Europe Overland – Seeking the Unique. Can a trip through Europe be an adventure? The travel story of the Bell family from South Africa tells us.
Overlanding, with this term we European travellers usually automatically associate long-distance vehicle travel on other continents and in far-off regions. Well, the world has a lot to offer right on our doorstep too. But can we experience adventure here as well? That’s exactly one of the guiding questions of Europe Overland – Seeking the Unique. Can overlanding in modern Europe be an adventure?
Graeme Bell takes the reader along on the journey
Graeme Bell doesn’t bore you with dates and historical events. No, he tells the story of the journey with his four-person family and the 130 Defender “Mafuta” through Europe. It’s about the encounters, everyday travel life, life on the road, interesting places and lovely landscapes, culture and, here and there, an interesting cultural, political or historical bit of background too, as well as a good insight into the daily lives of people in different countries.
Through the often detailed yet entertaining way of telling it, the reader is practically taken along on the journey. So it’s not hard to picture the particular situation, and the odd amusing anecdote provides variety. What does a pigeon have to do with maintenance work on the Landy? You’ll find out in Europe Overland – Seeking the Unique.
But the author doesn’t leave out the downsides of full-time overlanding either. Graeme Bell also talks openly and honestly about the small and large difficulties that such a lifestyle brings with it. The particular challenges as a family have their place in this great book too. Because anyone who has been on the road for a longer time knows that these sides of travel exist as well and all too often get left unmentioned in favour of colourful pictures.
And how do you know you’re addicted to overlanding? The author explains it with a few, not entirely serious, symptoms. The odd reader will surely recognise themselves here with a grin.
The book is simply and practically designed
To follow the route more easily, simple route maps precede the chapters. The middle section of the book contains numerous photos. Sadly these are only black and white. That doesn’t detract from the enjoyment, though, because these aren’t grand landscape shots and the like, but mostly pictures of the everyday encounters that make a travel story properly interesting in the first place. And that’s exactly what it’s about here, the travel stories and experiences from the road.
And can overlanding in modern Europe be an adventure?
Did the Bells find what they were looking for, namely nature, beauty, peace and adventure, on their journey through Europe? I don’t want to give the answer away, of course. But this much can be said, it’s interesting to see how people who have seen a lot of the world and now experience Europe as passing travellers perceive this continent. The book Europe Overland – Seeking the Unique reinforced my own perception that in Europe we live comparatively privileged and with many comforts that are often forgotten or less appreciated in everyday life and in many discussions. And for us travellers there really is a great deal that’s beautiful, interesting and special to see on this continent, and small and large adventures can be experienced too, if we let ourselves in for it.
Verdict on Europe Overland – Seeking the Unique
With this book, Graeme Bell tells a travel story that’s really worth reading, and as a European it’s of course interesting to see how travellers perceive this continent.
It’s lovely to see that the Bell family from South Africa experience a hospitality and willingness to help in Europe similar to what we too have experienced on many trips around the wide world. And it’s precisely these many small stories of lovely encounters with people on the road, among other things, that make this book worth reading.
The story is told in an exciting and entertaining way. It would be nice if there were translations of this book from English to make the Bells’ travel story accessible to a wider readership. My verdict: Europe Overland – Seeking the Unique shouldn’t be missing from any bookshelf of travel stories. Many thanks to Graeme and Luisa, who provided me with Europe Overland – Seeking the Unique for this review.
Price: 21.40 euros (paperback), also available as a Kindle edition
Pages: 261
Language: English
ISBN-13 : 978-0639925714
Take a look at and order the book Europe Overland – Seeking the Unique on Amazon*.
The author Graeme Bell is a full-time traveller and freelance writer. He has been travelling the world with his wife Luisa and children Jessica and Keelan for around six years. They’re currently on the move in North America. You’ll find out more about the Bells’ adventures on the website A2AExpedition, on Facebook or Instagram. Graeme Bell has published several other travel books too.
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