rEUnion || Bassano del Grappa to Tilliacher Joch

For the first time since 25 years, as the Schengen Agreement came into effect, we are not
able to cross borders freely anymore inside Europe.
While of course this is related to a crisis no one could have planned for, the situation is
quite absurd regarding the call of rightwing politicians to shut down the EU and close our
national borders. Your next beach holiday in France? Get a special permit. Go have a beer
in your neighbouring country? Nearly impossible.
You get the point: We have grown so used to roam freely throughout a whole continent,
the idea alone of this freedom being taken away is a nightmare.
Deep in the 2020 Corona crisis ultra distance athletes Bruno Ferraro (Bassano del Grappa,
Italy) and Max Riese (Salzburg, Austria) digitally fantasised about riding together soon
again, after all their races got cancelled. But what if there was a way to meet each other
legally even in those times? With the restriction of movement in Italy it had to be a touching
point between the state of Veneto and Austria. While no tarmac road connects the two,
there is a historically important piece of trail, that does. The Tilliacher Joch (Forcella Dignas)
is a gravel trail where Italian and Austrian soldiers opposed each other in WW1.
Why not meet your friend at this historical place and enjoy a night under stars, while still
staying on your side of the border? Just within sight, enjoying each other's company as a
piece of normality.
We should all remember how this situation feels like and use it to fight for the freedom and
rights we have grown so used to. The Schengen Agreement and therefore the European
Union. Together we are stronger and better than as small, isolated countries.