, there is often no thank you but a request for more. It also spreads like wildfire through the village and in no time there is a whole group of children around your bus. If you do not give anything, these children can become quite annoying. From swearing, a middle finger to throwing stones. That is why we have completely stopped giving things to children. We do not want to participate in the conditioning camper = gift. It is much more grateful if you are invited for tea at someone's house and leave a pack of markers for the children in the family. Or donate a bag of pencils to a local school. Clothing Especially for women this can be a thing. The locals do not wear shorts and especially in the countryside many women wear a hijab. In the big tourist cities you see many tourists wearing shorts and sleeves. Despite the fact that we believe that we are guests and therefore have the right to adapt to local customs, we have also regularly worn short clothing and have never been looked at. Videos During our route through Morocco we published a video almost every week. Below are the seven videos in order of the route, a link to the corresponding blog and some negative and positive points about the region. Blogweek 1 and week 2 - lots of plastic along the roads - getting used to new surroundings - nature not spectacular - lots of people hanging around + Hassan II mosque in Casablanca + ideal for water sports enthusiasts + visit coastal town Essaouira Blog week 3 - roads bad due to bad weather in 2024 + here the natural beauty begins + viewpoint Ait Mansour Canyon Blog week 4 + highlight of the trip!? + buy a tagelmust, nicer than you think + book an overnight stay in the desert, our preference: from M'Hamid (+/- €150,- pp) Blog week 5 - on google it is not clear which roads are paved and which are not. So pay attention! + really beautiful nature + Todgha and Dades gorge + Aïd-Ben-Haddou Blog week 6 Marrakech visit to Djemaa el-Fna square: - vendors that are difficult to get rid of + many nice souks + Ouzoud waterfalls + driving through the snow Blogweek 7 + beautiful nature again! + lots of monkeys at Azrou + love lakes Isli and Tislit Blog week 8 - eastern Morocco somewhat more monotonous in terms of nature - also in Fez persistent sellers + Fez very nice medina and don't forget the tannery. + north/east Morocco hardly any tourists + green again after all that sand :-) + Chefchaouen (blue city) super nice Conclusion We can be brief, Morocco with a camper: DO IT! Give yourself time at the beginning to let all the impressions sink in, you can't prepare for it at home. It's a big country, so take a lot of time for it. Although we were really saturated after two months. Below is a short list of lesser-known gems. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them below in a comment. Hidden gems Grand canyon view point, here The cave of Akhiam, here Love lakes Isli and Tislit, here Rose Valley, here Jafaar canyon, here Road N12 and R704, here Road N23, R307 and N210, here Road R302 from Azilal to Agouti, here Enter your email address at the bottom of this page and you will receive, maximum 1x per week, an email when we post a new blog. If you want to support us financially so that we can keep this website online, donate an amount via this link .

The stolen camera in Italy is still fresh in my mind. After the theft, several people advised us to smash a window of Globus 2 ourselves so that the insurance would pay out. We didn't do it. Still, it got me thinking: how easy is it really to justify something to yourself? A story in which we are right. The uncomfortable thing about people is that virtually everyone who hurts or harms another has a reason for doing so. Even someone who does something we abhor usually does not see themselves as the villain in their own story. We can reject someone's choices and set boundaries on their behavior. At the same time, it is good to ask ourselves how certain we are that by doing so, we automatically know the other person's entire story. The temptation of a justification During the theft of our camera, too, I noticed how easy it is to construct a narrative in which your own actions suddenly seem justified. We had suffered damage, someone else had wronged us, and after all, insurance was there to cover these kinds of situations. The step of smashing a window yourself and reporting the damage might well be very tempting. It seems almost logical, and the line feels thin. Yet, we knew that by doing so, we would be doing something unfair. After all, a good reason does not automatically make a wrong choice the right one. I previously wrote about the theft of our camera and the impact it had on us in the blog post *Stolen while we were simply at home *. Steilneset monument in Vardø, Noorwegen Back to the north A year ago, we walked through the Steilneset monument in Vardø, in the far north of Norway. The monument commemorates the people who were persecuted and put to death here as witches in the seventeenth century. Many ended up at the stake because people were convinced that they represented evil. I wondered to myself how people could ever justify this to themselves. How could they believe that this was the right thing to do? The answer is simpler than we would like: because they believed they were doing the right thing. The world of today That is exactly what preoccupies me when I look at the world today. In the wars currently being fought, those in power on both sides are convinced that they are in the right. Both sides have their own story, their own truth, and their own reasons for doing what they do. Through politics and the media, we are often shown primarily the perspective of our own side, making it easy to rally behind our own rulers and become convinced of their righteousness. Meanwhile, people are being killed who probably did not ask for war at all. How is it possible that we hurt each other time and again, while both sides are convinced of their own righteousness? A thought from a book As I reread Neale Donald Walsch’s *The Third Conversation with God* , I was reminded once again of the monument in Norway. Of the camera that was stolen. Of the wars that are in the news daily. One thought from the book is that we often hurt each other because we feel hurt ourselves. We feel that someone who has hurt us deserves to experience pain themselves. We call that justice, while often there is primarily retribution behind it. No one sees themselves as the villain in their own story. The boundary between right and wrong Who actually determines what is right and wrong? Our values change constantly. Individually and as a society. What was considered normal a few generations ago, we sometimes find reprehensible now. And what we take for granted today might be viewed with the same astonishment by future generations. It reminds me of my earlier blog *Humankind: A