Emilio Scotto

When Emilio Scotto (Argentina) was nine years old, he told his mother, “tomorrow, I am going to travel around the world”. She laughed, and replied, “tomorrow, you are going to school”, but from that day on, he set his mind on wandering the planet, he bought atlases and maps and was certain that one day his dream would become a reality. At 30, Emilio Scotto quit his job, got on his Honda Gold Wing motorcycle, affectionately named "the black princess", and with $300 headed down the street. Emilio had never left Argentina, but he had such faith that this seemingly reckless move would transform him into the man he wanted to be. Emilio Scotto circumnavigated the planet both clockwise and anticlockwise consecutively, travelling the equivalent distance to to the moon and back to earth, visiting 214 countries and 28 territories. His motorcycle used the original motor plus one spare, 9 seats, 12 batteries, 700 litres of oil, 42,000 litres of gasoline and 86 tyres. Scotto filled 11 passports of 64 pages each. Along the way he learned 5 languages, was imprisoned 6 times, he was arrested on suspicion of drug dealing, of being a Russian spy, and of being an agent for Libyan leader Colonel Gadhafi; he was accused of being a Rwandan spy, encountered cannibals and contracted malaria. His girlfriend, Monica, joined him in India, and they were married in a Hindu ceremony, before traveling on together. Finally, on April 2, 1995, he returned to Argentina and a hero’s welcome, after 10 years, 2 months and 19 days on the road. The former president of Argentina said on his return "stories of tenacity and courage like Emilio's make not only one country proud, but the entire world". (read less)

When Emilio Scotto (Argentina) was nine years old, he told his mother, “tomorrow, I am going to travel around the world”. She laughed, and replied, “tomorrow, you are going to school”, but from that day on, he set his mind on wandering the planet, he bought atlases and maps and was certain that one day his dream would become a reality. At 30, Emilio Scotto quit his job, got on his Honda Gold Wing motorcycle, affectionately named "the black princess", and with $300 headed down the street. Emilio... (read more)