<P><B>Borne out of the author's experiences as a young traveler, this modern picaresque novel is a celebration of travel without boundaries, the joy of being young, and the infinite, unpredictable paths we can take during our lives</B></P><P>When Francesco decides to embark on his first trip outside his native Italy, he leaves behind a difficult relationship with his father, the narrow vistas of a small provincial town, and the stifling atmosphere of a country he feels has become degraded. He takes only a change of clothes, a map of Europe, and the desire to discover new places, new people and, perhaps, a new life. But a chance encounter in Munich takes him off course, starting him on an incredible journey that will see him fall in love in Sweden, lose all his money in Amsterdam, sleep rough in London, win big in Monte Carlo, and get caught up in an international imbroglio.