Hopeful History* , in which I wrote about trust, goodness, and the stories we tell each other about humanity. Understanding others begins with the realization that our own view of the world is also constantly changing. This does not mean that we cannot set boundaries or distinguish between right and wrong. It does mean, however, that it is wise to leave room for the possibility that we, too, do not know everything. Support us: Click on this banner and buy something at bol.com A small percentage of the purchase goes towards funding this website. Keep growing Everything in life changes. We change. Our ideas change. Our society changes. That is precisely where the purpose of life lies. Growing means daring to make room for a new truth. It means being able to acknowledge that something we were certain of yesterday may feel different today. Not because we were wrong yesterday, but because we have gained new insights along the way. Look at the other person again That is why it helps me to be a little more careful with my judgment. Not to condone wrong behavior or to make boundaries disappear, but to realize that the other person, too, likely understands themselves through their own story. At the Steilneset monument, I wondered how people could ever believe that burning someone else was right. Now I wonder how often we ourselves are so convinced of our own rightness that we forget that our truth, too, can change. Therefore, remain curious. About the other person, about yourself, and about the possibility that tomorrow you will look at the world differently than you do today. Enter your email address at the bottom of this page and you will receive an email, at most once a week, when we post a new blog or video. Did you enjoy this blog? Then treat us to a cup of coffee via this link .

Along the way, we experience something that is hard to believe, especially when you watch the news. The fear instilled in us daily by the media and politics is so far removed from what we experience every day. A world full of warnings If you follow the news, the world sometimes seems like a dangerous place. Wars, scams, theft, violence. People who begrudge each other even the light of day. It is almost as if we have to be suspicious to protect ourselves. As if you have to be constantly on your guard. As we have been traveling through Europe and North Africa with Globus 2 for several years now, we are experiencing a very different story. Trust as a starting point Of course, we are careful. Near large cities, we always park in a guarded parking lot. We keep a close eye on our belongings. That is common sense. However, we also notice that if you approach people with an open heart and trust, you often receive exactly that in return. A closed attitude creates distance; an open smile invites contact. As if trust, however fragile, rewards itself. The power of good We have also experienced how hard the other side can hit. When my camera was recently stolen in Italy, it affected us deeply ( see this blog ). Not only because it involved valuable equipment, but also because our camera is part of our life on the road. We blog, vlog, and write columns. With our camera, we capture the world we encounter along the way. Yet, something happened afterwards that perhaps made an even greater impression on us. After we had written about the theft, we received donations from various people via our website. People we often do not know personally at all. They just wanted to do something. A small amount, a message of sympathy, a gesture of support. The theft was committed by one person, but the support came from many. We would therefore like to thank these people very much! A book that stays with you When I recently read the book Most People Are Decent by Rutger Bregman, I frequently found myself thinking about what we experience on our travels. Our experience is, in fact, not at all that people are bad. On the contrary. We actually meet people who are helpful, hospitable, and friendly remarkably often. What Bregman describes therefore feels primarily like a confirmation of what we ourselves experience on our journeys. Research shows that soldiers in wars often do not like shooting at each other nearly as much as we think. Bayonets were also used much less than one might expect. Perhaps we simply cannot kill each other, or can barely kill each other, when looking one another straight in the eye. The German army in the Second World War is also an interesting example. It was known as one of the most effective armies of that time. Not because soldiers fought for a great German empire or an ideology, but primarily because they were loyal to their comrades. When boundaries blur Along the way, we meet people we have never seen before. A garage that pulls out all the stops to get us back on the road quickly. Berbers in Morocco with whom we drink tea, and families in Tunisia who invite us to dinner. People with a different language, culture, or faith, but with the same desires: a safe home, health, love, and a little happiness. Perhaps people are much more alike than we often think. What if...? What if we have come to believe that the world is harsher than it really is? What if fear spreads faster than kindness? And what if goodness has become so commonplace that we hardly notice it anymore? Perhaps we are simply looking at the wrong stories. At the exceptions that are greatly magnified, while the millions of small moments of trust and kindness pass us by silently. We are presented with so much fear every day, but along the way, trust proves stronger. The journey teaches otherwise Our journey has not taught us that everyone is good. That would be naive. We have seen the other side as well. But it has taught us that most people are simply trying to lead a good life. Just like us. With mistakes, insecurities, and good intentions. It is as clear and omnipresent as you would have thought, if only you were willing to see it. We don't always have to understand each other to still be able to connect. That realization doesn't make the world perfect. But it does make it a lot more beautiful. Support us: Click on this banner and buy something at bol.com A small percentage of the purchase goes towards funding this website. Keep wondering Perhaps a better world does not begin with grand political plans, complex theories, and certainly not with wars. Perhaps it begins very small. With the way we look at each other. With a little more trust, a little less fear, and the willingness not to immediately view the other as a threat. Perhaps the world is not as bad as we sometimes think. What if we let go of fear just a little and started feeling trust again? Enter your email address at the bottom of this page and you will receive an email, at most once a week, when we post a new blog or video. Did you enjoy this blog? Then treat us to a cup of coffee via this link .

