But what a beautiful story this is!

I want to introduce you to it because it's different from the usual.

There are encounters that immediately spark curiosity.
It happened when I discovered the project Joy Ride Mongol Rally 2025: a journey a bit outside the box, born years ago and left in limbo for too long.
So I had a chat with Massimo Andreossi (my fellow villager from Ponto) and had him tell me everything.
Because some stories are worth sharing. And letting the followers of Calendario Valtellinese know about them as well.

The starting point is 2018. A group of friends dreams of participating in the Mongol Rally, a road expedition that originally took people from Great Britain to Mongolia. No race, no trophy: just the desire to cross the world in an old car, with few resources and a lot of eagerness to discover.

Then came Covid. And like many projects, everything had to be put on hold.

Now we’re setting off again

Saturday, July 19 is the day set for departure.
On board the 1970 Fiat 124 will be Massimo, Francesca, and Silvia.
The goal? To arrive in Georgia, passing through Balkans, Turkey, Armenia. About 4500 km one way and 5000 on the way back, also passing through Budapest and Prague.

The car was not chosen by chance.
The Mongol Rally, by regulation, required the use of cars over twenty years old with an engine capacity under 1200.
A challenge within a challenge.
Massimo, who is a mechanic, found this Fiat in San Pietro Berbenno, where it had been stationary since 1988. He restored it piece by piece. He is the go-to person in case of breakdowns: he knows every screw and every squeak.
Francesca is a nurse: it's reassuring to know someone will be there if anyone feels unwell.
Silvia is a tour guide: perfect for navigating through unknown places, finding solutions on the spot, and providing logistical support during the trip.

No fixed stages. No bookings

It’s a free journey, without constraints, or schedules.
Just an idea of a route, a few stops that pique interest, and a great desire to discover new roads.
They have brought with them sleeping bags, a tent, some supplies, and hope to find hospitality along the way, especially in those towns where mass tourism has never arrived.

In 15 days they have to reach Tbilisi, where Francesca will return to Italy to go back to work.
At that point, Andrea and Benedetta, two friends from Bologna, will join them by plane. They are also passionate motorcyclists, with many trips in Europe and the Balkans behind them. This time, however, they are traveling by car, all together.

From Tbilisi onwards, they will restart in four: Massimo, Silvia, Andrea, and Benedetta, to complete the journey and return home slowly, also passing through Prague and Budapest, without haste.

It's not tourism, it's discovery

The idea is to cover 400 km a day, more or less.
The journey is not a race. It’s a way to slow down, look around, stop when necessary.
They want to cross Istanbul, visit the historic cities along the route, and discover the wine culture in Georgia, one of the points that intrigues them the most.

There are no destinations to tick off. Just the desire to leave. And see what happens.
And this, perhaps, is the most beautiful part.

Follow them on Instagram here

Calendario Valtellinese will follow the journey

Massimo and his group will keep us updated during the trip.
Every time they send us a message, a photo, or a story, Calendario Valtellinese will publish it, to share this experience with everyone who wants to travel, even if only in spirit.

Following them also means valuing a project born from here, from those who live and work in Valtellina, from those who decided that you don’t have to wait for the perfect moment to leave.

You just have to start the engine. And go.