Becoming a nomad, interview with Athéna and Bruno

We were lucky enough to meet a couple of atypical travelers. Atypical, because when you decide to become a nomad, yes, it really is outside the box. We are not part of the family of “great travelers” or “round-the-worlders.” Nomadic travelers are a bit apart, because it’s a decision that very few people can make. We found them so endearing that we wanted to share their project with you, which they are about to embark on for the rest of their lives! Or at least, for the next few years… Here’s a little interview!

Can you introduce yourselves in a few words?

Bruno, 38 years old, and Athéna, 36 years old. We’ve been traveling and living together for 15 years. We are very representative of Generation Y. Masters of resourcefulness, “slashers,” flexible and adaptable, we have already changed our lives 100 times. And our trips are like us and don’t look like each other. We are independent travelers and we like to get off the beaten path… On the other hand, we feel just as comfortable in a truck, camping, staying with locals, or in a charming hotel.

What always remains common to all our trips is meeting others. Above all, we love to share and feel integrated into the life of the countries we visit. We have always prioritized lived moments. We’re really not fans of the checklist of things to do or see.

And then we are real foodies and for us, gastronomy and the table more generally are real moments of sharing, inseparable from our travels.

Tell us about your project

Our project to become nomads is a bit complicated to explain because it’s more of a new way of life than a trip as we know it.

First, there’s the desire to become nomads, but that can even be done in Europe or France. Then, there’s the desire to travel. Or is it the other way around? Do we become nomads to be able to travel more? Always that damned chicken and its damned egg… 😉 Anyway, we’re leaving in September for Asia for a trip of indefinite duration. We’ll start by discovering Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, then all of Asia. But in reality, we don’t really know how long it will take us. We’ll listen to ourselves, we’ll come back (or not), we’ll leave again (or not), and maybe we’ll change our path…

For a more precise answer, you’ll have to follow us. Departure on August 18, 2019

What was the trigger to become nomads?

Travel has always been part of us and so has this need to move. Maybe it’s a midlife crisis coming early, but after 6 moves, a long trip, 8 job changes, and an expatriation, we ended up understanding that sedentariness just isn’t our thing.

In August, we discovered the West Coast of the United States. The sunrise over Monument Valley made something vibrate in me (Athéna). Up at 4am, with a piece of dry bread admiring a magical show, we were happy… I came home and said to Bruno: We’re getting it wrong, life isn’t like this.

We were running a wine bar in Barcelona that was really successful. We were even considering opening a bigger one. So, I suggested we go around the world for a year before taking on another place. He said NO. No way we’re leaving our booming bar for a year, coming back with nothing, and starting all over again. So he was the most radical and said to me: “If you want us to change our lives, then let’s do it for real.”

That was last September. In March, we became nomads and in August, we’re leaving for Asia.

And every day of this new life confirms our choice…

See this post on Instagram

?? “The world is born in every kiss” by Joan Fontcuberta and Antoni Cumella in the center of Barcelona. This mural is actually made up of 4000 photos on the theme “live free” and is located in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona. A must-see in the city. ——————————————— Yesterday, we kissed one last time in Barcelona, the city where “the traveling lovers” were born. Today we started our nomadic life with a first stop in Paris where we are setting up the professional part of our project. ? Have a great week. Ours will be studious and nomadic ?? – – ?? El Mundo Nasce en cada beso compuesto por 4000 fotos con tema “vivir libre” que mejor manera que despedirse de Barcelona, besándonos una última vez en esta ciudad maravillosa para empezar nuestra vida nómada ? Vivimos libres a partir de hoy. Primera etapa, Paris donde pondremos en marcha la parte profesional de nuestro proyecto… os deseamos una semana estupenda, la nuestra será nómada y estudiosa ?? – – ?? “The World Born in each kiss.” Artwork of 4000 pictures about the thema “live free”. You can admire it in the old Town of Barcelona. We start our new way of life as nomads today… with a first step in Paris to learn and start the working part of our project… ? Have an amazing week ? – – #elmundonaceencadabeso #barcelona #barcelone #espagne?? #catalunya #voyage #passionvoyage #voyageurs #vienomade #travelling_europe #frenchtraveler #tourdumonde #lesfrançaisvoyagent #blogvoyage #instavoyage #travelgram #viaje #viajeros #nomadas #nomades #wanderlust #decouvrirlemonde

A post shared by B&A (@lesamantsvoyageurs) on March 18, 2019 at 10:55 PDT

How do you prepare for a long trip?

We’ve never been pros at planning, anyway, we spend our time changing our minds.

For a round-the-world trip with a departure date and a return date, I imagine planning the itinerary is important. But since we don’t have a return date, we know where we’re arriving, but not much more. We chose to take a one-way ticket to Kathmandu and figure it out as we go.

On the other hand, we did prepare for this new way of life. Giving up the apartment, selling and giving away all our stuff (even my wedding dress), training for “nomadic” jobs, creating a legal structure in France, registering our taxes, getting a blood test, vaccines, etc.

And then, we became minimalists and we try to consume as little as possible. Our only purchases in 2019 were edible or related to our travels to share moments with the people we love. Nothing material. Anyway, it doesn’t fit in our backpacks 😉

What do you expect from this new nomadic life?

Travel, of course!

And then being free to be where we want when we want.

For us, being nomads is being happy in our own way. Living differently, a slower life. And then, encounters, wonder and time, freedom and surprises…

Returning to less material relationships. Reducing our needs and simply living our dreams.

Above all, it’s about being in tune with ourselves. We’ve never managed to stay put so it seems like a lifestyle that suits us better.

And if we end up not liking it anymore, we’ll change our minds again, it doesn’t scare us 😉

What are your best travel memories so far?

Do you have time? Because if you ask us to tell our travel memories, you won’t be going to bed… We’re talkative so if you get us started on our favorite topic… Well, you asked for it 😉

Ice skating in Central Park, watching the sun rise over Monument Valley, remaking the world with Michael, a New Yorker, in a Polish bar. Thinking we spoke Montenegrin because of too much Rakja shared with a family in the depths of Montenegro. The inhabitants of a village in Turkey, who came knocking on the truck at 7am to offer us breakfast. Meeting our best friend more than 10 years ago in the Tunisian desert…

The landscapes, the people, the laughter, the mishaps.

And then this Bosnian, in Mostar, who spoke Portuguese. He had learned the language because he once listened to Amalia Rodriguez and fell in love with Fado. We spent the day with him singing classics of this music dear to our hearts and remaking the world… In Portuguese in the depths of Bosnia…

Is there a particular country that could keep you?

All and none at the same time.

On our first trip, we almost stayed in Turkey. But we were much younger and less confident at the time.

We intend to sometimes stay several months in the same place if we feel good there, if we have to work, if we’re tired… but the idea is to keep moving, and, I think our curiosity would be frustrated if we settled down before seeing the whole world 😉

From our Parisian comfort, it seems like we expect a lot from India, but to be honest, we have no idea what will happen to us in the coming months.

Basically, for now, we feel that being nomads suits us best, but who knows?

How can we follow you?

Just like if we were 20 😉 We even have Pinterest hehe Instagram and Facebook @lesamantsvoyageurs for spontaneous sharing. And then the blog lesamantsvoyageurs.com, for those who want to go into more detail or get info about our adventure or how to become a nomad yourself. Oh and above all, if you want to ask us questions or send us a little email… We LOVE to chat, so don’t hesitate.