Some setbacks you see coming. Others strike like a bolt from the blue. That happened during our last week in Italy. An empty spot During our last week in Italy, while we were simply staying in Globus 2 , someone unnoticed took my camera from the camper. No signs of forced entry, no suspicious noises, absolutely nothing. It was only later that we discovered something was missing. And that realization hit hard. And yes, we know... we are still a bit behind when it comes to videos. You still have the videos of our trip through Italy coming from us. More than a camera It wasn't just any camera. It was my professional camera with a fast lens, L-bracket, GPS, and a fast memory card. Altogether, it cost about €6,000. But I hadn't bought that equipment all at once. I saved up for it for years. Whenever I could, I added something else: a better lens, an accessory that made my work easier, or an expansion of my equipment. Slowly, it grew into the camera setup I had always dreamed of. A faithful travel companion This camera has been traveling with me for years. It was there in Scandinavia, Uganda, Spitsbergen, Morocco, and for the past few months in Tunisia. I have taken thousands of photos with this camera. It captured not only the grand landscapes but also the small moments that are so precious along the way. Because of this, the loss feels much greater than just the financial damage. Things are not going well. Financially, it is certainly not our easiest travel year. Even before departure, the timing belt had to be replaced. This was followed by a defective water pump, another timing belt, a broken battery, and problems with the glow plug system. In Tunisia, a flat tire, defective reverse parking sensors, a broken expansion tank, and finally a broken crankshaft pulley were added to the list. And we are only just halfway through the year. That's part of it We actually find it quite logical that things break down along the way. We cover a lot of kilometers and regularly drive on bad roads or even off-road. As a result, parts wear out faster. That is part of the life we have chosen, and we can handle it just fine. But this is different A broken water pump has no malicious intent. Neither does a dead battery. But someone who deliberately takes something from someone else feels different. It is not just about possessions, but also about the feeling that someone is encroaching on your life and your dreams without any hesitation. A camera can be stolen. But no one can take away the wonder with which we look at the world. Next to the pot Perhaps the most bitter part of all is that we probably won't get reimbursed anything. According to the policy conditions, without signs of forced entry, there appears to be no covered damage. I have been paying a substantial premium for over twenty years, precisely to properly insure my valuable belongings. To seem to miss out at a moment like this feels pretty sour. Support us: Another setback As if all that wasn't enough, we were also pulled over by the police this morning. We had to follow them to a weighbridge. With a full diesel tank and a freshly topped-up water tank, Globus 2 turned out to be 220 kilos overweight. The result was a fine of 120 euros. We could really only laugh about it. Sometimes it seems like everything is coming at once. Perhaps there are periods when life puts you to the test a little more often than you would like. Angry and sad We’ll be honest. Over the past few days, we have been pretty devastated by all of this. Angry, sad, and disappointed. Not only because a loyal travel companion has disappeared, but also because €6,000 is simply a lot of money. For anyone. And certainly for us, with the life we are leading now and all the unexpected costs that have already come our way this year. The camera was much more than a piece of technology. It was the tool I relied on for years and with which so many special moments were captured. Moving on again Ultimately, we also know that this journey isn't about stuff. Not in a camera, and not in parts. The journey lies in the experiences, the encounters, and the freedom we feel. Apparently, this is part of vanlife too. Not just the beautiful shots and sunsets, but also the moments when life really puts you to the test. Enter your email address at the bottom of this page and you will receive an email, at most once a week, when we post a new blog or video. Did you enjoy this blog? Then treat us to a cup of coffee via this link .

