VEGANS ON TRAVEL
ROBERTO'S STORIES
Traveling around the world is always a positive experience, but sometimes for a vegan it can be paradoxical, obviously especially at meal times. Vegans on the go is the blog where Roberto gives us advice, routes and many interesting tidbits for both vegans and omnivores.
Welcome to Easy Travel Hosting! Could you tell us about yourself and when you started your blog?
The blog was born in April 2017 to coincide with the release of my first book “Route 66 the American myth”, the passion for travel and photography led me to carry out this project and the following ones which I have developed with so much passion until today.
I graduated in electronics in 1990, but I was immediately interested in photography and travel, also thanks to my photographer father and many traveler friends.
"I still remember when, as a child, I went to the travel agency in my country to pick up the brochures that had just arrived. All I had to do was open one to start traveling in my mind. Then luckily at the age of 16 I took my first trip to Morocco, from there a succession of emotions and adventures all over the world."
I have always had a particular attraction for the USA; the great cities of the East, New York City above all, but also the great parks of the West, not least the road that changed me forever, Route 66.
I have been vegan for several years, I love nature and animals, I have a particular feeling with cats.
I opened the Vegani in Viaggio blog to be able to tell my stories and to help those like me who have specific dietary needs. I have created an App for iOS and Android with geo localized many vegan friendly accommodation facilities around the world, but I like to define the blog as a showcase for everyone because most of the articles I write are aimed at the entire public, not just those who are vegan like me and my wife.
What would you recommend to those who want to get started with vegan nutrition?
I would recommend trying it even just out of curiosity, it should not be seen as a renunciation, but as a different way of life; more respectful towards the animals that share this planet with us and with nature, topics that are very current today and which really deserve greater attention from everyone.
Being vegan doesn't just mean eating plant-based foods, as the Anglo-Saxons say, but it's something much deeper that also involves fashion, everyday accessories, it's a complete lifestyle that is perfectly in empathy with our planet. I am very happy to talk about it with you given your company philosophy which is extremely in line with my way of life.
Try eating plant-based foods, you won't regret it, I often share moments of conviviality with vegan food with friends and colleagues, many of them have decided to have at least one or two vegan days in their week because they are aware that it is an important and necessary choice.
Many people I know agree on the goodness of plant based food, on the taste and colors they bring to their plate, I repeat it is not a renunciation of something, but a different way of living and eating, you don't make sacrifices but different choices.
We are often too attached to the culture with which we grew up and not everyone is inclined to take different paths, but sometimes you just need to watch some videos on farms and animals in slaughterhouses to understand that the vegan choice is anything but extreme.
During which trip did you struggle most to maintain your diet?
I must say that in recent years I have no longer had any problems even in the most remote areas of the plant, I found myself faced with people who didn't even know the word “vegan”, but once its meaning was explained I have always received positive feedback, maybe sometimes they don't understand why I don't eat dairy products and eggs but in the end everything is resolved with a smile.
The only trip that put me in difficulty was the one to China, not so much for the food, but above all for the cultural distances and the lack of empathy with animals which in this country created quite a few problems for me.
It cannot be denied that dogs and cats are sold as food in the markets and their skins are hung in many shops, a series of strong and negative emotions that created a lot of discomfort for me.
Fortunately, China is a rapidly evolving country and the new generations are starting to see this aspect with different eyes, they are now aligned with us Westerners and given the speed with which China is evolving, I am sure that these habits will also change in a short time.
What do you do to make your travels more eco-friendly?
I try to use public transport and low-polluting cars, but being vegan is in itself an incredible help for nature; Meat production is one of the largest polluting industries on the planet.
I also try to use clean energy suppliers in my daily life, I prefer hotel structures that do not use plastic and rely on renewable energy supplies and low consumption air conditioning systems. Many structures of this type have been created in recent years and I am sure that many others will follow.
I have seen a profound change towards this direction in New York City, which I mention because it is my favorite city where I go very often, the restaurants and hotels have changed a lot, the way of living in the city has evolved to become green and vegan friendly, a sign of the times, a profound sign of change in one of the most vibrant cities on the planet.
I also prefer life in the open air, long walks both to discover cities and natural beauty, I often take tourists around the world for work and involve them in my passion for walks to discover cities and I must say that everyone is fascinated by it; you discover corners hidden from tourists, you come into contact with the culture of the place and with the people who live there, you feel part of the city and the places you visit.
Easy Travel Hosting thanks Roberto very much for taking part in our interview. We find his Vegan philosophy close to our principles, and we also recommend that you try a vegan dish, starting from once a week!
If you want to find out more, you can follow her on the site by clicking here. And on social media too!
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