“PER ASPERA”, De Paris à Rome à Pied (Film 4K)

Un jour, j’ai fait une aventure qui a radicalement changé ma vie, je suis parti de chez ma grand-mère (Paris Montparnasse) et j’ai marché jusqu’à Rome. Avant d’apercevoir le Colisée et la Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano, je suis passé par les Alpes, la Suisse, le nord de l’Italie, les Cinque Terre, la Toscane (je fais exprès d’utiliser un max de mots clés pour le référencement) … J’ai découvert aussi la ville de Dijon, le Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard, la Via Francigena, Genova… bref tout un paquet d’endroits répartis sur les 1600km de mon trajet.

Ce film retrace le parcours et les différentes étapes physique et mentale par lesquels je suis passé, mais aussi les rencontres que j’ai faites. Car vous le verrez, ce film n’est pas tout à fait un film sportif, je me retrouve à dormir chez des gens que je viens à peine de rencontrer, je ne refuse jamais un verre et ce peu importe l’horaire, je me nourris exclusivement de kebabs, de snickers et de coca. Avant de passer la frontière suisse, sous l’influence de champignons hallucinogènes, je me prends pour un singe et je vais parler à un arbre. Mais le pire c’est en Italie parce que je comprends rien à ce qu’on me raconte.

0:00 Intro
30:25 Suisse
41:55 Col du grand saint-bernard
47:14 Italie
1:05:01 Gênes
1:09:18 les 5 terres
1:19:58 Arrivée

Tout le film a été tourné avec une Go Pro 9 et un drone Dji mini 2, il y a aussi les sublimes dessins de la fantastique Liz Stirling, qui viennent magnifier le récit.

Voici tout le matériel que j’ai utilisé pour réaliser ce périple:

(même si je sais que je vais recevoir plein de message sur insta ou voir même de mail pour me demander comment j’ai fait pour recharger mon téléphone)*

– Sac à dos Arc’terix Bora 65
– Sac de couchage Millet Light Down 0
– Tente MSR Hubba Hubba NX2
– Matelas de sol Thermarest proLite
– Chaussure Salomon Xa pro 3D
– Couteau Opinel (indispensable)
– Poche à eau de chez Décathlon
– Un mental de tueur en mode Mike Tyson quand il sort de prison et qu’il regarde le mec dans les yeux la et après il le met ko au premier round

*j’avais un panneau solaire (il m’a servi à rien) et une batterie externe mais la plupart du temps je rechargeais tout chez les gens chez qui je dormais ou dans les restaurants.

PARIS-LILLE à Pied ! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdJxIWDALOE&t=576s
PARIS-MARSEILLE à Pied !: https://youtu.be/CBaHrKBruJk

Pour me contacter: (célibataire)
Instagram: Cornelius.marot
E-mail: Cmarot98@gmail.com

Miniature du big boss Nicolas Cubi: https://www.instagram.com/cubi_nico

#paris #rome #voyage #trekking #aventure #popeleoxiv #viafrancigena #travel

Today, we’re going to walk to Rome. It’s about 1,600 kilometers, I think. We’re going to cross a lot of places, so let’s go! I think it’ll take me about two months. We’ll see. Maybe 50 days, maybe two months. First of all, let me back up a bit and explain how you might find yourself
wanting to walk from Paris to Rome. A few years earlier… For a long time, I was the typical troublemaker
in the back of the class. failing school, doing drugs, wasting my days
hanging out and getting high. And honestly, I was totally fine with it. But one day, it hit me like a lightning bolt. It broke something inside me, and I
started having all kinds of weird problems. It was like, overnight,
my body and mind just broke down. And I had no idea how to fix it. But I quickly realized it was because I had been
living a toxic lifestyle for too long. And that I absolutely had to get my health back. Then one day, I came across that quote from Hippocrates: “Walking is man’s best medicine.” And that quote even though
no one really knows if it’s actually his, just kept echoing in my head. So, the day the lockdown ended,
I walked from Paris to Lille. Today, I told myself I needed some fresh air, so I’m going to walk from Paris to Lille. And a few months later from Paris to Marseille. There was clearly a before and after those walks. Each time, it was an amazing experience
that gave me a new perspective on the world and led to many great encounters. That’s nice! You’ve got a cool vibe, Cornelius. You knocked at my door,
and I gave you a big smile right away. You told me your story…
Man, you’re so determined! I encourage young people like you to never work. The camera turned off! And when I came back after
I was no longer the same. Well, actually, I was the same but better. But honestly, I still feel like
I haven’t done enough yet. So the idea now is to walk from the capital to the only city it’s twinned with, Rome. Which itself is twinned with only one city, Paris. Yeah, it makes sense. To do this, I’ll have to cross
a large part of eastern France, for about 500 kilometers. And then, I will arrive in Switzerland. Which is a country that I don’t know at all. But I was told they speak French there
and that living costs aren’t too high. After going along Lake Geneva,
I will have to cross the Alps. Which is the place where there are the most
bears and wolves in Europe. So it’s quite reassuring to know
that I won’t be all alone. There, I’ll have to cross mountains
over 2,000 meters high. And where temperatures can drop
as low as -20°C. If I survive, I should normally arrive in Italy. And it’ll be far from over, because I won’t have even reached the
halfway point of the journey yet. I would still have to walk nearly 900 km
before arriving in Rome. Knowing that I don’t speak a single word of Italian. Well, actually, I do know how to say hello. We say “Hola” or “Buenos dias”. I don’t know, one of the two. I remind you that I’m not allowed to take the car,
hitchhike, or ride a bike. Everything will be done by foot. And also a new rule: No headphones. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” The first day is always the most difficult. By the way, I postponed that day
several times before leaving. But now that it’s done,
I’m as excited as I am worried. But more than anything,
I’m struggling to realize that I’m truly leaving. I’ve walked 20 kilometers now. I’m taking my first break. I’m sweating like crazy. It’s a heatwave,
must be at least 30, 35 degrees. I’m soaked all over. Actually, the thing that stresses me out the most isn’t having to walk all day over long distances. What really scares me is the night. Sleeping alone in a tent out in the wild
really isn’t my thing. I don’t exactly have great memories
from past experiences. A wild boar hung around the tent until 2 a.m. I swear it’s true. I could heard it grunting. At night, outside, you can’t see anything,
you hear all kinds of weird noises, and you just feel vulnerable. I can’t help imagining I’m going to get attacked
by a serial killer, a witch, or some evil spirit. But the thing is, I’ve still got around
sixty more nights to get through before I make it to Rome, if I ever get there. So I guess I’ll have to get used to it. First Day Debrief It went pretty well,
I walked about 40 kilometers. So it’s cool, it’s a good walk. Now, i’m going to make myself
a salami sandwich. There are some cool benches over there. And that’s it. Once the first night is behind me,
I already feel more at ease. Right away, being out in nature
makes me feel good. I feel more relaxed and in better spirits. Fuck, it’s only day two
and I’m already sick of it! But you know how it goes, the first few days are always the hardest, and after that, it goes smoothly. Yep, you’re about to see my ass! [Station announcement:]
“Hello everyone. This summer, fewer trains are running
between Corbeil-Essonnes and Melun.” We encourage you to check the apps
for more information and to plan your upcoming journeys accordingly.
