direction which is my natural gift. Until this day I do not have to use city plans, even if I visit the place for
the first time and have not studied street layout before. It is like my animal instinct,
which nowadays most people try to replace with GPS units. In 1986 I decided to emigrate
from Poland. As a result, I spent 18 month in Greece, and then at the beginning of 1988
I settled in Canada. Then my long trips started. Initially, by car across the
United States and Canada, later hitchhiking across Europe. In 1991 I returned
to Poland with double citizenship.
Until now I have spent several years in total travelling, making the distance of over 60.000 km by
hitchhiking, including 24.000 km in Australia and 4.000 km in New Zealand, and the remaining 30.000 km
in Europe, where I visited all countries with the exception of the newly formed state of Kosovo. On 6
continents I have visited 86* countries. I also love mountains although for years I have struggled with
my fear of heights, which I still try to overcome. I have climbed 11 highest peaks in various countries.
In Europe I have achieved the highest peak of the continent Mont Blanc (4810 m), in Australia –
Mount Kosciuszko (2228 m), and in the South America, among other peaks, I climbed Aconcagua (6962 m).
It is one of the Seven Summits..
In many of my trips I was accompanied by people close to my heart. However, I travelled the majority
of the world on my own. I met wonderful people on the way. I spent with them many unforgettable hours
and days, and we had many experiences together. Among those friends from the road there were hundreds
who trusted me and offered a lift in their cars, often inviting to their homes, for which I will be
grateful to them forever. At this point I would also like to mention my parents, who always support
me in my travels and it is mainly thanks to them that I was able to see the world.
I appreciate that a lot.
My Dear Reader, maybe you dream about such a destiny like mine? But please, do not think that a destiny
which makes you a traveller is the best thing ever! Ryszard Kapuscinski in his book “Travels with
Herodotus” wrote: “Actually there is something like travel infection and this kind of disease is in fact
terminal”. At this point I fully agree with his opinion. Everything has its price. Probably it will not
be my destiny to have a family, and staying at home after returning from a trip – although initially
makes me happy or even euphoric - with time means the feeling of not understanding the every-day world,
highlights my problems with decision-making (even in case of minor things), makes me weak, and finally
depressive. That is the price which I have to pay for this attractive calling!
Other interesting facts about me: I have practiced yoga for six years and I have been vegetarian for
19 years. I have fasted once a week since 2001, and four years later I added a weekly silence day on
top of that. So, sorry, we are not going to eat or talk together on Sundays! In the recent years
I have also completed several extraordinary projects. Detailed description of a few is available
in section
PROJECTS.
On December 5, 2011 in Mao, on the sands of Sahel in Chad I married Ania Matuszyńska. Three days later
we set off on a crazy honeymoon by motorbike from Chad to Poznań. It lasted 6 months and was 26 000 km
long! Only 2 months after our return to Poland, due to external factors, our marriage, unfortunately,
disintegrated. Thus, unexpectedly, I became a divorcee.**
Dear Reader, you are most welcome to visit my
Gallery, which is rich in images,
but scarce in words since the written word (in contract to the spoken one) is my Achilles’ heal!
GREETINGS FROM THE ROAD!!!
Maciej Pastwa
Buenos Aires, 1 April 2010
MY LIFE’S MOTTO:
THINK POSITIVE!!!
LIVE AS IF YOU WERE TO DIE TOMORROW!
EVERYTHING YOU EXPERIENCE IS POSITIVE, ONLY YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF IT.
CUT YOUR UMBILIOCAL CORD BEFORE YOU BECOME ITS VICTIM!
FEAR LASTS UNTIL THE MOMENT IT IS REVEALED.
DO NOT BE AFRAID OF YOUR DEATH, YOU WILL NEVER BE AWARE OF IT ANYWAY.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkMBOAtboN8
*countries in June 2012
**text added in summer 2012