After eight weeks in Tunisia, we are back in Europe. The country pleasantly surprised us! We hadn't expected beforehand that it would be such an adventurous trip. Imposing canyons, endless desert landscapes, ancient Berber villages, film sets, vast salt flats, cave dwellings deep underground, and the list goes on. In this blog, we take you through our positive and less positive experiences. Kelly en Richard in the Sahara Our route From Italy, you sail to the capital, Tunis. We hesitated for a long time about whether to do the tour of Tunisia clockwise or counter-clockwise. Ultimately, we chose counter-clockwise. We really enjoyed this. The south of Tunisia is the most beautiful, so if you travel north first, the journey becomes increasingly beautiful the further you go. You also end the trip along the east coast, allowing you to enjoy the vast turquoise beaches for a little while longer before sailing back to Italy. In hindsight, we are happy with this choice. The most beautiful places to visit To start right away with the highlights of the trip, here is a list of points you absolutely must not miss on a tour of Tunisia. Rommelpriste , described as the most beautiful mountain route in Tunisia, and we completely agree. If you have a 4x4, be sure to drive the old route as well. Mides Canyon , a gigantic canyon near the border with Algeria. Endlessly long and imposing, where you walk around practically alone. Oasis Chebika , a green tourist oasis surrounded by a beautiful mountain range. The route from Mos Espa to Ong Jmal runs straight through the desert, with a high chance of spotting dromedaries right past your camper. Scott el-Djerid is a 5,000 km² dried-up salt lake. With, of course, the famous iconic abandoned bus. However, we found the Sebkhet El Melah salt lake even more impressive because it is truly still white with salt here. Ksour (plural of ksar): in the southeast, you will find numerous old Berber villages. There are a great many of them, ranging from renovated tourist versions to old, abandoned ones. For example, we visited Ksar Mrabtine, Ksar Hadara, and Ouled Soltane. Troglodyte dwellings . Cave dwellings are typically found in rock faces. In addition to this type of dwelling, you can also find troglodyte dwellings in Tunisia. These are located in large pits underground. Tourists choose to visit them en masse in Matmata, but in the wider area you can find countless examples where you can discover them all to yourself. El Djem , an enormous Roman amphitheater comparable to the Colosseum, but where you are allowed to touch and sit on everything, and there are only a handful of other visitors. Of course, we could make this list much longer. If you want to find inspiration for your Tunisia (camper) trip, be sure to check out our videos for other hidden gems. Safety Beforehand, we were asked: is Tunisia safe? If you look at the Ministry's website, Tunisia is largely yellow (just like France, for example). This means that you can travel there without any problems. However, there are also parts colored red, mainly in the border region. Naturally, it is better to avoid these regions. We ended up there by accident anyway and did not feel unsafe anywhere. However, in that area, you do have to submit to National Guard escorts. Just like in Morocco, we feel more comfortable leaving the camper behind here than in a major European city. Our experience so far is that precisely because everyone here is Muslim, things like theft are not tolerated. The people In the tourist areas on the east coast, we noticed that vendors could be quite pushy. But as soon as you head further inland, the atmosphere changes completely. Children waved enthusiastically and adults gave us a thumbs-up. They seemed to be saying how cool it is that you are visiting our country. We were regularly invited for a cup of tea or even a full meal. We got the strong impression that the locals felt enormously honored that we, as Westerners, wanted to visit them. Costs Tunisia is cheap. Really cheap. As nomads, we always watch our costs. In that respect, traveling through Tunisia is truly fantastic. For example, we paid: For a liter of diesel €0.65 Baguette €0.10 Coffee in a cafe €0.50 (in a tourist town €2.00) Two pizzas with drinks in Tatouine €10.15 Admission to El Djem, the Tunisian Colosseum, €6 pp For all well-known European brands like Nutela and Nivea, you simply pay Western prices, or even more due to import tax (a 0.7l bottle of Jack Daniels cost €76). It wasn't the destination that stuck with me, but the feeling along the way. Is traveling by camper possible? Yes. Absolutely. But don't expect a standard camper trip. Campsites are scarce, and P4N spots are relatively few and far between. So you are really on your own. You will have to judge for yourself whether a particular spot is suitable for an overnight stay or not. You will also have to deal with the Garde Nationale quite often. Officers regularly came by to check on us, politely asked for our passports, and then wished us a good night. Sometimes we were even escorted to another overnight spot because they considered it safer. That felt a bit awkward at first, but eventually we realized it was mostly well-intentioned. 4x4 vehicle A question we often get is whether you need a 4x4? No, not necessarily. Globus2 isn't a 4x4 either. Although we often noticed that we would have loved to drive even further off-road. The roads are generally good, but watch out for the enormous number of speed bumps. Finally, it is good to keep in mind what to do if something goes wrong with the camper. Authorized dealerships are only found in the major cities in the east, and they often do not have the right parts in stock. Ordering is possible, but there is a waiting time of one to two months. For adventurous campers, Tunisia is truly a fantastic country. Support us: Click on this banner and buy something at bol.com A small percentage of the purchase goes towards funding this website. Compare with Morocco Many people compare Tunisia to Morocco, but there are major differences. Morocco is bigger, rugged, more colorful, and geared towards campers. At the same time, the country is also more conservative, more touristy, and more chaotic. Whereas in Morocco campers are often seen as ATMs, we didn't have that problem at all in Tunisia. That makes traveling a lot more relaxed for us. Children just wave without wanting candy, pencils, or money from you. In Tunisia, the chance of getting fined for anything is very low. In Morocco, we actually had to stop for every stop sign, and the police were often standing at the foot of a mountain, in the middle of nowhere, with a laser gun. What we missed in Tunisia is perhaps the imposing Atlas Mountains with their characteristic mountain villages. Finally Tunisia is known for all-inclusive holidays on the east coast. As far as we are concerned, that really does the country a disservice. You can step into so many different worlds within one country. The lack of other tourists gives you a great adventurous Indiana Jones feeling. If you are planning to head that way sometime, be sure to check out our YouTube series about this country. At least two new videos are coming soon to provide a complete picture of this special country. Enter your email address at the bottom of this page and you will receive an email, at most once a week, when we post a new blog. If you would like to support us financially so that we can keep this website online, please donate an amount via this link .