Thank you for listening.” For now, physically, it’s fine. It’s not the walking that’s hard,
it’s getting used to carrying the backpack. Inside, I’ve got a solar panel, a tent, a sleeping bag,
some clothes, and water. Altogether, that’s 16 kilos I have to carry on my back. I have everything I need to be self-sufficient, but as I said before,
I hate sleeping alone in the middle of nowhere. So, on the evening of the third day, instead of finding a spot in the middle of the woods I knocked on a random door and said, “Hi, I’m walking to Rome, can I put my tent
in your garden just for tonight?” And I got lucky, because they said
yes right away. It allowed me to sleep soundly,
to wash myself, and since I really got lucky,
they even invited me to dinner. – Oh my God, thank you so much!
– Ah, thanks, sweetheart. – It’s really beautiful.
-You’re not eating? Yeah, I’m coming
it’s just that I only have two hands! Yeah, that’s true, I should come help you… That’s interesting. You’ve got date paste, you have dried mangoes, dried bananas… So, how often do you go cycling? Before my health issue, in summer, I used to do
110 to 120 kilometers a day. – Wow!
– Yeah, but I took it easy. You must’ve had some serious… Damn, yeah, you’ve got some solid calves. One of the most beautiful things about walking trips is that you end up becoming friends with people
you would never have met otherwise. You tighten this part here. Hop, there you go. Wow, It’s pretty heavy! The simple fact of having unexpected
good times with strangers gives you a real boost. I was walking through a deserted village, I see two old people sitting on their porch. We start talking, and I end up spending
a really nice moment with them. They gave me a thermos of coffee, and above all, some beautiful memories. That was a good line! Thank you Big Boss! The farming world is a special world. – Yeah? How so? It’s all about who can eat the neighbor first. Antoine the farmer – let me camp in his garden on day five. I notice, as a farmer… I feel like people don’t always
look at us in a good way. A lot of people seem like
they just don’t like farmers. Of course, we don’t drive fast on the road. If you watch TV for five minutes,
all they talk about is glyphosate. And if you so much as take out the sprayer, some people will give you dirty looks. – The what? The sprayer! The sprayer: Farming vehicle used to spray chemicals on crops. – But it actually sounds pretty cool, when you say you’re on the tractor, got your radio on, doing your thing,
and every day’s a bit different. Honestly, it’s pretty cool. On the tractor is where I feel best in the world. – Oh yeah?
– Well yeah, I don’t know… I was kind of born into it, in a way. [Music] It’s been about a week since I left,
and I’m completely wiped out. My whole body hurts, I’m sore all over
and I’m exhausted. But I keep walking anyway,
because I’ve got nothing else to do. The first few days are always the toughest. So now I’m making myself a little cocktail. Monster-Powerade Well, I’m no dietitian or doctor,
but it should do the trick. Yeah, I can confirm,
I’m definitely no dietitian! Not sure I’m the best example
when it comes to nutrition. Because my diet mainly consists of: Coke, Snickers, bananas, and dry sausage. And since I don’t have anything to cook with, I usually have lunch at a restaurant,
and it’s not exactly to order a salad. Alright, after the effort comes the reward. Sausage, hazelnuts of who-knows-what. A little idiot’s Snickers, and a big Boss beer. But I’m starting to doubt
whether I’ll actually make it to Rome. If I’m already tired and I haven’t even
walked 200 kilometers. And things won’t exactly improve when
I get to the town of Tonnerre. Tonnerre is a mysterious town
where nothing happens normally. First of all, in the center of town, there’s a washhouse with a spring so deep that, even today, no one really knows
where the water comes from. Because no one has ever reached the bottom. But it’s forbidden to explore it, because several divers have died trying. Another legend says it’s so deep because the Devil jumped into it after
failing to corrupt a child’s soul, dragging the bottom of the basin
with him down into the depths of hell. But in Tonnerre, I mostly met Jacky. So? – Do you mind? Where do you want me to…? It’d be best if you set up back there. – Ok perfect! Don’t make a mess, ’cause the shotgun’s up there! There you go, it’s pouring! – Okay. – So, are you joining me or not? Alright, I’ll have a small one! « La goutte » – Homemade liquor. – Cheers! – It’s shooting out my nose! Oh yeah, that burns! – That’s gonna give me a boost. – Oh yeah. With this, the virus doesn’t stand a chance. – With this, I might actually get to Dijon tonight! Want another one? – Again? Well, why not. Come on, give it here! – Wait, not all of that! Cheers! I’m going to get drunk though.
I’m not used to drinking this anymore… – Well, me neither. – What’s the percentage on this? – It’s about 54, 55. – Oh wow, not bad! – I need the same carafe. I’m not sure you can still find that. – Oh yeah?
– That’s not new. I’m leaving Tonnerre with a strong
urge to pick a fight with everyone. It’s not like all those lame YouTubers who go hiking and drink soy, man. Me, I have a shot of moonshine
first thing in the morning! But pretty soon,
I’ll just have nausea and dead legs. That liquor… I’m not sure it was a great idea, after all. Honestly. Fortunately, the route leads me
onto a path where I can relax, far from all the cars and the traffic. No cars allowed, so I take the opportunity
to recharge in this rural, bucolic setting. No sign of a kebab around here. Only restaurants with menus for hipsters on bikes. Which might not be such a bad thing for me. It’s a block of magma from
the Piton de la Fournaise in Réunion. And for my next trip, since I’m getting back on track and
taking control of my life again. Because I went through a really bad time not long ago. “Guillaume the collector” agreed to let me pitch
my tent in his garden tonight. It was my grandfather who had brought this back from… Well, actually, the poilus at the time… – Wow, there’s even the Nazi symbol! It’s a ceremonial dagger. – Alright. So, I don’t think so. Ah yes! I was expecting this, it’s okay. – Sorry. No problem, I was expecting it. This is a labradorite. If you look at it in the light,
you’ll see it’s slightly pearly. It’s very pretty. And actually, it absorbs the bad things. The jade stone, that’s the stone of the negotiator. – And since you got it,
has it helped you sell better? Not at all. – It looks just like a massive spliff. You want to smoke it? Go ahead. I can’t promise you’ll come back down from that. So this purifies.
