After quitting their jobs to travel the world, a Brazilian couple and their home-on-wheels have made their way to Edmonton.
Michelle Weiss and Roy Rudnik were in Edmonton over the weekend as part of their second round-the-world trip.
The couple's first three-year journey took them to five continents and 60 countries. Their second trip, which began more than a year ago, has taken them north through the United States and up to Alaska, and they plan on heading to Russia next.
The adventure started in 2007, when Weiss decided to quit her architecture job and Rudnik left his marketing career to travel.
"It's not an easy decision … to leave everything (including) your family and say 'I'm going on the road,'" Weiss told CTV Edmonton.
But the call of adventure convinced the couple to leave home.
"Always, when I was coming back from one trip, I was already dreaming of the next," Rudnik said.
They packed their bags, moved into their camper van, and drove off.
"Our house is very small. It's this car," Rudnik said, gesturing towards the vehicle.
But, the traveller said, the world is their "garden."
"And it changes," he said. "Sometimes we have beaches, mountains, deserts."
While on the road, Weiss and Rudnik launched a popular blog and wrote a book, both of which have helped pay for their travels.
Recent blog posts show photos of the Rocky Mountains, totem poles in British Columbia, and waterfalls in the Northwest Territories.
"We've been to so many beautiful national parks (in North America)," Rudnik said. "We saw so many animals."
After touring Canada, the couple says their next stop is Russia, where they'll take on frigid temperatures this winter.
"They say we are crazy — two Brazilians in winter!" Weiss joked.
But, the travellers say, pushing themselves to try new things and see new places is all part of the adventure.
"We look for experience," Rudnik said.
"And challenges," Weiss added.
With files from CTV Edmonton