We always run into Dutch people in the most remote places. In the middle of nowhere, somewhere high on a mountain in Norway, in a deserted parking lot in Latvia, deep in the Sahara in Morocco, or by a frozen lake in Scandinavia. But not here in Tunisia. Grotwoningen, Troglodyte Tourism is back Following the 2011 revolution and the horrific attacks, including the one on the beach in Sousse, tourism in Tunisia collapsed completely. The number of Dutch holidaymakers dropped from 120,000 to just 26,000 per year in ten years. That picture has since changed completely. Tourism has recovered. Tunisia recently even broke visitor records, and Tunis intends to bid to become the Arab Tourist Capital of 2027. Portret Tunesische man Hotel next to hotel But actually, you only see those tourists in one place. On the east coast. There, hotel after hotel stands along azure beaches. Gigantic resorts with swimming pools, bowling alleys, all-inclusive buffets, and private beaches. And don't get us wrong, if that is your ideal vacation, then Tunisia is perfect for it. Sun, sea, warmth, and everything taken care of. As far as we are concerned, however, the most beautiful parts of the country lie elsewhere. Strand bij Zarzis, vlak onder Djerba The real Tunisia As soon as you drive inland, everything changes. We found the south and west particularly impressive. The endless emptiness of the Sahara. Rugged canyons. Palm oases suddenly emerging from the dust. Ancient ksour perched on mountaintops that once served as grain storage for the Berber people . And then suddenly those Star Wars locations. Places that briefly make you feel as if you have landed on the planet Tatooine . Perhaps the most special thing we found were the troglodyte houses built entirely underground. Hospitality that touches the heart We have been invited here so often to eat at people's homes or just have a drink. A table suddenly filled. Tea poured as if we have known each other for years. Conversations with hands, smiles, and a few words that are just enough to understand one another. It moves me, every single time. Support us: Click on this banner and buy something at bol.com A small percentage of the purchase goes towards funding this website. Almost no travelers And precisely there, in the interior, we see almost no one. In eight weeks, we encountered perhaps fifteen campers. No more. In Morocco last year, we saw hundreds. Here, it sometimes feels like you are traveling through the country completely alone. There are hardly any campsites. So we are right in the middle of nature. On the edge of a canyon, among the palm trees, or somewhere in a deserted stretch of desert where it becomes completely silent at night. Lars Homestead, Star Wars Adventurous travel The police or the National Guard come by regularly. Sometimes to escort us to a safer spot. Sometimes just to photograph our passports, wish us a good night, and ask if we need anything else. That might sound more exciting than it is, and in a way, you really do need to be an adventurous traveler for Tunisia. It is not a country where everything is taken care of for you. There are hardly any campsites, and English is spoken almost nowhere. You often sleep in places where no one else is around. That is exactly what we find wonderful. The feeling of freedom, of being on an adventure in the country as it really is. As if you are sometimes no longer on earth here. Bizarrely cheap From a practical point of view, Tunisia is also remarkably affordable. Richard got his hair cut for €2.95. A liter of diesel costs about €0.66. We paid €2.35 entrance fee for a Roman open-air museum. A baguette costs €0.06 here! Sometimes we look at each other laughing when we have paid again and double-check to make sure we really converted it correctly. Where is everyone? We are truly surprised by the enormous diversity of the country. In terms of nature, culture, and people. In a country that is largely barely touched. Perhaps that will change in the coming years. For now, we keep asking ourselves: where are all those Dutch people? Enter your email address at the bottom of this page and you will receive an email, at most once a week, when we post a new blog. If you would like to support us financially so that we can keep this website online, please donate an amount via this link .

Since leaving our working lives behind and traveling with Globus 2 , it feels like the world is open to us. Boundaries that barely exist. We drive, stop wherever it is beautiful, and stay somewhere as long as it feels right. No one tells us exactly where we need to be and at what time. Until now, that is... Kelly en Richard in Zarzis A passport as a key Even outside Europe, we still experience that freedom. With some patience, a visa, and a bit of preparation, we get far. Countries open their doors to us Europeans. Our passport acts like a key. Sometimes it beeps briefly in the lock, but eventually, it almost always turns open. However, not everyone carries such a key with them. Thelja Nature Preserve The other side of freedom Here in Tunisia, we speak to people who dream of Europe. Not to flee, not to escape from anything, but simply to go on holiday. To see what lies beyond the horizon. Their stories touch us. For while we move without thinking about it, they face closed doors. With a Dutch passport, you can travel to approximately 185 destinations without applying for a visa in advance. A Tunisian passport offers visa-free access to less than half that number. Without a visa, no permission. No freedom to discover the world the way we do. When freedom is restricted As seen in our latest video , we were recently in an area colored red on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs map. A place where you are not allowed to be. Where safety is not a given. That meant continuing our journey under police escort and spending the night right in front of the police station. We couldn't even grab a loaf of bread without an officer walking along with us. Traveling is seeing, feeling, and connecting with nature and people. Freedom in small things Sometimes freedom lies in something seemingly small. A bank card. Access to your own money. When our cards were replaced and the old ones expired, we suddenly had a problem. The new cards were patiently waiting for us in the Netherlands. The old cards continued to work for another 90 days, but what if you are away from home for longer...? It shows how thin that line sometimes is. How dependent freedom can be on systems over which you have no influence. Support us: Click on this banner and buy something at bol.com A small percentage of the purchase goes towards funding this website. Freedom is not a given For how free are you really, if it can disappear so quickly? If a boundary, a situation, or someone else's decision suddenly makes your world smaller? We often think that freedom is something we possess. But perhaps it is something granted to us temporarily. Something that can shift, without warning. The world is not open everywhere. For us, too, there are places that remain out of reach. Not because we don't want to, but simply because it is not possible. Wars, tensions, unrest. Parts of Africa or the vast Russian wilderness remain a longing. Not far away in kilometers, but unreachable in this moment. What remains We love to show how beautiful the world is. We focus on what is possible. On the bright spots, the encounters, the nature that touches us time and again. A deep sense of gratitude for the space we experience. For the freedom to move, to choose, and to discover. Not as something taken for granted, but as something we receive anew every day. Enter your email address at the bottom of this page and you will receive an email, at most once a week, when we post a new blog. If you would like to support us financially so that we can keep this website online, please donate an amount via this link .