How much does something like that cost? Could be like 10 euros for two… – It kind of smells like horse. You think so? – Yeah, horse poop. Tell me when to stop, ’cause for me,
it doesn’t go higher than the rim. – Me, i’m just joining you. Let’s start with that. Because port is meant to be savored. Holy cow! OK, that’s good. – It’s got a strong smell. You know that woman who lived
the longest in the world, Jeanne Calment? She said the secret to longevity was chocolate and port. So now all we’re missing is the chocolate,
and we’ll live to 100. I don’t have chocolate. – Me, I’ve got a flan. Good morning, Big boss. It’s the beginning of day 11. All good, it’s sunny and hot. We’re still on the Canal de Bourgogne. I think I should arrive in Dijon in two days. All good, super chill. Well, I’m a bit sore all over. I’m a bit in pain, but… You have to act like you’re not in pain. Then, after a while, you really aren’t. I’m leaving the Canal de Bourgogne, and I’m getting to the little town of
Alise-Sainte-Reine. It’s a name that doesn’t necessarily mean much. But in a different era, it was known as Alesia. Two thousand years ago, this is where Caesar
defeated Vercingetorix’s army. after more than two months of fighting. There were a lot of battles between
the Romans and the Gauls. But that one changed everything,
because it was the last. After that, the Romans conquered Gaul, and they spread their influence. Today we speak French, which is a Latin language. Our justice is shaped by Roman law, and Christianity developed as a
result of the Roman conquest. If the Romans hadn’t won, maybe we’d be speaking a different language today. We wouldn’t have built Christian monuments like Mont-Saint-Michel or Notre-Dame. And instead of doctors, we’d have druids. When I saw the statue of Vercingetorix, and that he had lost the battle at Alesia, He got screwed over by Caesar. I felt like walking all the way to Rome. and give Caesar a good beating. Then I remembered my name was Cornelius. and that it’s kind of a Roman name. So, I don’t know which side I’m on, actually. After this careful consideration, I’m heading into a department
I had never really heard much about. but I fell in love with it,
and I can’t really explain why. Bligny-le-Sec This place confirms my theory: the more remote a place is,
the nicer the people are. I haven’t seen many trees like that. We cut them into the “miron”. Oh yes, very beautiful. And right here, there is: Saint Anthony of Padua. Aiiiinh ! That’s from the 1600s. Oh wow! That’s a very old thing. They made beautiful things back then. Yeah, they made beautiful things. I know it bothers you,
but let me show you something real quick. He says to me, “You’ve got an old house!” I tell him, yes. “You don’t have anything special inside?” I say, “Well, there’s the staircase” When he got there: “Waoh” “That’s worth a fortune.” Because do you realize? To carve stones like that into a spiral shape, How did they manage not to break them? And this is from the 1600s? Yes, yes. All the brushstrokes they must have put into that. One thing I’ve definitely learned from traveling on foot, it’s that sometimes, all you have to do is ask. and then you end up experiencing things
you never would’ve imagined. Just like that night, when I ended up sleeping in a tipi and shooting arrows in underwear. Just because I talked to a guy
in the middle of the forest, and he invited me to his place. It’s a powerful bow, so it’s up to you. As long as your bow isn’t drawn, you can hold the arrow with your finger like this. And after that, The idea is to get some power while going down. You focus on the inhale and the exhale. Pouh! Oh yeah! Two weeks we’ve been walking every day for two weeks now,
about 30 kilometers each day. By now my body has gotten used to it,
I never get tired anymore. I don’t even feel the weight
of the backpack anymore. Now I’ve hit one of the best phases
of traveling on foot. The one that comes once
you’ve gotten used to the effort. So, even if from the outside,
nothing seems to have changed. I’m still just walking like usual. But in my head, I’m like… [Singing noise] One thing I’ve also discovered
through traveling on foot, is that the body doesn’t work like an iPhone. Its battery is not linear. At first, he’s exhausted and in pain everywhere. Fuck, it’s only day two and I’m already sick of… But once he got used to it and understood
that we weren’t going to stop for a long time. Well, then he goes into Super Saiyan mode. And he’s got even more energy than he had on day one. Ah, shit! Yeah, I can confirm, that’s definitely weed. Oh! It smells a bit like CBD oil. I don’t think that’s the kind of weed
that gets you high. I think it’s just hemp. But damn, I’ve never seen that in my life. A huge field of weed. I’m arriving in the region that inspired
the name of the movie Jurassic Park. The Jura, because there are many
rocks from the dinosaur era, called the Jurassic era, which were discovered there. I’m not sure if there’s actually a link to dinosaurs, but the people here have been
particularly generous and welcoming to me. I had nothing to eat, but a nice woman gave me some tomatoes. They taste amazing. So, I ring a doorbell and ask a lady, “Could I fill my water bottle here, please?” She tells me “Yes, you don’t want anything else?” So I say,”‘Maybe a coffee, if that’s okay?” She brings me a cup of coffee, some water, two comté sandwiches,
a piece of comté cheese, and a bag of fruit. Last night, I had an amazing evening with
a forest ranger and his girlfriend, They were about my age. It was really interesting to see people
my age doing exotic jobs, Exotic to me, since I’m from the city. And here we are, day 17! So, I’ve got a short 30-kilometer walk to do. I have to go pick up a friend. Actually, meeting up with a friend
who’ll be arriving around 2 or 3 pm. That’s 30 kilometers from here, so I have to walk
30 kilometers today without stopping. A friend is going to join me for a while, And this will change me, because it’s true that people
are especially welcoming to me in the evenings, and that’s great, but during the day, I’m completely alone. Well, that’s not entirely true,
I’m not completely alone. Hello, friends! Oh, I hadn’t noticed you! No, no, no, no, I come in peace. Hi guys! How’s it going? All good, just drinking water? Well, Hello there. Let me introduce myself, my name is Cornelius
and I’m walking to Rome. Mind if I join you for a while? I’m not sure if you’re a donkey. You, I know you’re a horse, but what are you? Look at those wild boars! Oh dear. Guys! Damn, they’re huge. What are they eating? Ah, seeds. Yep, good morning, sir. I’d stop at rest areas,
look at the road map and say: Ok, so I need to go that way, that way…’ So old-school, man! – Best mate
– Arrives 4 hours late
– Always brings something Check out what I brought, man: Psylocybe mexicana, Flesh of the Gods See? It’s cool being in a car. Most of my friends told me, “The club sucks.” I talked about it with my dad, and he said: “When I was 20 or 25, all my friends and I used to say,
‘Clubs suck, we’ll never go.'” “But now I regret that we never went.” “We should have gone when we were the right age.” And that’s why now, buddy, I’m going to try and go more often. Mr. Big Boss, It’s time to wake up. – Yeah, I’m coming.
