“It was at three in the morning that I stole my way out of Karlsbad, since they would not have permitted me to go otherwise.” That’s how Goethe’s Italian Journey begins. He eventually chose to take the E45, which goes over the Brenner Pass. That’s how he got to Arcadia.

But his coach wasn’t so anxious to get there, so he took a few days longer than I did. His destination was Rome, while mine was Ancona and then Crete—where the E75 begins. That’s the true starting point for my investigation of what exactly an Europastrasse is.

In my case, too, it’s tough prying myself away from home. And I’d be interested to know how long Goethe’s travel preparations took. His text suggests that he snuck out of his birthday party at three in the morning, got into a coach, and left. But things are never that simple.

It’s well known that Goethe wasn’t a good photographer, but he still had stuff to pack. I, in any case, took weeks to finally have everything ready. And now I’m off, first taking the E45 towards the E75.

P.S.: In Bozen, I paid a visit to the Batzenhäusl, just like Goethe. Call it homage

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