ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An Italian adventurer has arrived in the Kurdistan Region after walking some 6,000 kilometers over ten months, he told Rudaw, noting that the purpose of his journey is to connect with different peoples and learn about diverse cultures, adding that his final destination is Vietnam.
David Coraglia from Vaccheria, a village in northwestern Italy, began his trip in August with only a few belongings in a modest stroller, including the tent he sleeps in, to avoid carrying items on his back, and a great deal of determination.
“I have visited nine countries so far, and Kurdistan is the ninth. I walked from northern Italy through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, and Turkey, and now Kurdistan,” he told Rudaw.
Coraglia added that he has walked all the way from his “hometown to Erbil, Kurdistan,” and has spent “almost 10 months and crossed around 6,000 kilometers,” with the goal of reaching Vietnam entirely on foot.
The 27-year-old had worked as a barista in Italy, but had been planning his on-foot trek for six years, drawing inspiration from long-distance travelers and writers who have crossed continents on foot, as well as a desire to experience places beyond the routine of everyday life.
“I decided to travel in the most natural way for me, which is walking. I go slowly because it is the best opportunity for me to meet people and connect with them,” he said, describing such trips as “the best way to learn the history of a country” and adding that “since I really like history, it’s a really great opportunity.”
After the Kurdistan Region, the Italian adventurer said he intends to travel further into Iraq, specifically to Baghdad and the southernmost Basra province, before continuing on to Kuwait, while bypassing Iran due to regional tensions, he said.
Rekar Aziz contributed to this article from Erbil, Kurdistan Region.