– Is this lie true? It’s cold as hell out here! Ah man, it’s always this cold in the morning. Oh yeah? Damn! – And you, the floor you sleep on isn’t even cold. – Mine is freezing. Wow, it’s nice out! A real champion’s breakfast. At least we brought some bananas. Yeah, that’s the green touch. We got nothing for dinner, and nothing for lunch. – 19,71€, please. – Is it heavy? Yep, pretty heavy. This guy is about to walk 30 km
through the mountains like this. It’s been almost seven years that
Greg and I have known each other. We met at boarding school,
we were in the same room. By the way, I won’t say who,
but one of us cried the first night. But seriously, I’m not gonna say who it was,
that wouldn’t be right. All I’ll say is that he’s sometimes late
and likes to wear red T-shirts. Actually, it’s kind of thanks to Greg
that I started doing walking trips. One day, he gave me a call
and invited me to his uncle’s. who had just bought a guesthouse in the mountains. And that’s when I discovered mountain hiking
for the first time. For three days, his uncle took us on some crazy hikes. Rumor has it I threw up once, but it’s all bullshit. Anyway, after that,
I did some research on this whole discipline. And I saw that it was possible
to go on hikes lasting several days, or even several months. And now, here I am walking
from Paris all the way to Rome. Oh yeah, this is gonna be amazing. Look, there, you can see tent marks! Oh yeah! They look like seeds to snack on, just like at an aperitif. – Come on, I’ll taste one. Is it disgusting? it’s okay, just kind of unusual. His mom’s calling him while
there are mushrooms on his phone. Come on, answer it! Hey, Mom? The Parisian mushrooms Once we crossed the creek, we came across a really big tree. He turned out to be the boss of the place. We tried to get acquainted. But Greg annoyed him by touching him. This incident almost caused a scene. Thankfully, he apologized just in time. So the tree agreed to let us stay there for the night. I wonder what it’ll be like when it gets dark. But in my opinion, we should look at the sky. – Yeah. Oh, do you see the plane going by? yes, I see it twice. Oh yeah? Last day in france I filmed the… – Alright, good luck!
– Yeah. Good luck with the rest, keep me posted. With pleasure! After a tearful goodbye, Greg goes back to his medical studies. And I hit the road alone again for the last stretches of France
before reaching Switzerland. This is just so beautiful! Blondeau-Pee-pee family. Maybe it’s the mushrooms, but now I find everything beautiful! I feel like I’m inside that music: Yesterday’s experience allowed me to see the world in a new way and to be more sensitive to the beauty of nature, all that stuff. But it also softened me up a lot. And that’s not great because Rome is still far away and today I’ve got a lot of climbing to do. I have to reach the border,
which is at the summit of a mountain between the French Jura and the Swiss Jura. So, now we’re at 1,300 meters elevation. And we must be really close to… Yeah, that’s it! That’s the Swiss border wall. The swiss boarder wall. So, here I am in France and here I am in Switzerland! Damn! Twenty days of walking and I’m finally in Switzerland. I have to admit, it moves me. Big Boss is in Switzerland! Wow! When I arrive, I don’t notice much difference
in the landscapes compared to France. But there’s something about the atmosphere
that makes it different. It’s not like France. €3.60 for a baguette! BMW, Porsche, Lotus… Wow! Hey, in Swiss garages there are no
Peugeots or Renaults. Because it’s such a rich and clean country, I had trouble seeing the Swiss
as friendly or welcoming. But they’ll quickly prove me wrong.” – Do you leave early in the morning?
– Whenever you want. Oh well, I don’t mind! So you can set yourself up there. – There’s a shower.
– Oh yeah? Yeah. Thank you very much, sir. Oh, I like people who travel! This really blows me away! I arrive in Switzerland and ask a pretty friendly person
if I can pitch my tent in their garden. Because in Switzerland, it’s not legal to set up tents. And I’m a bit of a wimp, so I prefer sleeping in people’s gardens. So he says, “Well, yes, but no, but maybe try over there…” I say, “OK, no problem, I’ll ask your neighbor.” His neighbor, same thing. I tell myself, I’ll just keep going, climb higher, it’s fine, I’ll freeze my balls off but whatever… It’s part of the journey. And then I bump into a guy! And I’m not even the one who starts the conversation,
it’s him who goes, “So, what’s going on?” So I say, “Well, I’m walking to Rome and was wondering
if I could pitch my tent in your yard.” He goes, ‘Wouldn’t you prefer a dormitory? I say, “Well, I can just pitch my tent.” He goes, “No, wouldn’t you rather have a dormitory?” I say, “Well, yeah.” And boom, I get a dorm. A dorm with several beds, I get to choose. There are actually four beds, I’ve got a TV,
I can even cook something. Damn, hot water. And most importantly, a toilet and a shower! And now, you see, I can see what I see. – I can see myself now.
– Yes, you can see yourself now. And I see it like this. And then, this way, we can set it down. If I want to film myself while I’m walking. Yeah, yeah, yeah. How much recording time do you have? I have some memory cards. And each one can record four hours of video. Four hours of video lasts me about two weeks. And I have four of them. Are you filming right now? Yeah, right now, I’m filming. – Are you recording?
– Yeah, it’s recording. So if there’s anything you’ve got on your heart,
now’s the time to say it. No, no, except that I’m getting old too fast! But there’s nothing we can do about it. Big Boss is at 1,500 meters altitude. There you go. There’s more but there’s less too.  The presence of wolves in these mountain pastures leads the livestock to
behave in an unusual, defensive way. Ah well, that’s reassuring! I didn’t see any wolves here, but I saw
something much more impressive. That exists! Does that really exist!? God daaamn! Wow! Well, this will be in the extras, but… That’s the most majestic pee I’ve ever taken in my life. And I didn’t even enjoy it because I was filming… After finishing with the Swiss Jura mountains, I’m heading towards one of the biggest lakes in Europe,
and probably one of the most beautiful too. Leman, it means lake in Latin. So literally Lake Leman, means the lake, lake. Here, it’s definitely not the Ibiza vibe. It’s an extremely calm and relaxing place. that almost has a magical, even divine, quality. On that house over there, ‘1998’ is written with roof tiles. And that’s my birth year. Coincidence? I don’t know. The region of Lavaux, which is attached to Lake Geneva,
is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. thanks to its amazing vineyards,
which go back to medieval times. Oh boy! There are a lot of vineyards around here. But the wine isn’t especially well-known abroad, since they export less than one percent
of their production. It’s the skin that gives it its color. Okay. If you take a red grape and press it,
the juice inside will be white. Well, I didn’t know that. How many liters do those barrels contain? They’re all different sizes. Oh yeah. The biggest one is 4700 liters. White wine is made in these,
and red wine in the barrels. And you, are you more of a red
or a white person? White. The canton of Vaud is a white wine region. Right after leaving Montreux,
I go straight to Decathlon to buy a hat. Because I have to leave Lake Geneva
and head towards the Alps. And over there,
it’s probably going to be really cold. Hello young people. Good morning gentlemen. So these are friends, shooters, organizers. You can take a look inside! Ah ok. No one’s shooting yet. It’s a shooting range for clubs. Okay. We can practice in the evening from 5 to 7. So this is the official military weapon of the Swiss army. It’s the one every citizen-soldier receives. and he can keep it at home,
with the obligation to train every year, to do a mandatory shooting session,
as the name suggests. So you got this one
when you did your military service? I didn’t receive this one
when I did my service. I did my military service 55 years ago. There was another weapon at the time, And I returned it because I am an officer, And I have an official gun at home. And do you do a bit of hunting on the side,
or just shooting? Not at all! I only hunt at restaurants. I couldn’t shoot an animal. It’s purely a sporting activity. Okay. I think I’ve fallen in love with the Swiss people. Honestly, they’re way too kind to me. So welcoming. I knocked on the door of two retired Swiss folks. They gave me cakes, fruits and grapes. Because they grow grapes. For tomorrow I have coffee with sugar, And on top of that,
I’m sleeping in a hammock tonight. Well, I’ll see how it goes. Beginning of the 23rd day! In these gorgeous Swiss landscapes, with plenty of vineyards and
mountains all around. People are pretty nice. Beginning of the 23rd day. I’m now under the 1,000 km mark! It’s good. Now I’ve only got 1,000 kilometers left. Just that, that’s all. What kind of animals are you? Oh, a fight! Maurice…Joris! Maurice Joris! Maurice Joris. This is Switzerland, the world’s safe. They need to stop stealing everyone’s money. I’m Swiss. But I can tell you, I shit on Switzerland. Since the end of last year,
I’ve been making pendulums. Ah yeah, you’re a real Swiss.
