Route
The traditional overland routes to Asia are as follows:
1) The northern route via Eastern Europe, Russia, the Stans and Mongolia.
2) The southern route via Greece, Turkey, Iran and India.
Number 1 was a no go. Russia is full of surly drunks and their best-looking girls are already in London. I also had little interest in weeks of driving across featureless tundra.
My route is a version of number 2. North Africa replaces southern Europe, which gives me the opportunity to cross the Sahara and visit the ancient sites in Egypt, Libya and Jordan.
I wanted to see the broad sweep of life across the Muslim world and have a better understanding of what they're getting so upset about. Eliminating ingrained cultural biases is largely impossible, but traveling can help get rid of 'us and them' thinking. The countries in the news are no longer just abstractions.
Stage 2 is the well-worn trail up through South and Central America.
Yes, I know this looks like it was drawn by a 5 year old with a crayon.
1) The northern route via Eastern Europe, Russia, the Stans and Mongolia.
2) The southern route via Greece, Turkey, Iran and India.
Number 1 was a no go. Russia is full of surly drunks and their best-looking girls are already in London. I also had little interest in weeks of driving across featureless tundra.
My route is a version of number 2. North Africa replaces southern Europe, which gives me the opportunity to cross the Sahara and visit the ancient sites in Egypt, Libya and Jordan.
I wanted to see the broad sweep of life across the Muslim world and have a better understanding of what they're getting so upset about. Eliminating ingrained cultural biases is largely impossible, but traveling can help get rid of 'us and them' thinking. The countries in the news are no longer just abstractions.
Stage 2 is the well-worn trail up through South and Central America.
Yes, I know this looks like it was drawn by a 5 year old with a crayon.
