Meet the couple from RS who have been on the road for 8 years and take a Kombi to Alaska A couple who have been dating for nine years have chosen the road as their home for almost all of this time. In 2018, Vanessa Kapper, 35 years old, and Lorenzo Marques, 40 years old, left Santo Ângelo, in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul, in a Kombi, heading for the world. They have already covered more than 200 thousand kilometers, passed through 22 countries and are now on their way to Alaska, in the United States. "We got closer, started dating and, about six months later, we were already hitting the road. As our relationship began because of this common interest in the world of travel, which was something that fascinated us both, traveling together ended up happening very naturally", says Vanessa. ? Access the g1 RS channel on WhatsApp The beginning of the relationship was over the internet. Separated by almost two thousand kilometers — the distance between Santo Ângelo and Brasília (DF) —, she asked him for travel tips, as he used to make day trips on his days off as a public servant in the federal capital. "One day, I got up the courage and called him to talk about it. At that moment, my desire was to take my first trip alone", she says. Vanessa took a two-week trip to the historic cities of Minas Gerais and received an invitation to visit the interior of Goiás with Lorenzo. She returned to RS and, months later, the man decided to take a leave of absence from work and also returned to the state. That was when they started dating and decided to buy the Kombi, which was named Madalena. In March 2018, the couple left for what would be a three-year period away from home. The beginning of the adventures The lack of experience meant that they faced challenges, but they did not give up. The pair were just 140 km from Santo Ângelo when the vehicle's engine blew. The trouble was reported on social media and went viral. "Our profile gained many followers who wanted to follow the outcome of our journey", shares Vanessa. The encouragement of their followers motivated them to continue traveling and, over time, the diary on the networks became a job, which allowed them to continue as travelers. "In the end, we went to Ecuador with the Kombi. Our social networks grew a lot and we decided not to return home", says the woman from Rio Grande do Sul. After their first long trip, they spent time in Rio Grande do Sul to renovate the "house on wheels". They intended to go to Europe, but the pandemic made them change their plans and decided to visit all the states in Brazil. The duo even bought a school minibus, but the vehicle caught fire and interrupted their adventure. "Aimlessly and without enthusiasm, in a boost of confidence, we decided to take our Del Rey, which we bought for R$2,500, and head to Ushuaia with it." They spent six months traveling through South America. "When we arrived at the southern tip of the continent, in Ushuaia, we decided that we would return home, resurrect our Kombi and take it to Alaska. Our journey to Alaska began in February 2025", he recalls. Vanessa and Lorenzo left Santo Ângelo in 2018 and have already traveled more than 200 thousand kilometers Personal archive Four-legged company The couple does not travel alone. They have a faithful companion: the dog Galeto. "After traveling through several countries in South America and returning to Brazil, we decided that we wanted to adopt a dog. We were in Mato Grosso when we received the news that we had gotten a puppy that was in our city, in RS", says Vanessa. They left the car at a follower's house and hitchhiked to RS to look for the third member of the family. "We grabbed a backpack and a sign and went out hitchhiking on the side of the road. We managed to get to the place where we would pick up the puppy and then we walked all the way back." As Galeto grew up traveling, he is completely adapted to the routine. Living on the road brings lessons Even though they face challenges in their daily lives, such as the difficulty in finding basic facilities to carry equipment and take a shower in some places, they consider that the experiences they have overcome the problems. "Living in a few square meters is a big challenge. We often say that this is not a life for all couples, because it is a routine that naturally demands a lot from everyone", comments the traveler. She says she even changed habits, such as putting on makeup every day: "Over time, we also realized that we need much fewer objects and clothes than we imagined to live well." The most significant part, according to Vanessa, is observing different cultures and learning from them: "Nothing replaces the feeling of seeing, feeling and experiencing things with your own eyes. Traveling really opens our minds and makes us more receptive to the world." The couple does not yet have plans for after Alaska. "We still have many kilometers and many challenges ahead. We don't know exactly what the future holds for us, but we are sure it will be equally incredible", he points out. Vanessa and Lorenzo left Santo Ângelo in 2018 and have already traveled more than 200 thousand kilometers Personal archive VIDEOS: Everything about RS