You might have seen it in my previous posts, but for the past couple of months, we've been journeying through Italy. It’s been an incredible experience so far.
Descending from the Alps to Turin, we journeyed through Genoa, Cinque Terre, La Spezia, Livorno, Pisa, and Florence. We spent two weeks at a friend’s home in rural Tuscany, indulging in pizze, schiacciate, piaccerini, focaccie toscane, and a myriad of other homemade local delicacies.
From there, we made our way to Bologna, where we visited the oldest university in the western world, among other things, then continued to Ferrara—my favorite town of all.
Now, we're in Venice, the floating city. Not my first time here, still as enchanting as ever.
We've chosen to explore the western coast and the central regions, avoiding the southern part due to the intense summer heat. Italy, much larger than one might expect, has captivated us with its vastness, but that's not the essence of today's story.
You're here, subscribed to my newsletter, to follow our vanlife adventures. I understand. Yet sometimes, in the midst of our travels, I encounter things that simply cannot go unspoken. This is one of those moments.
This morning, as we rode the bus to town, I saw a man lying next to an "anti-homeless bench".
It struck me.
Despite the immense wealth and rich history of this continent and country, these cruel acts of dehumanization are a common sight.
The local government has plans to disperse the homeless, ensuring that tourists like myself don’t encounter them, but they remain present.
Anti-homeless schemes aren’t designed to help the homeless; they merely aim to keep them out of sight. Except, of course, in major cities like Rome or Milan.
Homelessness isn’t just a reflection of our society's failures.
Homelessness is a violent tool, a subconscious message that we're forced to internalize every single day:
"If you ever find yourself in trouble, don't count on anyone to lend a hand.
Those who can't keep up with the fast pace of the world are pushed aside, left alone, and trampled upon.
So, hustle, make money, even if it means climbing over others."
These subtle warnings drive us to become even more efficient "economic agents," all in the name of boosting the GDP.
This relentless pressure is why people in our nations suffer from crippling anxiety and stress. It fuels fear and deepens the destructive grip of individualism.
In the 21st century, a state's greatness lies in its ability to show solidarity.
As Thomas Reid put it, "We are as strong as our weakest link" in his "Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man," published in 1786.
It's through substantial actions, such as establishing food banks, providing affordable housing, creating accessible healthcare clinics, and offering educational support, that we truly embody the spirit of citizenship and cultivate a profound sense of community.
These acts of kindness and solidarity provide more than just basic necessities—they offer hope, dignity, and opportunities to those in need.
That’s why my wife and I volunteer everywhere we go. We need it. The world needs it.
If you wish to read similar posts and support my work, you know what to do!
Thanks for reading.
Till next time,
Tee.
My partner and I have an old beat up Ford focus estate that we are planning on doing up for car camping.
Reading through your post I can see that we are going to see a lot more sights than we might bargain for.
I'm sad that life is so harsh for some people, and that others make it more so.
I'm looking forward to reading more of your adventures and learning how to navigate sleeping on wheels !