Sometimes no build-up is needed. The country touches you immediately, even before you can explain it. Tunisia does that to us. Can we go any further with Globus2? (Chott el-Djerid, zoutmeer) A landscape that keeps calling The days fly by. We drive through breathtaking landscapes. Mountains that glow softly in the evening light. Canyons that silently tell their story. We drive through an endlessly vast salt flat. White. Sky and earth merge into one another. We get out. Take photos and videos and let it all sink in. Looking through a lens We are happy to capture everything with our cameras again. Not to capture the moment—that is never entirely possible anyway—but to record something of the atmosphere. It is truly a pleasure to be able to share this with you. One video hasn't even been published yet, and the anticipation is already growing for editing the next one. This country is asking to be seen. The wealth of little What perhaps touches us most are the people. Their openness. Their natural hospitality. We have regularly been invited by people to come to their homes. We accepted the invitation twice. The door opens and you step into a completely different world. The whole family is there, looking at you with that warm, curious gaze. We manage with a few words of English and German. The rest happens naturally, through gestures, glances, and laughter. We do not speak Arabic or French, but that hardly seems to matter. If we really get stuck, Google Translate helps us get back on track. Traveling is seeing, feeling, and connecting with nature and people. Generosity that keeps giving What touches us is how naturally sharing happens. Even before we are properly seated, the table is already full. Coffee, tea, water, juice. As if choosing isn't necessary; everything is welcome. Then come the dates, cake, nuts. And finally, a plate of couscous appears, even though we have already eaten. It doesn't seem to matter. Giving here isn't about how much, but about the gesture itself. About being welcome. Even though the people here often have so much less to spend than we do. Perhaps that makes it even purer. Even more real. We can't help but smile when we think of home. Where we let our guests choose between two packets of cookies. Which one do you like? Then I'll open that one for you. Here, there is no choosing; here, there is sharing. Support us: Click on this banner and buy something at bol.com A small percentage of the purchase goes towards funding this website. An invitation that sticks. Before we leave, we hear it again and again: “You must come back.” We are even invited to a wedding next year. As if it is the most normal thing in the world that we will simply be there again. As if a connection has formed that won’t just disappear. Perhaps that is the case. Perhaps we are leaving more behind here than just tire tracks in the sand. Globus2 along rommel piste What are we taking with us We came for the nature. For the mountains, the canyons, the desert, and that endless white expanse. But what remains is found elsewhere. In the encounters. In the warmth. In the realization that wealth lies not in what you have, but in what you share. That is precisely what makes traveling so valuable to us. Being able to enjoy and capture nature, while at the same time getting to know the people who truly give a country color. Tunisia makes us feel that. Every single day. Enter your email address at the bottom of this page and you will receive an email, at most once a week, when we post a new blog. If you would like to support us financially so that we can keep this website online, please donate an amount via this link .

What a mess it is there. A very old, dilapidated stadium on the verge of collapse. Fallen pillars everywhere and a large piece of wasteland with rubble in the grass. Can't they just clear that old mess? It's truly beyond words. Just imagine all the nice restaurants and shops you could build there. Or a beautiful city park, if you like. Rome's government, do something, take action! Kelly en Richard voor het Colosseum. Open-air museum Okay, okay. I'm joking, of course. In reality, Rome is one of the most impressive places on earth. Rome is one big open-air museum. Everywhere you look, you see history that has literally stood the test of time. It's incredible that these buildings have lasted so long. Will the things we're building now still be standing in two thousand years? I doubt it. The Colosseum, a time machine Take the Colosseum. What a building! And not just any old stadium: thousands of people were entertained here. But did you know they also staged naval battles there? Complete with sailing ships and all the trimmings. The idea that all this was possible in an era without modern technology? I simply can't grasp it. The other side of the story is that thousands of people and animals were murdered solely for the spectators' amusement. That, too, is hard to grasp. The beauty of decay What I called "a mess" is actually a story of beauty. Every fallen column, every crack in the marble, tells a story. Of architects who wanted to create something beautiful, of emperors who wanted to demonstrate their power, centuries of history literally visible here. If you pause to consider it, you sense a kind of timeless connection. “Rome will stand as long as the Colosseum stands; when the Colosseum falls, Rome will fall; and when Rome falls, the world will fall.” – Prayer to the Venerable Until a hundred years ago… Until a hundred years ago, buildings were crafted with an eye for detail and beauty. Today, many buildings are sleek, square, and functional, but often lack the sense of wonder that makes you see things anew with every step. In Rome, you see how craftsmanship and creativity have endured for centuries. Support us: Click on this banner and buy something at bol.com A small percentage of your purchase goes towards funding this website. Get inspired by Rome As we strolled through the streets, taking photos and filming, it became clear that this is a city that continues to fascinate, in every corner and square. So I highly recommend everyone see Rome for themselves. But until then, you can get a taste of what's to come by watching our latest video . Enter your email address at the bottom of this page and you'll receive an email no more than once a week when we post a new blog post. If you'd like to support us financially so we can keep this website online, please donate via this link .

