We have first met them in Tribodar eco community, in Portugal during the preparation for the annually organised festival called Tribojam. Since the first moments of our conversation we knew that we are going to follow this incredible couple through their life journey and value their friendship a lot not minding that they are planning to be in a different continent.
Here are their insights about people, love, faith, Africa, relationships, themselves and God:
What are your main lessons after travelling as a couple in a van for a whole year?
Travelling as a couple was a good opportunity to get to know each other better. We were married just for one year before we started living on the road. And before that year chapter we have seen each other only on weekends during three month period of activities such as: cooking meals for (usually homeless) people (''Food not bombs'') or looking after dogs who are in animal shelters. After six weeks as a couple we decided to get married and start planning our trip to Africa. So as you can imagine it was crazy and super quick decision of two incredibly in love people.
The first months we were learning how to fit in a small car together. We were trying to adjust to the new situation, to create a family with actually no good examples from our own homes of how good and healthy marriage should look like. It was a big challenge: no friends around, just two of us trying to understand the depth of the human mind, behavior, differences; ourselves and one another.
After a year we are still on the way, still a lot to learn but we are much stronger as a couple. We are more like one engine – not separate parts.
It was important to understand that it is alright to be weak, to love weak parts of yourself, to accept and actually love pretty much everything. The more love and acceptance we give to one another – less and less place remains for rejection.
The main lesson? Forgive fast, say sorry even faster.
What adventures have you experienced while driving through Europe?
Europe was just the beginning so each day was an adventure. We were like children trying to find ourselves in a new condition. Everything was exciting: the beauty of different landscapes, different languages and different people.
Waking up under Mont Blanc, by the rivers, by the sea… The beauty was in those simple moments. Few things for sure will stay in our memory. Germany, Switzerland and Portugal were the most memorable countries. In Germany and Switzerland, except breaking and miraculously fixing the car, we experienced huge portion of help, love and unexpected financial blessings.
In Portugal we visited Mount of Oaks - a beautiful farm run by two amazing women who live peacefully surrounded by nature and animals. We stayed there for a few weeks helping to build the little shade summer house, enjoying the company and beauty of Portugal.
Tribojam festival was another amazing experience where we spend a few weeks helping and being part of a big festival family. There we have met you guys, so it is definitely worth remembering.
Portugal is quite different than the rest of Europe. It was a good preparation of what we were going to experience stepping into completely different reality.