For more than 30 years, Mauro Morandi has been the sole inhabitant of a beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea.
Morandi, a former teacher, arrived on the island of Budelli, off the coast of Sardinia, by accident while sailing from Italy to Polynesia 31 years ago. He fell in love with the crystal-clear waters, coral sands and beautiful sunsets -- and decided to stay.
He took over from the previous caretaker shortly afterward and, at the age of 80, he's still there, having earned himself a reputation as Italy's Robinson Crusoe.
Each night he sleeps in an old stone cottage and wakes up in the morning surrounded by mother nature. He enjoys exploring cliffs and talking to birds at breakfast as they fly in and out of his little kitchen window.
He keeps up with the news though, learning first of mainland Italy's shutdown against the spread of coronavirus, and then the rest of the world's.
In his solitary world, he says he currently feels like he's in the "safest place on Earth."
"I am fine, I'm not scared," he tells CNN Travel via the mobile phone that is his link to the outside world. "I feel safe here. This island offers total protection. No risks at all. Nobody lands, not even a single boat can be seen sailing by."
Little has changed for Morandi since Italy's virus outbreak, except that he must now wait longer for people to bring him food from the mainland due to harsh restrictions imposed by Rome's government.
He spends the day admiring the sea, inhaling the pure air, collecting wood, preparing his meals and -- of course -- posting on Instagram.
"I get bored, so I kill time taking photos of the beaches, the wildlife and scenery, editing shots and then sharing these on social media and Instagram," he says. "I have a lot of followers."
"I read a lot, and think.” This introspection, he says, can be highly rewarding. Morandi recounts his own transformation from a wanderer who traveled across Europe each year to a solitary islander.
"I just didn't feel like traveling anymore -- no interest," he says. "I understood that the most beautiful, dangerous, adventurous and gratifying journey of all is the one inside yourself, whether you're sitting in the living room or here in Budelli."
Budelli is one of the most beautiful islands in the entire Mediterranean. Dating back to prehistoric times when the Earth's crust was still forming, legend says it's a shard of the mythical, lost Atlantis continent swallowed by the ocean.
The island's habitat remains quite untouched. No pollution. Clear fluorescent turquoise waters, wild vegetation, purple rocks resembling natural sculptures and healthy air.
"For now I've got everything I need. There's electricity, and running water, and an extra small stove for heating."
Nothing to complain about.
From CNN (edited)
