Dachs in Istanbul
On Tuesday the 29th of June at 18.00 we reached the Sultanahmed square in Istanbul with our caravan. On the left the blue mosque, and on the right the famous Aya Sofia. Surrounding us: a crowd of people, amongst which Simon Wintermans and a camera team from TNT (Turkish national television) and Editie NL (broadcasted in the Netherlands on Wednesday 30 June on RLT 4 at 18.15). Mission accomplished.
Yesterday evening Tjerk and Peter arrived in Stara Zagora, in central Bulgaria. We are now looking for a ride to Edirne for tomorrow (Monday 28/6). Please contact us at +359-89 69 13 798 in case you can help us getting there.
Two days ago Tjerk and Peter arrived in Sofia, Bulgaria. Their stories will soon appear here.
Duran Duran, Billy Ocean, Feargal Sharkey, Salt’n’ Pepa, Kajagoogoo, Cyndi Lauper, Rick Astley: we have been in Serbia for over a week and what strikes us, apart from the meat consumption, is the music. Everywhere we go, we hear hits from the eighties, as is the case – or should we say: as is especially the case? – on petrol stations, not a bad condition for hitchhiking.
Hitchhiking is a good way to make contact. How different is travelling by train or plane where conversation with fellow-travellers is short and more informal. If at all. » Lees meer…
We have arrived in the Serbian capital. Everything here is bigger, faster and more dynamic than in the rest of the country, as is the case with most capital cities. At every new location we go through the same repetition, so nothing different in Belgrade. It is great to be able to set up camp here for a few days. The first night at the Sava Center parking lot was fine but a bit rough: no shower, bathroom, running water or shade. So when we get the offer by phone to move to the ‘best spot of the city’, we are very quick to take it. » Lees meer…
The songtitle of the project. Written in February, inspired by the first stage of the Caravan Hitchhiking journey.
Unterwegs (link to the song)
Unterwegs kann zu Hause sein
Unterwegs, es gibt keine Pause nein
Unterwegs in das Leben herein. » Lees meer…
Tuesday morning, 7.30. Despite the short night I wake up early. It is warm, whichs encourages me to get off the caravanbed. I immediately take a quick shower at the city beach, before Cordula and Jens arrive with their cameras. Then I prepare a strong cup of coffee on the small stove-espressomaker. We are drinking our coffee in the shade of the tall trees bordering the parking lot when our new German friends arrive in their rental car – without a tow bar. Biljana’s brother Dragan offered to bring us to the first service station on the edge of the city, as it is virtually impossible to get a lift from a city center. » Lees meer…
Since yesterday the self-adjusted song “Feliz Novi Sad” is stuck in my head. The contrast between a Spanish Christmas and the Serbian summer could not be bigger though. We have arrived at a fantastic location, at a beach on the Danube. Despite the high temperatures the water level is dangerously high. In the direct surroundings of our caravan there is a swimming pool, a variety of small kiosks, terraces, sport pitches and picknich patches. In the evening half of the Novi Sad population gathers here to watch the World Cup on large TV screens. Even later at night the beach turns into some sort of lovers lane. Coloured lights, outside eating places and a wandering gipsy orchestra. To me it feels like something between the Parade (a Dutch traveling cultural festival) and a beach side resort. » Lees meer…
Today at 4pm the world cup soccer match between Serbia and Ghana was on. We thought it would be wise to try to arrive in Novi Sad before that hour, anticipating a traffic dip. So we put ourselves at the side of the road with a cardboard sign saying “Auto-Kuka-Ilok”. The early visitors of the cafe Piramide terrace in Vukovar look at our hitchhiking attempts in disbelief. We are experienced caravan hitchhikers though, and used to strange situations by now. » Lees meer…
This morning we got up early, had breakfast in the sun and started to push! Fifty meters to the border. I expected a lot of hassle, but the Hungarian customs officers only came out to take pictures and look at the strange scene unfolding. After I did a spontaneous concert they offered us a drink and let us push on towards the Croatian border station. » Lees meer…
While Peter and I were pushing the caravan the last meters towards the Croatian border last Friday, the owner of the very last bar before the border in Hungary came out, asking where we were going. Despite his bad German, it quickly became clear that he expected a friend to arrive by car – with a towing hook – within the next 30 minutes. This friend would likely be willing to give us a lift over the border. » Lees meer…
In the shade of a few large lime trees a blue-green Dutch caravan, without a car, is parked at a simple parking lot. There is a playground with sturdy wooden climbing frames, swings and slides. The place is surrounded with walled houses, behind which there are fields filled with summery crops. Birds are singing, crickets are chirping. The sun shines brightly, the air is warm and heavy. » Lees meer…
“SZia Pecs, Európa Kulturális Fövárosa!” The caravan, Dachs and I have returned to Pécs for the start of stage II of The Caravan Hitchhiking Project, after a three-months intermission. And this time I am able to properly pronounce my Hungarian introduction sentence. After my first press conference in Hungary a few months ago, the local press happily cited my struggle with their language. » Lees meer…
In the last week of May I had a fantastic week in Shanghai. I was there to perform at the Dutch Culture Center at the World Expo. I used the weeks preceeding the performance to bring together my experiences of ‘Stage 1′ into a theatrical report of my journey. » Lees meer…
Utrecht
Cloudy
17°C
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