Camping trips and van built - Interview with Jessi & Markus

It's a dream that can only be fulfilled on holiday for some but for others it's everyday life. For Jessi and Markus as well. The two are wedding photographers and fulfilled their dream of a home on four wheels in 2020.

If you'd rather hear about Jessi & Markus' road trip adventures than read about them you can listen in onthe RoadCast.

Jessi and Markus have just arrived in Greece and are already on their campsite for the second time. ´We just like it so much here! Right by the sea and fresh water is also nearby - perfect` says Jessi. The two of them find their pitches via the Park4Night app. And when they'd like to see something new and their gut feeling tells them it's time to move on, Jessi and Markus hit the road and find a new dreamy place to stop.

Before Jessi and Markus quit their flat and started their camping adventure they had been travelling a lot by car due to their wedding photographer job. ´We were rarely at home and always on the road driving from one hotel to another. At some point we asked ourselves if we didn't want to hitch a trailer to our Opel Corsa. But since it didn't have enough horsepower we came up with the idea of renting a camper and travelling to a wedding in it`. Despite the pouring rain the two of them enjoyed this test drive so much that they decided: ´We definitely want to do this more often!`

They renovated their camper themselves and chose a Fiat Ducato. The conversion of their camper ´Vanni` took a total of 3 months. They planned it using Indesign. ´But in the end, everything always turns out differently than we thought it would` says Jessi with a laugh. ´We went actually went from one challenge to another. We got the information we needed from YouTube and other forums. The challenges are, I think, what makes the conversion so appealing. In the end, you see results every day and that makes you so proud` says Jessi.

The original plan was to use the van to travel from wedding to wedding but because of Covid the two of them were out of a job from one moment to the next. Because in 2019 they had photographed a total of 22 weddings and then in 2020 there were only 2. Nevertheless, they didn't let it get them down and so 2020 became a huge adventure for Jessi and Markus. ´All our followers on Instagram who travelled with us were also insanely nice to us. So we all had each other because it meant we could work but take them with us on our camping adventures at the same time.`

For Jessi an unforgettable moment of the trip was the arrival at their ´quarantine lake` in Portugal, as the two like to call it. Because that's where they spent the first lockdown. ´It felt like being in the right place at the right time` Jessi says. ´The actual plan was for us to stay at this lake for one night only to rest and continue the next day. Because we actually wanted to cross Spain in one go due to the Covid location.´ But then everything changed and they got permission from the local police to stay. ´Everything was so quiet. It was early spring and we could hear the birds chirping and the sunset there was beautiful as well, that was one of my favourite moments on our road trip adventures` Jessi says.

Markus also has fond memories of the Baltics. `We actually didn't want to go there at all but because of Covid we discovered beautiful places, basically by chance. I just didn't expect the nature and beauty of these countries.` Originally, the two only wanted to go to their favourite country, Sweden. On the way there, they had to make a diversion and were able to explore the Baltic States.

´All the people we have met in Greece so far have been incredibly friendly and have showered us with food. The people we've met so far have just been incredibly warm` the two say. ´A must-see on a road trip is Sweden. But there are actually so many beautiful countries, you almost can't decide. Portugal is beautiful as well.` But for them the most beautiful places are the ones where you're (almost) alone and can enjoy the journey undisturbed. ´Often it's the places you didn't even have in mind that blow you away` Markus says.

The two still get homesick sometimes on their road trip adventures. But that's what mobile phones and video calls are for. And so the two enjoy their time on four wheels. ´We've already experienced so much and seen so much and most of the time the challenges are more fun than really bad at the moment they happen` Jessi says. `There are so many small and beautiful moments that we enjoy. Every morning I'm happy when the sun is shining - or about a beautiful sunset` Markus tells us.