A Swiss watchmaker. Yeah! That’s not dumb. What’s your name? Cornélius. Cornelius! Damn, now that’s a name! Holy cow. Cornelius. – And you?
– Me, I’m Jean-Michel. It goes from Canada all the way to Australia. That line right there,
those are the biggest assholes on the planet. Us, unfortunately. But we don’t agree. You agree? That’s the Ku Klux Klan head. I see Jesus too. Yeah, that’s Jesus. Yep, J.J., that’s him. See, it says AK-69 right there. AK-69? Anarchist Komplottist 69. For the symbol, which safe is it? The safe of the Swiss bank. I suppose. I might even venture
this wasn’t made for ungulates! Ungulates do not smoke. Then I tell myself,
if we’re in a state of love, we’re safe. Because I was 18 when AIDS happened. When AIDS hit,
it felt like we were all going to die. We had to stop fucking, for real. I remember very well. No more fucking! That’s the killer line. You go: “I suspect that ungulates might be nyctalopic.” What’s funny about AIDS, who had AIDS? The gays and the junkies! I’m sure there are guys who,
if you say ‘nyctalopic’, will punch you in the face. Yeah, it’s already happened I think. “What, my bitch?” No, nyctalopic, dumbass. Learn French. And yeah! 25th day, and definitely not the least Why? Today, we have to reach the top of the Great St Bernard Pass. So it’s uh… The Great St Bernard Pass, well It’s a crazy thing,
I’ll explain it in the edit. I really don’t feel like it now. I drank a lot of coffee. Because I’m dead tired. And I have to climb up to
2500 or 2600 meters of altitude. And after that, I will be in Italy. For millennia, the Great St. Bernard Pass was the most important crossing point through the Alps. If you wanted to go from north to south of Europe, You had to go through that. It was used by travelers,
merchants, and even armies. Like Napoleon’s in May 1800, when he crossed this pass with
42,000 men to surprise the Austrians. By the way, one of the most famous
depictions of the emperor, shows him at that very moment and is titled: “Napoleon at the Saint-Bernard Pass”. During the Middle Ages,
the Great St. Bernard Pass was mainly used by merchant caravans and pilgrims. They were the perfect targets for bandits, who robbed them and sometimes even killed them. But many travelers also died because
of the extreme weather conditions. Due to its high altitude,
the Great St. Bernard mountain is subject to harsh weather conditions Snowstorms, strong winds, and freezing
temperatures are common up there. And that’s why, in the 11th century,
Saint Bernard of Menthon, who took pity on the poor souls
who kept dying on the pass, founded the hospice of the Great St. Bernard
at the top of the mountain. What’s special about this hospice
is that there’s no lock on the door. Everybody can enter at any hour,
whether it’s summer or winter. And the pass is inhabited all year round by canons. A religious community composed of big bosses whose mission is to welcome travelers, care for them, and above all, rescue them in the mountains. Especially with the help of dogs,
because it was precisely at the hospice That the famous Saint Bernard
dog breed was created. Since the place is still open today,
I absolutely have to get there before nightfall. Otherwise I’ll have to sleep in the tent in minus 10 degrees, and who knows, maybe there are still bandits around. There is snow! Just look at where I am right now! Big Boss is up at 2,290 meters high. That’s what’s behind me, and that’s what’s ahead. These final kilometers are hitting me. Do you realize I walked from Paris to this point. Oh damn! What a vibe! Well, my story is very simple. I was born into a traditionally Christian family. It was around the age of 18-19 that
I asked myself existential questions. And then I started asking myself questions
about the meaning of life, of death… And then at the age of 19,
I felt called to dedicate my life to faith. Moreover, I’ve always felt drawn
to the mysterious side of the priest. And it was through periods of searching,
through periods of doubt… That little by little, my vocation became clearer. I started this journey here,
always holding on to trust. Trust, telling myself,
“if the Lord doesn’t want me here, he will let me know.” And well, it’s been almost 40 years now
that I’ve been in the community, and I’m still here. The Great St. Bernard Pass. 2,473 meters. I just woke up. Bonaparte and his 46,000 men
crossed this pass in May 1800. Now that’s some real Big Boss. That’s 46,000 Big Boss. It’s probably 2°C out here and I’m in shorts. Damn, that’s Italy over there! And that’s it, I’ve entered the third
and final country of this adventure. Now things will change, because it’s the first time I venture on foot into a country where I don’t speak the language at all. For now it’s not a problem yet,
because the Aosta Valley is the only region in Italy with two
official languages: Italian and French. And even though we’re in Italy, many restaurants, streets,
and villages have names written in French. It doesn’t seem like Italy,
almost everything is written in French. From exactly where I’m standing now, I’ve got 913 kilometers left before reaching Rome. The same distance as when
I walked from Paris to Marseille. I’m still far from the finish, but at least now
I’ve got two things to help me: First, the Via Francigena. So when you see that,
it doesn’t mean ‘French version’, it means Via Francigena. It’s a bit stupid, but it was only when
I crossed the Great St. Bernard Pass that I learned this route even existed. The Via Francigena is like the Camino de Santiago,
but it leads to Rome. It’s a pilgrimage route that starts in England and goes through France, Switzerland,
the Great St. Bernard Pass, all the way to Rome. So it’s a path specifically designed for walkers. Now I don’t need to check my phone
every five minutes to see the way. I just have to follow the countless signs
and markers showing the way to Rome. Which makes the journey a lot more enjoyable. The second thing that’ll help me
is Italian food and prices, which are quite a contrast with Switzerland. €2.50 an ice cream. We’re on the same wavelength. Honestly, I’m curious to see what Italy
and the Italians have in store for me. Again, I am as excited as I am worried. The first Italian who let me use his garden
also brought me a beer. Italian hospitality is off to a great start. No, not possible. And now, another neighbor just brought me some food. Now a lady next door just brought me a plate of pasta. The Italians…It’s starting out super well. On the Via Francigena, people are used
to seeing pilgrims every day. So people are really nice, and it’s never a problem to
pitch your tent in their garden. Honestly, Italy’s really great because
people are so welcoming. It’s beautiful. But the only catch is the language barrier. I’m meeting super nice Italians who let me pitch my tent in their garden. Who occasionally invite me over for breakfast, dinner… But the problem is,
I don’t understand a thing they’re saying. Communication is difficult
because I don’t speak any Italian. And here, almost nobody speaks English. I’ll take a picture of you
while you’re taking a picture of me. Do I take a picture of you? No, I take a photo of you. Of you taking me in photo. Do you speak a bit of Italian? No, no. So I’m taking my Italian learning very seriously. And I plan to be bilingual before reaching Rome. I wanted to know if I could pitch
my tent in your garden tonight. To drink To drink A lot To drink To drink a lot. Bald-headed! It’s starting to feel like the South now. A snake! I hope this shit is not dangerous. Oh my goodness! But overall, the Aosta Valley doesn’t match
the stereotypical image one might have of Italy. Sometimes, I still feel like I’m in Switzerland. And I’ll have that feeling until I reach the next region, which is the second largest in Italy after Sicily, Piedmont, which literally means
“at the foot of the mountains.” So I’m done with the Alps,
and now I’m reaching the fields. And at first, I was thrilled to finally
be able to rest on flat ground. The mountains are over! But very quickly, it turned out to be the most painful
experience of my life. First of all, spending 8 hours a day
walking in deserted fields isn’t much fun. But on top of that, it’s dirty here. Do you see all this mess?
