Italy’s Robinson Crusoe starts a new life
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After being the sole inhabitant of the Mediterranean island of Budelli for over 30 years, Mauro Morandi has moved away and started a new life.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Known as </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/international-travel/italy-s-robinson-crusoe-asked-to-leave-island?fbclid=IwAR1KUnOTb2pRGUyFn9SavR4zqBOUHmdFky9n9Ah91K_f8e-6l1r7vxP8_Wo" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Italy’s Robinson Crusoe</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, Mr Morandi was the caretaker of the island, which lies in a stretch of water between Sardinia and Corsica, since he washed up there in 1989.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 82-year-old has protected the island for decades, but years of pressure from marine park authorities who wanted to evict him has seen his time on the island come to end.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The authorities told </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CNN</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> they were upholding the law by “restoring the illegal structure” Mr Morandi lived in - a former second world war radio station.</span></p>
<p><img style="width: 500px; height:375px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844454/176562232_504251944321186_6029451781535021283_n.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7f41cb48a6cf439380e579309443ffe0" /></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 19th century structure on Budelli. Image: @maurodabudelli / Instagram</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They said the caretaker “had no title” to remain on the island, after La Maddalena’s National Park took over ownership of the island in 2015.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Morandi gained a devoted following after sharing moments from his island life on Instagram, with many supporters petitioning for him to be allowed to remain on Budelli.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After sharing an image of the shore and distant horizon with the caption, “last evening”, he left.</span></p>
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<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite the sudden change in his life, Mr Morandi says it’s more than possible to move on and readjust.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s never really over,” he </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/what-italys-famous-hermit-did-next/93dc7240-0a9f-4439-8ad2-9eda6e4a023f" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">told </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CNN</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m the living proof that a second, new life is possible. You can always start all over again, even if you’re over 80, because there are other things you can experience, a totally different world.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since leaving Budelli, Mr Morandi has moved back to civilisation on the nearby, inhabited island of La Maddalena.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m happy and I have rediscovered the pleasure of living the good life and enjoying everyday comforts,” he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After using his pension from his prior career as a teacher, Mr Morandi bought an apartment that came with all the luxuries he lacked on Budelli.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He has also been working on his skills as a communicator and is eager to talk to people, exchange views and share photos on social media.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“For a long time I have lived alone, and for too many years after I first landed on Budelli I didn’t feel like talking to anyone,” he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“True, I cannot enjoy the island’s solitude anymore but my life has taken a new turn, focused on communicating with others and being near other people.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite regaining luxuries such as a fully-equipped kitchen, a bedroom with a king size bed, shelves of books, and a shower, Mr Morandi says he still lives a simple life.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Savouring dishes he hasn’t had in decades, Mr Morandi is indulging in a simple dish which was impossible to have on Budelli: fish.</span></p>
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<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
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<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTIZb-htLHG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Mauro Da Budelli (@maurodabudelli)</a></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I still keep leading a simple life, in the morning I go down to Cala Gavetta to buy fresh fish from the net. Finally after so many years of abstinence, I can enjoy fish again. This might sound incredible, but I can’t have enough platefuls of fresh and crispy fried fish,” he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“On the island I had no boat so I couldn’t fish, and the food was scarce and limited. I always had to wait for people to bring me groceries from the mainland, and when they wouldn’t come, I had to make do with what I had.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Here, if I need to buy anything I just walk into town.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He has since rekindled an old flame, and now lives in his new home with a sweetheart from his youth.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Morandi has also been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, is happy to wear a mask in public, and enjoys mingling with locals.</span></p>
<p><img style="width: 400px; height:500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844453/240655263_598357078002846_2962138352093797634_n.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/22efc83f43b64589a09966c8597eb5d9" /></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @maurodabudelli / Instagram</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I was amazed at how many are friendly, and I’m usually invited for coffee, lunch or dinner,” he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I was worried locals would not give me a warm welcome. I’m happy that not everyone hates me, just those who were jealous of the life I led on Budelli.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Many are fond of me. They come up to me and congratulate me on my fight, they want to take pictures with me.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though he has settled into his new home, Mr Morandi worries about the future of Budelli.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I don’t long for it,” he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“However I might be willing to return as caretaker only if this time round I get paid to do my job. I won’t work for free again.”</span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @maurodabudelli / Instagram</span></em></p>
