Carlos Casaucau did not want to pass the retirement at home: when he retired in 2023, at 66 yearsmade a decision that had been on his mind for some time: Get on a Vespa PX 200 and tour the 27 capitals of the European Union.
The idea was born from a simple phrase that ended up marking the project: “It’s now or never.” With that impulse he began a journey of some 80 days, nearly 20,000 kilometers and almost 40 countries traveled on a motorcycle which is far from being the most comfortable for such a challenge.
Carlos Casaucau, a 66-year-old retiree who tours Europe on a Vespa: “It’s now or never”
Far from improvising, Casaucau prepared the trip for years. He studied languages, designed routes, trained to endure long days of driving and checked every mechanical detail of his Vespa before hitting the road.
Its objective was visit the 27 capitals of the European Union, a journey that required constantly crossing borders and tackle stages of up to 300 kilometers a day.
The experience ended up exceeding any expectations. For almost three months it crossed dozens of European cities and roads, accumulating nearly 20,000 kilometers on a Vespa PX 200, a classic model that remains a symbol for thousands of fans.
To Casaucauthe retirement It did not represent an end, but rather the opportunity to complete a project that had been postponed for years.
A trip through Europe with a solidarity objective
The crossing It also had a solidarity dimension. As I progressed through the different stages of the journey, Casaucau launched a campaign to support the iHuntington’s disease research. Thanks to that initiative he managed raise nearly 4,000 euros for a Spanish association dedicated to the study of this degenerative genetic disorder.
The Huntington’s disease It causes a progressive deterioration of neurons and can generate movement disorders, cognitive problems and psychiatric disorders that severely affect the daily lives of patients.
Therefore, the trip was much more than a personal challenge. In addition to touring Europe, the Aragonese retiree took advantage of the visibility of the adventure to collaborate with a cause that needs funding and dissemination. The entire experience was reflected in 27UEhe book that published in 2026 and in which he recounts the journey, the anecdotes of the route and the challenges he faced during the trip.
The Vespa, a small motorcycle with a long traveling tradition
Part of the appeal of the story is in the vehicle chosen. The Vespa PX 200 It does not stand out for its power or its performance for long distances, but it does stand out for the identity it built over decades.
Born in post-war Italy, the Vespa over time became a symbol of simple mobility and adventurous spirit. Its design has practically not changed and it remains one of the most recognizable models in the world.
Casaucau’s adventure joins a long list of travelers who used this vehicle to travel thousands of kilometers. In 1962, the Spaniards Santiago Guillén and Antonio Veciana went around the world in 79 days and crossed 17 countries aboard a Vespa.
More recently, former pharmacist Emilio Turrión surpassed 80 countries visited since he began his travels in 2013. German Markus Andre Mayer traveled some 25,000 kilometers to complete a trip around the world in just 80 days.
