While I was in Europe, there were inconvenient times of the day where everyone at home in Australia was asleep in bed and I was on board a train, walking streets or doing things that included a lot of spare time to think.
While in Spain, we learnt about the Moors and how they occupied Spain for many hundred of years. They were originally from Damascus, Syria. This is quite the distance. They travelled across the top of Africa however and crossed the Strait of Gibraltar into Spain. Quite the walk. History is filled with long journeys without modern transport.
I wondered, if not dreamed, about the idea of civilisation collapsing. What if the planes stopped flying and things stopped moving. How would I get home? What an experience this would be to start. Would it be best to find an apartment? Start a new life across the other side of the world? Or walk home so I can see my two beautiful dogs again. I would want to do the later, but it would require a huge journey.
Interestingly, Spain is fairly close to being the other side of the planet from my home town of Mudgee. The opposite side of the earth is in the Atlantic Ocean somewhat slightly closer to Portugal. The closest settlement to this point in the Atlantic Ocean is Lajes do Pico, a town on Pico Island, Portugal at a distance of 673km.
What a walk this would be. I looked at maps and imagined the countries I would travel through. It would be quite the journey.
Maps programs only calculate directions so far. So this first part we will look at travelling from Spain to Turkey.
Departing Barcelona, we would first travel along the Mediterranean Coast entering France and visiting Marseille. Second we would be passing by Italy with options of Milan, Verona and Venice if we chose to stop along the way. We would of course need supplies.
Passing Italy we would then encounter Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and heading into Istanbul, Turkey. Alternatively, one could follow the coast down towards Greece after Italy, then cutting across through Albania and North Macedonia towards Turkey. This might interest me more.
Driving, it would take 1 day 11 hours. The first part of our journey would be 3,714km via a direct route. Walking at an average of 20km a day would take about 185 days. The first part of our trip has taken 6 months. This does not include days where washing clothes may be required or scavenging for food.
We have made it to the Middle East. Stay tuned for part two.