It looks like the favelas. There are places in Italy that are dirty. It’s not like in Switzerland. This is the Via Francescina path, in Italy. We don’t even know if this is the path. Damn, that’s a snake nest, man. There you go, a lovely little snake. That’s not a viper. But damn, you can tell there are fucking snakes on these poorly maintained paths. And that’s the third snake I’ve seen. I don’t know if he’s dead. He doesn’t move. He scared me. Ah motherfucker! I’m getting out of here. And when we’re not in the fields,
we go through towns that are depressing as hell. Coming back from Vercelli. Honestly, I wasn’t blown away by the city. And still, Vercelli is the least bad of them. The other villages are even gloomier. There’s nobody in the streets,
lots of abandoned houses. It feels like we’re in a cheap western. Oh man, I just went through
one of those weird villages. Everything was abandoned. Even the church looked abandoned. But I still feel like there were
two or three people living in there. I saw a dog that didn’t even bark. But the biggest problem with the place is
that it’s overrun with mosquitoes. This place is absolute hell. There are only mosquitoes. And they come by the hundreds! Look at how many bites I have. I don’t know if you can tell, but I’m bitten,
completely eaten alive. I’d need to show you my arms,
but I don’t know if I’ll be able to. I don’t know if you can see,
but I’m getting bitten by these damn things. And all these things combined turned me into the most
bitter man on earth in just a few days. In Italy, all you get are espressos
that are about a millimeter high. There’s no caffeine in them,
nothing to really give you a boost. Even when I order a double espresso, it’s tiny and has no effect. Look, I’m not gonna lie, I’m really getting fed up
with these fucking fields. Plus, there are mosquitoes everywhere. They keep biting me, and I’m seeing snakes. No, this isn’t right. I’m starting to go crazy now. It’s been about an hour or two,
and I just realized I was singing to myself. I think it’s because I’m not talking to other people. It’s driving me crazy. Oh, mamma mia! Now I’m turning it off. God damn! The mysterious man of the fields I run into this guy in the fields,
in the middle of nowhere. He’s not mean, but he’s a bit weird. – This is my friend.
– If you have to go home, it’s okay. – No, no, it’s not a problem. Because I like this. He really insists on taking me
to a special place for pilgrims. Taking me on a different route than the Via Francigena,
because it’s shorter according to him. I follow him, but I keep my Opinel
tightly in my hand just in case. It would be… 1, 1, 0… – Yes?
– Plus… Well done! Bravo like we say, it would be 110 and? I studied 110, it’s normal. I don’t understand anything he says,
and every five minutes, some guy calls him. – Your name, sorry?
– Cornelius. Cornelius! I’m starting to get a bad feeling about this. But no matter what,
he just don’t want to leave me alone. I want to help you, because it’s very late. – No, but t’s okay.
– No, for you! I have to see if… There should be a center. I should never have followed this stranger. God forgive me, but it was me or him… Just kidding. In the end,
this big boss took me to a Donativo, which is a kind of house provided by
churches especially for pilgrims. There are several of them arranged
all along the Via Francigena. Usually, there’s a shower, a kitchen and some bedrooms. And you’re only allowed to stay one night,
as long as you’re a pilgrim, of course. There’s no set price, you make an offering
and put it in a box provided for that purpose. Via Francigena is over. Now, direction Genoa. We’ll take a break from the Via Francigena for a bit. A few moments. And then we’ll pick it up again,
if we ever make it all the way to Lucca. I’m leaving the Via Francigena
to take a detour through Genoa. The path will still be full of
depressing places and strange villages. Here, you can see all the shattered panes of a former factory. The buildings look abandoned too. And on top of that, the people in these areas, who aren’t used to seeing pilgrims
and probably not tourists either, will give me dirty looks. As soon as I pass through a village,
all the locals will stare at me. Sometimes, some will even insult me when I ask to pitch my tent in their garden. But luckily, this situation only lasted a few days
before things finally started to turn around. Well there you go! Finally, it’s getting beautiful again! Because before that, it was hell! But now, it’s stunning! Finally! Finally! I’m loving this! Finally, some badass landscapes with real character. Because before that, sorry, it was crap. Now this is fire. Funny how the moment the landscapes got nice again,
so did the people! photography! No, i’m filming! Dry! Not semi-dry, dry! Thank you so much. Do you have a knife? Even though I still don’t understand a thing they say. Veneto Region. Be careful. It’s dangerous to go into the woods alone. Be careful. In some remote villages, I’ll come across restaurants
that aren’t even on Google Maps, yet they’re a whole experience in themselves. I walk into the restaurant and say, “Mangiare possibile?” He goes, “Yeah, of course.” I sit down and bam, the guy brings me a bottle of wine. Red wine with no label. I’m like, “Shit, this is gonna cost a fortune” I smash some spaghetti Bolognese. Then chicken and fries. So, I smash two full plates. There are other people in the restaurant
and they start talking to me. They’re Italian, and they’re really friendly. One of them says to me, “Want some Prosecco?” Then he shows up and serves me some champagne. Bam, I smash the champagne. He fills up my glass again, boom, I smash it. I get a dessert, then a coffee. I’m like, “Damn, this whole thing’s gonna cost me money.” Everyone’s talking to each other in the restaurant,
even if they’re at different tables Even the owner’s is making the rounds from table to table. So he goes around to every table like, “Ciao ragazzi”. I think, “Screw it, I’m gonna be broke, but it’s worth it.” I’m losing my bottle, It fell. I ask for the bill: 15 euros! Fifteen euros for a bottle of red wine,
two courses, a dessert, and a coffee. In Switzerland, at that price, I’d only get the coffee. But unfortunately, that moment of comfort didn’t last. I got lost in the mountains and ended up
in a tiny deserted village. I see an old abandoned house and some grass,
so I pitch my tent. And suddenly, it starts pouring,
then flashes of lightning roar through the sky. The lightning is so close and intense
I can feel the vibrations inside my tent. I’m starting to freak out, so I get out of the tent
and try to find a way into the house. But it’s impossible. So I sit under the awning near the front door And for hours, I watch a show as beautiful as it is unsettling. And since it’s dangerous to sleep in a tent during a storm, So I’ll just sit and watch it until it’s over, basically until sunrise. I’ve been walking every day for 37 days