Just before I quit my job two years ago, I sometimes lay awake at night wondering: Who will I be without a title on my business card? Without responsibility, without prestige, without a purpose? What will be left of me if I no longer contribute in a visible and measurable way? You have to contribute something to society. Until I came across another ancient image from the Tao Te Ching: the image of water. Zwemmen in warmwaterbron in Saturnia Water that doesn't push Water doesn't fight. It doesn't try to be anything. It seeks the lowest point, flows around obstacles, and gives life to everything it touches. And in the meantime, it transforms landscapes. Without pushing. Gently. And yet stronger than stone. Last week, we stood by a small river in Northern Italy. Ice-cold water that has been carving its way through the landscape for centuries. No hurry. No strategy. Just constant movement. The stone always loses in the end. What if meaning isn't in pushing, but in flowing? Life lives itself When I left my position, I felt for a moment as if I'd lost my purpose. As if meaning were something you had to create. But as you read these words, millions of things are happening inside you without your doing anything. Your heart is beating. Your lungs are breathing. Your blood is flowing. Life is living itself, right through you. Arthur Schopenhauer In "The World as Will and Representation," the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer described how everything is driven by a single underlying force. He called it The Will. Not your personal ambition. Not your plans. But a primal current. The will to live, a life force that precedes thought. The tree grows. The dog runs. The child plays. The tree is booming. The dog is dog. The child is child. What if I just live this life instead of having to do everything? To share Since we've been living and traveling with Globus 2 , nothing feels forced anymore, and yet everything falls into place. We drive, we get lost, we meet, we look, and we share. In our blogs and videos, we share our doubts, our joys, the good and the bad moments. Not because we've devised a strategy for how we're going to change the world or what we want to achieve, but because it flows. To inspire We notice that people are touched. That someone, after reading a blog, finally decides to make that journey. That someone writes that our words help them make a difficult choice and see things differently. Perhaps that is our life's mission right now. Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing grand. Simply sharing what wants to move through us. Like water. “Meaning doesn’t come from pushing harder, but from following what wants to flow through you.” Life without struggle Schopenhauer saw clearly how desire makes us restless. Always wanting more, a higher salary, a bigger house. As if this moment isn't enough. What if, beneath that restlessness, lies a silent current? A movement that doesn't come from your head, but from something you feel rather than understand. Perhaps meaning isn't a project, but something that arises naturally when you stop pushing. Support us: Click on this banner and buy something at bol.com A small percentage of your purchase goes towards funding this website. Stop pushing For me, leaving my job wasn't a step away from meaning, but a step closer. Closer to a way of life where sharing, writing, traveling, and inspiring aren't goals in themselves, but a natural expression of who we are now. Perhaps that will change someday. Water doesn't hold its shape either. For now, this is the flow. Enter your email address at the bottom of this page and you'll receive an email no more than once a week when we post a new blog post. If you'd like to support us financially so we can keep this website online, please donate via this link .

