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Published: April 6th 2009
Breakfast
A princely breakfast of pancakes and maple syrup in the making on the morning of my departure. Thanks Alan!Dear all -
For months I have been going on about my grand plans to travel overland from China to Europe. It's now April 2009, the time has finally come to tear myself away from Beijing and embark on my voyage home.
Previously my trips between Europe and Beijing have involved a couple of hours waiting in an airport lounge, ten hours on a plane being fed and entertained, and a short car ride to my house. Swift, comfortable and generally not much to write home about. Time for a more interesting way to get home, I thought, as a final celebration of four years of living in China.
The idea is to get home entirely overland: no planes allowed, only trains, busses, mini-cabs and perhaps a camel or two if I can manage to stay put on one. From Beijing across western China, into central Asia, over the Caspian Sea, through the Caucasus, along the Black Sea coast to the Mediterranean and home from there. Revisiting the ancient Silk Road, as it were, and a few places left and right of it.
The journey is to take 80 days - not quite around the world, but
Beijing West
The Saturday afternoon crowd at Beijing West Railway Station. then I don't have Scotland Yard nipping at my heels. There will certainly be some tricky border crossings, and some of my intended forms of transportation do not appear to even have a schedule, let alone run on time, but according to FCO travel advice everywhere I plan to go is safe, and I have a bit time to spare in case my boat to Baku is delayed. With a bit of luck I'll make it to Luxembourg in time for Grand-Duke's birthday.
I may tend to struggle with merged cells and text boxes, but I am determined to make an entry into the blogosphere to keep in touch, let you know where I am and share some impressions from along the way. Equally, you may keep in touch with me and keep me entertained as I make my way through foreign lands. I shall attempt to write as regularly as possible, though I hear the internet is a bit sketchy between Ashgabat and Turkmenbashi. If you don't hear from me for a few days it's more likely I'm busy haggling over prices in the markets of Samarkand or trapsing across the mountains of Georgia rather than in any
Outside the station
My seasoned travel companion Yuchi is joining me for the first portion of this trip. She has previously survived horseback riding in Inner Mongolia with me, let's hope she survives this one too. serious trouble.
I am about to leave by overnight train to Pingyao and then Xi'an, one of the great ancient capitals of China and starting point of the Silk Road. The adventure starts here!
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Bob Carlsen
non-member comment
Good luck!
I have dreamed of taking the Silk Road from Europe to China (or vice versa), so when I came across your blog, and at the very beginning of your adventure, I had to subscribe. I, along with my Mom, sister, and son, will be in Xian at the end of May, but will only do the first part of the Silk Road to Lanzhou, with a side trip to the Tibetan monastary of Labrang (in Xiahe). I don't know if you will be making this side trip, but if you try, please let me know if there are any travel restrictions remaining. Again, I look forward to reading your daily experiences.