and I’ve covered over 1,000 kilometers. Now I’m 45 kilometers from my uncle’s house. and even if I didn’t get much sleep last night, I think it’s a good idea to cover the whole distance in one go. Then I’ll have truly earned my rest. Forty-five kilometers on foot is a long way, but 45 kilometers of mountain trails
going up and down feels even longer. Time is tight. I’ve got to make it to Genoa’s suburbs
before night hits at seven, or I’ll be stuck in the dark with no light left. Today’s a bit of a mess because
I’ve got to walk 45 kilometers to get to Genoa. The problem is, I’ve only got 9% battery left on my phone. Or nothing. It’s been four days without a shower. I’ve had nothing to eat today, or even yesterday. Big Boss is at 1,018 meters altitude, I think. I busted my ass to get here. Well, I just saw wild boars, deer, fawns. I saw everything. It was cool. Above the clouds. Pretty cool. What the hell am I doing here on a Friday morning? Honestly, I think this is the day I’ve been
most fed up with walking in my life. But it doesn’t matter, we don’t give a damn. For two or three hours, I crossed trails
where I could barely walk. It was off-piste. It was full of tree trunks, and I had to climb over
or crawl under them. Pure hell. I get out of the trails and onto
some kind of highway road, and then it starts pouring rain! In a parking lot, I see a van,
so I stop to put on my jacket. A really nice woman was in the van. She let me charge my phone, made me some coffee,
and kept me dry during the rain. And she gave me a lucky shell. Hope it works. This is no joke, I still have 20 kilometers to go. It’s 5 PM and I still have 20 kilometers to go. How great it is to see the sea! Honestly, what I did today was a lot. And it’s not over yet! Anyway! I am finally in the outskirts of Genoa. So far, we’ve covered 36 kilometers. 36,5km. Only 10 kilometers left. Alright, I’ve finally made it to my uncle’s place. It feels good, it feels good. I’ve got a bed, and it’s warm. It’s warm, and it feels good. And check out this view of Big Boss
at my uncle’s place. The funny thing in Italy,
at my uncle’s place anyway, is that clean laundry gets put away like this,
using this weird system. I planned to stay two days,
but I’m ending up staying five days in Genoa. I did a bit of sightseeing on the first day, but the rest of the days I stayed in bed
doing nothing but scrolling on my phone. They are looking for food. It’s dangerous if someone is eating on the beach. Beacause they attack and take the food. It already arrived? – They already attacked someone who was eating?
– Yes! Normally, we saw them at the mountains,
not at the beach. – They can also swim.
– No, really? We’re about to leave Genoa after spending
five days with my uncle and aunt. I’m not gonna lie, all I did was sleep. So here we are, always on the way to Rome. Contrary to what you might think, After these five days, I’m even more exhausted than before. Mentally, it’s no better, I don’t see walking to Rome as a challenge anymore, but as a chore. But hey, I can’t really complain because
the place I’m walking through is truly paradise. Liguria is basically like the French Riviera, but with people who speak Italian and eat focaccia. You can only find this in Italy. Focaccia just chillin’ like that. She’s tanning, I guess. Damn, seriously! Honestly, if you live here and you’re unhappy, you’re kind of a little wimp. To think that at one point, this was France,
under Napoleon. Hell yeah, the good old days, mate. But beware, just because it’s beautiful
doesn’t mean it’s easy to walk there. Man, I’m so done with all this uphill! Look at that! Look at that! It’s been like this for hours. There’s hardly ever any flat ground,
it’s mostly ups and downs. But hey whether we’re up or down
we’re enjoying it either way. Damn those guys have a private
elevator to get to their place. In their huge-ass house. With their badass car, They probably have at least
a thousand euros in their account! Just like the French Riviera,
Liguria is a fancy region. And like all fancy regions that respect themselves,
the locals aren’t exactly welcoming. I’m not sure if you can see it clearly,
but Big Boss is right next to a main road. Eating a pizza. Ecco… It doesn’t look like it,
but it’s only 7:30 PM and it’s pitch dark. Now I’m walking peacefully,
and it’s nice like this every day! I’m annoying! There’s only one problem,
besides the fact that people don’t speak French, It’s the mosquitoes! There are so many mosquitoes
that I get bitten everywhere. I’m fed up. I arrive at a place that was sold to me as
one of the most beautiful on the planet. But, I’m in a terrible mood! The Cinque Terre, but in a bad mood. The first village of the Cinque Terre! And there’s nothing worse than tourist spots like this. For them, it’s cold… Not sure, but I think the first village was called Montessoro. Yes it’s nice, but there are too many tourists. There are only people coming to take Instagram photos. You’ve got Instagrammers coming here, girls and guys alike. This village has a really awful vibe. Now we’re heading to the second village. Hopefully, it’ll be less trashy. Bunch of rednecks! The Cinque Terre is getting worse and worse. Access to the trail costs 7.50 euros. In other words, you have to pay 7.50 euros just to walk. And on top of having to pay, the trail is crowded. We have to walk packed together like we’re on the subway. I understand why you have to pay, because it’s basically a highway. And every two minutes, people stop to take pictures. And then there are people walking the trail the other way. Which makes a total mess. Totally crap, man! Fuck! I have to admit, it’s nice. Yes, it’s pretty, but it’s not like the fishing village
they try to sell us. It’s done, maybe that was the case a hundred years ago. All the charm has been destroyed by mass tourism. It’s a mix of all the worst things you can imagine. The restaurants are more expensive than in Paris,
and it’s full of stupid souvenir shops. And the ice cream sellers are as nice as the ticket inspectors. It’s all a bluff. Unlike the story says, the houses got their bright colors
only at the end of the 70s. With the goal of attracting tourists
and boosting the local economy. And it seems they succeeded quite well. The Cinque Terre prove that humans
can turn paradise into a huge dump. To sum up, if you want to get an idea
of what the Cinque Terre really are, Go to a farm and ask to join a flock of sheep. Or, more simply, you go to the station
at rush hour or a shopping mall on Sunday. The Cinque Terre, the Cinque Terre. Well, this morning I was in a bit of a bad mood. But yeah, way too crowded. 7.50 euros for walking. That’s enough. I’ve done two villages so far, out of the five, I won’t do any more. Good bye, “Cinque Expensive.” Yeah, an hilarious pun. Not the Cinque Terre, but the Cinque expensive.
