After years of planning, waiting, and dreaming, the day had finally arrived.
I was standing in Gothenburg, Sweden, looking at my car packed and ready for the biggest journey I had ever attempted. It was no longer just an idea written down in my notes or a route I had studied on maps. It was happening.
It was me, my car, and the road ahead.
The plan was ambitious. I expected the journey to take around four to six months and cover more than 20,000 kilometers. The final goal was Afghanistan, but the journey itself was just as important as the destination.
Before reaching Afghanistan, I wanted to explore every country along the way. The route would take me through around 20 countries, discovering different cultures, landscapes, and people. The highlight of the journey would be reaching the legendary Pamir Mountains, especially the Pamir Highway on the Tajikistan side, before eventually crossing into Afghanistan and reaching the Wakhan Corridor.
I was excited, nervous, and full of energy. After waiting for so long, there was finally nothing left to do except start driving.
My first destination was Karlskrona in southern Sweden, where I spent the first night of the journey. The next day, I continued towards the ferry that would take me across the Baltic Sea to Poland.
Even though it was already April, winter still had its grip on Scandinavia. The temperature was around minus 7 to minus 8 degrees Celsius. Standing there with my car, preparing to leave Sweden behind, made the reality of the journey sink in.
After boarding the ferry, I had around 10 hours of sailing ahead of me. During that time, I had the chance to think about what was waiting for me. Thousands of kilometers, many borders, unknown roads, and countless new experiences.
Eventually, the ferry arrived in Gdansk, Poland.
My first night outside Sweden had arrived.
I drove to my hotel, but when I got there, I faced my first unexpected challenge. The reception was closed. There was only a phone number on the door.
I called the number, and a woman answered. The problem was that she did not speak English, and I did not speak Polish.
Suddenly, one of the simplest things we take for granted while traveling became a real challenge: communication.
Using gestures, simple words, and whatever methods we could find, I tried to explain my situation and figure out how to get into the hotel.
It was only the first day outside Sweden, but the adventure had already started teaching me something.
A long journey is not only about the places you visit. It is also about the unexpected moments along the way.
And this was only the beginning.
