All Good in Van Life!
BR, Tommi
Blog December 1st, 2023 by Tommi Kosola, Architect at Nortal
Almost two years ago, I chose to join Nortal primarily due to its flexible remote work policy. However, during the past 9 months, I've taken my remote work experience to a whole new level by remotely working while traveling across Europe. And what's even more exciting is that I still have 3 more months to continue this unique remote working journey!
This dream had been building in my head for quite some time already. The dream to do one big trip and travel all over Europe for a longer time.
This dream came true in February when my wife and I packed our camper, stepped on the gas, and followed the roads to our first stop in Lubeck, Germany.
I spend my days in our camper van, focusing on designing solutions while looking out the window at views like the Dolomite Mountains or the beautiful sea views along the coasts of Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain. Thanks to a reliable local internet provider, noise-canceling headphones, and the wisdom to go out for a walk when facing challenges, I’ve found a perfect way to get work done smoothly.
When speaking to my colleagues, they have sometimes even forgotten that I’m traveling, potentially taking our calls from a beach in Portugal rather than my home in Vaasa, Finland.
Afternoons and evenings are dedicated to either exploring or driving through magically beautiful landscapes to new destinations. I can hardly believe all the incredible experiences we’ve had so far! From being amazed by the Leaning Tower of Pisa to exploring Lake Garda, watching Formula E cars in Monaco, and enjoying the beauty of the Loire in France – the list of incredible moments seems endless.
So far, we’ve checked off Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, San Marino, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Portugal on our checklist.
Recap of the journey
12
months all over Europe
12
countries visited throughout the journey
>40K
kilometers on the road
For now, I’m in the Algarve area in Portugal and heading to Spain in a few days. Luckily, we still have many places and things to experience before setting sight back to Finland in February.
Tommi Kosola
Architect
Vaasa, Finland