Everything’s super expensive there. Because it’s a tourist trap. Well, I get it, but still. 7.50 euros just to walk on a trail. It’s the start of day 48. I really need to take a shower because the situation is critical. Ah, I’m dirty. I’m disgusting myself. But whatever, We should arrive in Massa tonight. Maybe even Lucca. We don’t know, feel the flow. There you go. Via Francigena. Damn, I gotta admit, it feels good to see this sign again. I’m back on the Via Francigena, finding again the comfort and hospitality that,
I must say, I really missed. Tuscany is the most popular part so everything is taken care of for the pilgrims Damn. The Via Francigena is truly the best thing in the world. For this kind of stuff you’re about to see in 30 seconds. I’m 5 meters away. Look at this, we’re right in the middle of nowhere! You can find things like this. Oh damn, thank the Lord. Wow, that’s so cool. So there’s this, there’s some coffee… Damn, there’s even some beer! Don’t do that to me. You can totally come across free supply stands. And it’s pretty easy to find a place to sleep. Here is a donativo. This is what it might look like. There’s a fridge, a… something to cook with. For example, there’s also some pasta. The heating system is Lamborghini. So I can tell you that it heats up a lot. Good road. Especially for life. Cornélius. It was a pleasure to see you. The pleasure’s mutual. So this is a house… It’s a… We’ve got the “jacquère” spirit, right? Jacquère? Of Saint James! Saint James, yes. Hi, good morning. See, our door is always open. For everyone. You can stay whenever you want, however you want,
do whatever you want! That’s awesome. Thank you all for existing. Oh yeah, yeah. Oh là là là là là. It’s absolutely stunning This part of Tuscany. I’m really enjoying. I’m utterly spellbound by how breathtaking it is. Tuscany is beautiful. And I’ve never experienced such comfort
and hospitality on a journey. And yet, I’ve never been so sick of walking. Walking in nature is without a doubt
a very good thing. But as they say, good things are best
enjoyed in moderation. Well, at this point, I passed the moderation stage
a long time ago. In fact, I’ve reached a point where I feel like
walking does me more harm than good. Yeah, I won’t lie it’s been about a week now that my knees and
lower back have been pretty sore. At this point, this is far from healthy exercise. When you do long walks like this, let’s be honest it’s not exactly great for your body in every way. Specifically, I have pain in both knees
and in my lower back. It’s really from carrying the backpack and
constantly going up and down hills. Because even going downhill hurts your knees. Turns out, walking that much
isn’t always great for your body. It’s a little too much. But beyond the physical pain,
it’s really my mental state that’s struggling. I’m alone most of the time, and I’m sick of myself. I have to accept that I chose not to bring headphones
and that I’m constantly confronted with myself. And now, it’s starting to feel heavy. Speak with a Marseille accent. Well yeah, that’s Tuscaaany Shut up. On the Via Francigena, I no longer have to worry about
finding my way or a place to sleep. And that should make me feel more relaxed. Instead, my mind takes advantage of the outer calm
to bring back its old inner demons. Shit, I think I’m having a burnout right now. I keep talking to myself, shouting,
and doing Marseillais accents. I think it’s the exhaustion. I’m going half mad. It’s been years since I’ve had any friends. Fuck, I don’t talk to anyone but myself. Or to Italians, but I only know five words. I’ve been here since three years. It’s not a bad thing to face yourself every now and then. But right now, I feel like I’m going more crazy
than anything else. Man, I’m done. I’m fucking done with this. I only have one desire. Arrive. Every day, I wake up even more annoyed
than the day before. Everything gets on my nerves,
even the most trivial, meaningless things. I’ve made it through the storm and I feel a bit calmer now. I can feel the arrival approaching,
and it helps me find some peace. The closer I get to Rome,
the more pilgrims I meet The trip is nearly at its end,
and I’m as excited as I am worried. Popopo ! What does that mean? That means Tuscany is over,
now we’re entering Lazio. It’s basically like Ile-de-France for Paris. Lazio of Rome. I don’t know if you understand what I’m saying,
but I understand myself. I’m excited because I’ve practically reached my goal,
and I can’t wait to finish. But part of me knows that once
the euphoria of arrival has passed, things won’t necessarily get any better. It’s been two months now
that I walk 30 km every single day. I have knee pain, I’m carrying 16 kilos on my back, it’s cold at night, and in the morning I’m soaking wet. It’s true that at times it’s painful
to walk like this, like an idiot. The only thing I want is for it all to end. Even though I know I’ll be unhappier once I arrive. Because even though there are ups and downs, that life is much more exciting
than the one waiting for me in Paris. It’s more exciting when every day your routine is being outside,
traveling the world and discovering it. And life is simpler when every day
you wake up with a clear goal. Today we will go to Rome by foot. I often get told that it doesn’t make any sense to do this. I get ask why I didn’t take a plane or train instead. Of course there’s pain, fatigue
and it’s not easy every day. Truth is, on this trip my life has
never made so much sense. Far more meaningful than when I was in school or working behind the bar
making coffees and serving burgers. Even though I was getting paid to do it. This experience has allowed me
to learn more about the world and myself. And also to meet all kinds of different people
I never would have met otherwise. Thank you Big Boss. Cheers! I’m going to get wasted,
I’m not used to drinking this anymore. This journey hasn’t always been easy, but I’m proud. I’m proud to tell myself that I’ve come this far
using only my own energy. After 64 days and more than 1,600 kilometers of walking, I’ve finally reached the final moments of the journey. I feel like it’s just a normal day, except that it will be the last. The last day of 64 days! But contrary to what I might have thought,
it doesn’t affect me that much. And maybe because from that day on,
the real adventure began. I arrived in Rome a 27th of October. At first, I thought I’d only stay for two weeks. But finally I’m going to live there
for more than two years. Yeah, I’m going to live there for more than two years. Without even returning to France once. And it’s really from that point that my life began to change. With the sun and the sympathy of the Romans,
I will feel more at home. And I think that the fact I arrived on foot
will grant me a lucky star. First, I’ll quickly find a room in central Rome
with three great Italian flatmates. I will take control of myself
and become much more disciplined. I’ll end up doing loads of things
I never would have done if I’d stayed in Paris. I won’t experience only the good parts of life in Rome. But it’ll help me grow, and above all,
I’m going to meet lots of amazing people