Jeremy Marie French hitchhiker Country: France

Biography of Jeremy Marie

Jeremy Marie, a French traveler and adventurer, embarked on his unusual journey in October 2007 from Normandy, specifically Caen in Normandy. Since then, he has traversed Europe and Asia, marveling at the landscapes of the United States and South America, and exploring the lands of New Zealand and Australia. In total, Marie has covered a distance of 180,000 kilometers, relying solely on the generosity of strangers, as he has not spent a single cent on transportation expenses.

Similar to Phileas Fogg, who circumnavigated the globe in 80 days, this courageous traveler has spent almost half of his wealth, although the exact amount is not disclosed. Unlike the fictional character, however, Jeremy Marie managed to embark on his adventures without spending a penny. Over the course of his five-year journey, Marie has seen it all - from the scorching deserts of Sudan to the winter landscapes of Kazakhstan. In total, he has visited 71 countries, hitching rides in cars, boats, planes, and even donkeys. Marie quickly adapted to his circumstances and never complained, believing that any mode of transportation that allowed him to reach his destination without spending money was a good one.

Traveling has always been a passion for Jeremy Marie. As a schoolboy, he embarked on a program exchange to Poland, which ignited his love for immersing himself in foreign cultures. Later, he spent a year in Wales, during which he visited England and Ireland. It was in Dublin, Ireland, where Marie first tried hitchhiking. His experiences hitchhiking through the green hills of Ireland left a lasting impression on him, and upon returning from Wales, he continued his wanderings.

Accompanied by a friend, he embarked on a journey through Europe, traversing Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, England, and France. Marie's tour of Europe solidified his belief in hitchhiking as a viable way to travel the world. He desired to reach a fundamentally new level and embark on a journey that knew no boundaries.

According to Marie, hitchhiking offers numerous advantages over more traditional modes of travel. Firstly, hitchhikers have a much denser interaction with locals, allowing them to immerse themselves more deeply in the local culture. Counting the number of new friends Marie has made throughout his five years of travel is impossible, as he has met someone new in almost every country he has visited. Secondly, hitchhikers have more freedom in choosing their direction of travel, as they are not bound by pre-purchased tickets or strict tourist itineraries. Despite this freedom, Marie managed to visit almost all of the world's major tourist attractions, from Niagara Falls and the Egyptian pyramids to Machu Picchu and the heart of New York City.

Of course, not all parts of Marie's journey were equally easy. While people in New Zealand warmly welcomed hitchhikers, in some parts of the United States, this method of travel is simply prohibited by law. However, Marie learned to overcome obstacles and, over these five years, not only managed to see the world almost for free but also significantly reevaluated his own life.