Inventory of Memories on Wheels
From Canada to Mexico (twice), Norway to Morocco, France to Turkey—I’ve turned vans into homes and roads into my backyard.
Van life in America taught me that bigger isn’t always better—until it is.
Van life in Europe showed me that small can be mighty when fuel costs soar.
Each vehicle became memories on wheels. Wild Rose, the Unkillable Canadian legend. Kerouac, my Mexican first love. Nemo, Europe’s tiny champion. Warrior, the childhood dream. Four vans. Two continents. Thirty-six countries. One loyal dog. One restless heart still chasing the next horizon.
CLICK ON THE NAMES TO GET THE FULL STORIES ↓
WILD ROSE
A lucky invitation led to a lifelong friend—the one that started it all.
The first van: a custom 1985 Ford Econoline, nicknamed “The Unkillable.” A spontaneous invitation from a neighbour turned into an epic Canadian road trip—and a friendship for life. Why the name Wild Rose? Just because it was written on it. So we kept it.
She was body-customized and utterly reliable despise our lack of maintenance.
The proof that the best adventures begin with yes.
KEROUAC
This was my first love, named for my favourite writer.
Vans are a lot like boyfriends. You never forget your first, even if you didn’t yet know what you were looking for!
This big, robust, and trustworthy 2003 Dodge Ram Van 1500 was exactly it. And I got lucky once again. From the very beginning, it felt meant to be. Trust your intuition when buying. It never lies.
The craziest decisions lead to the best adventures!
NEMO
Going Small: The European Van Advantage.
In Europe, efficiency isn’t just a preference—it’s engineered by necessity. Tighter emission standards and expensive fuel create a world of smaller, smarter vehicles.
I embraced this philosophy to its extreme, seeking the ultimate compact base for an urban and cost-effective van.
Let me introduce the champion of tiny: my 2012 Citroën Nemo. It might be the smallest van I’ve ever seen, and I absolutely love it.
Just go. Go, but don’t forget the clutch.
WARRIOR
Sometimes, the dream is heavy. Sometimes, it’s worth every litre of gas.
As I entered my thirties, my priorities shifted from just travelling to travelling with comfort. It was time for my childhood dream vehicle: a huge motorhome with that iconic over-cab bed.
I found it in a 1990 Winnebago Warrior, built on a Dodge Chevy Van 30 chassis. Compared to the Nemo, its fuel consumption made absolutely no sense. But hey—have you ever been to Texas and seen the price per gallon? If you know, you know.
This machine earned its name. It wasn’t just a RV. It was an undeviating, road-conquering war machine that finally delivered the spacious comfort I was looking for.
Dreams don’t need to make sense!
Van Life Related Posts
- Van Life Budget Europe 2026: Real Monthly Costs
- Van Life in Morocco: The Complete 3-Month Road Trip Itinerary, Costs & Safety Guide
- USA Road Trip Itinerary: 5 Months of Van Life from New York to the Wild West
- Norway Van Life On A Budget: Unforgettable Travel Itinerary (4 Weeks)
What’s next?
This isn’t the full list. Two vans from Europe are still missing, including the one I’m writing from right now in Spain, 2026.
I’ll add them as I go. The road keeps moving. And so will this page.
The Vagabond’s Notebook
The journey doesn’t have to end here.
I send The Vagabond’s Notebook—personal notes from the road with more photos, fleeting impressions, and literary musings. Subscribe to receive the next one directly.