It all seems so fantastic. Our photos, videos, and stories. But things aren't always so Instagram-friendly for us. The past few weeks are certainly a case in point. You can read what happened in this blog post. Onderweg in Duitsland On the road in Germany Where should I begin? Perhaps with the most devastating news for me. In the past two months, seven people close to me have been told they are terminally ill. Three of them have also passed away within those two months. This has hit me hard. Some are, of course, more distant than others, but there are a lot of them. Several of these acquaintances are also my own age. So it all hits very close to home. You know, I've already shed several tears over this. Especially, of course, for those left behind. Own ailments Actually, this blog could end here. The rest of what's yet to come is completely out of proportion to the above. Anyway... At the end of my last trip, I had bursitis in my right elbow. I never knew it was so painful. Four months have passed, and it's still not completely gone. In addition, all that lugging around my father's house caused me to sprain my back. Although that resolved surprisingly quickly, it resulted in a pinched nerve in my neck, which has been causing me pain for weeks now. I went to the physiotherapist several times in the Netherlands, but that's still difficult while traveling. Flu It was over a week ago, you know. The flu. Neither Kelly nor I usually get sick easily, and we're certainly not complainers, but now we've been taking turns with it. So, last week we've been stuck in one place and mostly in bed. Guilt My time in the Netherlands was quite intense. We had, of course, rushed home, and within a week of arriving home, my father passed away. Arranging the funeral, clearing out the house, handling administrative matters. Busy. So busy that I feel like I haven't seen my children nearly enough and haven't been able to help them enough with their homes. That guilt has always nagged at me. I choose a nomadic life, but the downside is that I don't see my children much. My underlying feeling is that I've cared for them for 21 years, and now it's my time again. They're independent enough to take care of themselves. And yet... it nags at me sometimes. Even Globus2 is sick And then we're barely on our way when Globus2 refuses to start. The first morning, we discover that our jump starter is dead. The second morning, the newly purchased jump starter also fails to get Globus2 started, and we have to call the ADAC again. A new battery is installed, but that doesn't help either. The third morning, Globus2 won't start again. "What's wrong with you, man? What are you trying to tell us?" Back to the garage, where they finally discover that a computer causing the glow plugs to overheat is broken. After replacing it, we're eight hundred euros poorer, but Globus2 runs like a charm again. "We are all temporary. That realization makes every day infinitely valuable." Not a good start All in all, not a great start. Although we're also very good at putting things into perspective. All those people around me dying make me realize even more that I made the right choice. Retiring early to enjoy life. You never know how much time we have left. Ultimately, we're all terminal, we just don't know how much time we have left. Every day we've enjoyed, no one can take it away from us. Support us: Click on this banner and buy something at bol.com A small percentage of your purchase goes towards funding this website. Slow down Globus2 broke down in Germany. What luck! Our VW couldn't think of a better place to break down. Imagine if this had happened in Tunisia. Would it have been resolved so quickly? The trip was delayed for four days by the Globus2 issue. A delay that was extended by another week by our flu in Northern Italy. Wasn't this exactly what we wanted, and perhaps needed even more than we thought? Enter your email address at the bottom of this page and you'll receive an email no more than once a week when we post a new blog post. If you'd like to support us financially so we can keep this website online, please donate via this link .

Now that we know our next trip is to Tunisia, we can start preparing. We've gained considerable experience with everything that needs to be arranged, but it's still good to consciously reflect on this again. Every trip requires a new level of attention. As if preparation is also a form of coordination. Kelly druk met de voorbereidingen voor de reis naar Tunesië Since we're traveling to a country outside of Europe, we're starting with the paperwork. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tunisia is currently designated yellow. So, no problem. Our passports are still valid for the time being, our car insurance covers damage in Tunisia, and our travel insurance with European coverage is also valid there. Once all these things have received another imaginary green checkmark, the fun part begins for us: searching for places we don't want to miss. In Tunisia itself, but also on the way there. Everything gets a pin on Google Maps, so it won't get lost in the flood of impressions along the way. Practical matters Once the paperwork is checked off, the practical matters follow. In December we have Globus 2 We've had it inspected again, and the water tank has been thoroughly cleaned. The first aid kit has also been replenished, and the spare insurance box is back in its proper place. The gas tanks are perhaps the most important point of attention for us. Sufficient gas We travel with two Dutch gas cylinders, each weighing eleven kilograms, on board. We use them exclusively for cooking. Experience has shown that this will last us about six months. It's important for us to know exactly how much gas we have left when we leave the Netherlands. Dutch gas cylinders cannot be refilled abroad. Most other countries have different types of cylinders with different connections, and refilling is not permitted. Sensors Since we started using the E-Gaslevel from E-Trailer, things have become much easier. The sensors accurately indicate how full the gas bottles are. A small sensor is located under each gas bottle, which is connected to the starter pack . We easily read everything via the E-Trailer app. This is not only convenient before departure, but we also regularly check the status while on the road. This allows us to make timely adjustments if necessary. All of this is possible without a subscription. If you also want to be able to remotely monitor the gas tanks (and other E-trailer products) with the app, you need the starter pack plus in combination with a subscription. To adjust Adjusting our steering sometimes means reducing our fuel consumption. Fewer stews that take longer to cook, boiling water in the kettle first. Sometimes it also means finding a fill-up point along the way, whether official or not. Besides the E-Gaslevel, we use other E-Trailer modules that have become indispensable. With E-Level, we can see if Globus 2 is level, and E-Pressure warns us if tire pressure or temperature deviates. It gives us a lot of peace of mind. It's as if the technology is keeping a close eye on things. " Globe 2 is ready. The rest can arrive on the way. " Groceries Water and groceries are usually easy to replenish along the way. However, there are always a few items we find hard to find abroad and therefore always take with us. Think satay sauce, curry sauce, and nasi spices. Small, familiar flavors that can suddenly become powerful when traveling. Advertisement: Click on this banner and then buy something at bol.com A small percentage of your purchase goes towards funding this website. Ready for departure Finally, it's time to say goodbye. Say goodbye to family and friends, map out the route for the first few days, and then the moment has arrived. Ready to depart. For us, travel doesn't begin at the border, but with the willingness to leave our familiar surroundings and people behind for a while. Tunisia awaits. And we're moving towards it, step by step. Enter your email address at the bottom of this page and you'll receive an email no more than once a week when we post a new blog post. If you'd like to support us financially so we can keep this website online, please donate via this link .