It is the epic of a group of Portuguese who decide to travel thru the African continent by car.
When Tiago Carrasco, a journalist by profession and two friends, photographer João Henriques and cameraman João Fontes decide to start a car journey traversing the black continent from north to south, with virtually no money, we thought at the outset that it's total madness, but believe me, that it is precisely what happened. Everyone tried to dissuade them from this risky project, given that it was a journey of 30,000 kilometers on roads (if we can call some of that) full of hazards and unforeseen events that only happen in Africa and little or no preparation of our reckless travelers. But, as Antonio Gedeão writes, the dream commands life and these three "crazy" run for what would be the adventure of their lives ... down below. Do not think that is the typical travel book which merely describes the landscapes, cultural differences and mannerisms of the people they visit, we note very well that is written of a journalist, why do I say that? Because Tiago Carrasco is not limited to the obvious, he portraits the social and political framing of these countries where the group pass by, is the trained eye of someone who avoids judging or taking sides, just want to show the various points of view of some of the most conflictive places of our planet. The other factor that contributes to what I call a journalistic narrative is the language of the author. It's a stripped written, almost as dry as the desert sands while amused by simple observation of the unusual in some of these so dangerous stops, how about an englishman crossing Africa by bicycle? It seems a hallucination? To find out whether it is true or not you will have to read it. Every page is a delight in human terms, the solidarity of strangers also happens in these hidden places and I can guarantee that are not few cases. What I believe is the essence of this Portuguese odyssey is as my favorite traveler, Bruce Chatwin said one day, "the trip is not confined to stimulate the mind. Makes the mind "and so was I stimulated by this very unique vision of the black continent. Good reading.
