Denis Beliveau and Francis O'Donnell, two ordinary - no, extraordinary - Americans, one an artist and the other a photographer, embarked on the Silk Road in the early 90's to recreate, in the most authentic way possible, Marco Polo's famous journey. It was a journey that lasted two years.
In one of the episodes, Francis O'Donnell says, "Travel is the enemy of bigotry".
Watch the full program "In the Footsteps of Marco Polo" here: http://www.wliw.org/marcopolo/video/watch-the-full-episode/324/
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The Silk Road Inspiration
" I believe it was God's will that we should come back, so that men might know the things that are in the world, since, as we have said in the first chapter of this book, no other man, Christian or Saracen, Mongol or pagan, has explored so much of the world as Messer Marco, son of Messer Niccolo Polo, great and noble citizen of the city of Venice." - Marco Polo
"Marco Polo was here" is an inspired travel idea borne out of my special interest in souks, traditional markets and other commercial quarters typically seen in Arab countries. It started with a trip to Morocco in 2008 on a visit to Marrakesh and Essaouira. In April 2010, I visited Cairo and the oasis village of Siwa in Egypt. So, as I continue to expand my wish list of travel destinations, one such great route that has constantly made me curious about is the Silk Road, a trading and cultural route pioneered by none other than the greatest adventurer of all time - Marco Polo.
It is truly a deep seated desire - this Marco Polo bug - to see what the Silk Road destinations look like today and experience the local cultures from the eyes of a Western traveler. What did Marco Polo think then, when he saw those destinations for the first time? How did he transcend language and cultural differences? How did he immerse himself in the cultures of the East? What did he learn most from his lifetime journey? Has modern-day tourism spoiled some of these destinations? Have the cultures changed and adapted to westernization and modernization? I ask myself these questions as I travel along the road.
So herein lies the start of yet another personal journey, albeit in small steps, in my quest to retrace the greatest trading and cultural road of all - the Silk Road.
It is truly a deep seated desire - this Marco Polo bug - to see what the Silk Road destinations look like today and experience the local cultures from the eyes of a Western traveler. What did Marco Polo think then, when he saw those destinations for the first time? How did he transcend language and cultural differences? How did he immerse himself in the cultures of the East? What did he learn most from his lifetime journey? Has modern-day tourism spoiled some of these destinations? Have the cultures changed and adapted to westernization and modernization? I ask myself these questions as I travel along the road.
So herein lies the start of yet another personal journey, albeit in small steps, in my quest to retrace the greatest trading and cultural road of all - the Silk Road.
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