George is a free camper nomad, discovering the world with his motorcycle.

He wants to take us mentally with him, not only to places we didn't know existed, but also to show us an unconventional, different way of life, far from the imaginary material needs, close to nature and its sounds, a little closer to the absolute definition of freedom. "My goal, dear suffering friend, is to show you a different perspective on how to live in the skin of every place you step on. Activate your senses. The smell of a spot that changes with dawn, dusk, and sunset."

"To smell the earth when you made it your pillow that night you slept outside, gazing at the stars, and the smoke from the fire that kept you warm until you fell asleep."

"To wake up with sounds that haven't woken you up until now. It sounds like that river passing just a few steps away from you. It sounds like that wave reaching the border of land and sea, constantly trying to steal a little more ground.

Guitar, bouzouki, cajon, or didgeridoo sounds on the platforms of Samothraki, in Lavraka of Gavdos, on the opposite shore of Acheron, separating you from the rest of the crowd," are some of his words.

George Grintelas, 35 years old, is an explorer-traveler and free camper. He was born and raised in Patras.

His parents belong to the working class. He studied mechanical engineering at the Technological Educational Institute of Patras but left school to pursue his love for the poultry industry. However, this chapter has now closed for him. He spoke to Reader about his own travel stories, the fears that keep us captive, and the boundaries we must break to achieve freedom.

"The trigger for me to break free from the conventional way of life was a series of realizations about what really matters in this life. A life that has a beginning and an end, but for many of us, the end seems so far away that we forget about it. For me, now, because I have done everything I wanted to do so far, and not what others have tried to make me want to do, the meaning I find is in traveling around the planet. Not to boast that I did it, but because the essence is in the journey, not the destination."

"It might sound cliché, but I have chosen the way I want to die; no one else will define it for me. I now consciously distance myself from any 'state provision.' Life in the city is very boring, caught in routine. The years will pass, and then maybe some will realize that they can no longer do the things they always wanted."

"But they won't realize the speed with which the years passed in front of them and how they didn't make the most of them as they wanted. No thanks, I'll pass. I'd rather live a few more years, but filled with quest, love, and adventure, than let the gift of life slip through my fingers and go to waste."

-How can a momentary thought be transformed into action? Are we inhibitory beings in the face of the fear of the unknown?

"The best way to say something is to do it, and if something stops us from doing things, it’s laziness. We think we have endless time, and from this thought comes procrastination. The human being, especially in the Western world, is full of fears—fears related to death, fears of not having, not owning, etc. And that’s why we have sought refuge in all kinds of drugs. Fear inhibits the freedom of the individual; fear is not darkness, fear is the need you don't really need."

-What are your feelings when you start your journey to a new place?

"The emotions when you start your journey to a new place, I have learned, should be neutral. I learned not to have expectations, neither from people nor from places... expectations disappoint. Can you let yourself be swept away by the unknown? Let it take you, don't fight it with the expectations you've built. Let things unfold and enjoy this flow, observe and take notes, a new world will open up, and not the one you had already predetermined. What could be more magical?"

-Favorite camping destinations – within or outside the country?

"I can't say there is a favorite destination, I usually don't go to the same places multiple times. You might find yourself by a small river, next to a lake, set up camp, meet other people, and everything just feels so beautiful."

-Your only luggage is a backpack, and your vehicle is your motorcycle. How do you fit everything inside?

"Life and traveling on a motorcycle teaches you simplicity. You only take the absolutely necessary things, and those try to be as small and light as possible. There are lightweight camping tents, but they are more expensive. You give something, you get something – that's the deal."

-For you, what are the absolute essentials you would take with you?

"The tent, sleeping bag, cooking utensils, a small bag with personal hygiene items, and a small first aid kit, a few clothes, and I'm off! Of course, the most essential item for someone riding on two wheels is the helmet."

-Do you think people tend to be greedy and get caught up in meaningless and useless material possessions?

"The culture of Western civilization is like that. It has its pros and cons. Materialism drives the economy, and that’s why they push for people's realization through material things. It doesn’t take much thought, I think, to understand that values like solidarity and respect are the ones that truly matter. The pleasures of the flesh last only for a while, but the pleasures of the soul last forever."

-How do you manage to minimize your daily expenses as much as possible and make a living?

"It's not that difficult. I can live with a few clothes, a pair of shoes, and a swimsuit. Some time ago, I opened my closet. I gave away clothes I wasn't wearing. I don’t consume alcohol or tobacco, and I always consider whether what I want to buy is something I truly need. Look at the bodies of most of us... we have stored fat, we are already consuming more than what we really need. And I'm not just talking about calories."

-Have there been any difficult moments you've experienced during your travels?

"I can't say there have been difficult moments. Perhaps it was a ten-day stay in Erymanthos, and on the last night, there was heavy rain followed by snow. I struggled to leave there with the motorcycle, but the hardest part was having to cover my tent properly and constantly hitting the top of it to prevent the snow from crushing it."

-A destination you would like to go to?

"My destination now is the ends of the earth. I hope I make it."

-What is your relationship with social media, and how has the public responded to what you do?

"My relationship with social media isn't what people think. I remember moments when I would open a chat window with someone on TikTok, and then I didn't know how to close it! I don't chase social media; if something comes up, I post it, but it's not my goal to stay relevant and keep people's interest just to have followers. The people who follow me understand that what I post is authentic. If you fall into the trap of social media, you might lose the magic of the journey."

-Would you like to tell us a few words about Trip With Me? What exactly is it?

"Trip With Me. There are people who can't travel or think they can't travel. Anyway, Trip With Me means an invitation to the journey, a mental invitation that, for me, is also a kind of challenge: can I, from a distance, make you feel what I feel? Also, can I activate your brain to see a little beyond what you're looking at, beyond what you're hearing? This can also be a form of introspection, not necessarily landscapes."

-Any survival tips for someone who dares to try wild camping for the first time?

"I've written a small guide on my blog about what you need for wild camping. I don't consider myself an expert in survival to give advice. If I could say anything, it would be not to overestimate your abilities, as nature also hides dangers. The best trip is the one where you return home safe and sound."

-If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to leave their 9-to-5 job and become a full-time traveler, what would it be?

"I could talk for hours. I'll try to sum it up. Free yourself from your fears. It's fear that keeps us bound. Keeping in mind Maslow's pyramid, where as homo sapiens we are survival machines, free yourself from the fears they've planted in us. The fears of material things, the fear of death. How long do you think we'll live? They've made us believe that in order to be 'well,' we need to consume and possess, and our whole life revolves around the stress of achieving these things. Life passes quickly, and eventually, the body won't be able to keep up, no matter how much the soul wants it. There's a line, and if you cross it, you’ll be free. Most of us don’t even come close to it."

-What are you working on right now?

"Right now, I’m doing my own show on my YouTube channel, which I’ve called 'Paranomi Meria.' The title is borrowed from the song of the same name by Fundracar, which touches me deeply.

At the same time, I’m preparing for my big journey to the African continent. It’s going to be a solo trip on my motorcycle, and I don’t know how long it will last. My goal is to meet local people and learn from them about how they live, their culture, and their way of life. I’ll be camping outside and cooking outdoors, as I don’t have the financial means for anything else. But even if I did, I wouldn’t want it any other way. Fear is temporary, but regret for something you didn’t do lasts forever."

Many thanks to Andy Kouklanda for the beautiful questions.

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