Journey of Intimacy & Culture along the Roman Roads

Migration almost always leads to problems in two places, at the place of occurrence of migrants as well as at the place migrants have left. This is one of recent biggest problems all over Europe which almost every day appears in the media. (see updated date)

Highly explosive and controversial discussed is the topic in relation to migration from the Balkans which is discussed in the north-west Europe daily, whether the question about the reasons of the migrants why they left usually comes much too short. But exactly this is the question to oppose the problem: Who leaves his home without compelling reason, his familiar surroundings with family and friends, and thus goes to meet an uncertain future?

If there is no work and little income, first reasons are quickly realized. Now, we are not do-gooders, but not blind as well. Why no one put the priorities in a way that working and earning a living is created in the countries of the Balkans? Perhaps much smaller, more individual steps are necessary. Not the big "politics." These are the reasons for the conceptual development of our project, which as well is open for changes when necessary by experience.

Why the project "A journey of Intimacy and Culture along the Roman Roads"?

By looking at the small and sometimes hidden details we can understand the past much better and thus understand history, people and cultures which disappeared already. Understanding the past provides an extended look at our own more or less modern life, helps you to get new energy and stimulates you with current ideas by thinking and reacting to exploit the cultural and natural resources associated in the regions and so to promote them, get a benefit out of them. This as well helps to protect cultural heritage by the local inhabitants.

The Roman road system makes this the network. The team integrates cultural coverage based on traditional architecture, trade and way of life to the local population to generate additional value from the cultural and outdoor tourism, also in order to reduce migration for economic reasons or even avoid it completely.
German, Turkish and English are the languages of the medium alaturka.info wherein articles, blogs, image galleries are provided to a wide reader audience.
The team Alaturka.Info themselves travels with the sponsored caravan, which implies immediate closeness to the people, which is focused on the topics archeology, outdoor and cultural activities.

How will the journey take place?

The travelling team shall consist of two people (architect / photojournalist and graphics designer / photographer) and the journey shall be made on automobile and caravan.
The team will focus on documenting the events that take place during the journey and publishing them at the online environment. That way, a reader audience shall be created whose interest will grow with each passing day. All of the journey objectives shall be clarified at online environment and followers will have a chance to directly contact the team members.

The related daily reports shall be organized with the internet connection in the caravan which shall be used as a "travelling office" by the team.
In order to minimize the time and location difficulties in organizing local activities, maximum attention shall be given to contact the local and cultural representatives of the all destination points.

For instance, "Via Egnatia" chapter of the Ancient Roman Road: Following the Appian Road which reaches from Rome to Brindisi, Rome – İstanbul connection starts over the Via Egnatia Road which reaches from modern Albania, Greece and Macedonia borders to Turkey.
"Since the day it was built by Romans until today, Egnatia Road has been the road of many communities for over 2000 years: Albanian, Slavic, Bulgarian, Roman, Jewish, Pontus, Turkish, Pomak and Vlach communities were in relation with each other by way of cultural, language, religion, idea and commercial exchanges." - VEF

The team of two shall follow this road and visit the historical ruins, natural beauties, touristic and cultural centres on their way or nearby; and these visits shall be documented with photographs and, from time to time, videos and coordinate data.

Also, the team will visit places where they can get in contact with local people and make conversations with community dwellers about culture, history, traditions and art.

The daily impressions concerning these visits, which constitute the focal point of the journey, shall be published in the official blog ; a photo gallery shall be created with some of the photographs and shared over the internet.

The satellite coordinates, which are requested by many users and at the same time, allows a traveller to reach destination points easily and on their own and makes it easier to track our journey, also constitute another element of our journey.

At the same time, articles about ancient cities that have archaeological and historical value, which are written with an academic language, shall be offered at the official web portal in Turkish, English and German languages.

The team members shall also make contact with destination points on their way which belong to non-commercial organizations such as Goethe Institute and Egnatia Foundation, and shall participate in or organize activities in certain centres.

Primary goals of the project

• Getting to know, promote, develop and preserving the folkloric values and causing development and change in society with the social – cultural activities. Ensuring that folkloric integrity grows stronger. As a social conscious, looking after social and cultural values, and providing interaction between communities and individuals.

• Making sure that the following mentalities are spread to people: by learning different cultures, individuals are more tolerant towards cultural heritages and belief differences, the diversity and differences that arises from different cultures make every culture richer, while bringing new ideas and energy.

• Creating new opportunities for parties and contributing to the international cooperation by acting as a bridge between people, companies, organizations and countries that want to find new business partners,

• Providing information utility which is required to bring to countries projects which are implemented in Europe in tourism field, whose cost appeal is not considered as the only marketing element, preserves locality, focusing on a single product or subject and reaching immense success,

• With our publications located in written and visual media, - considering the state Europe is in with the bank crisis and state deficit these days – making sure that people get closer with each other and preventing conflicts which may arise in the future,

• Overcoming the prejudices with cultural presentations along the way such as speeches, exhibitions, visual presentations and conversations, allowing new ideas to develop for interaction and raise awareness.

Examples of activities that shall be participated / organized within the scope of project:

At destination point, learning the culture and tourism related festivals which are organized beforehand and participating in those festivals if there is time, opening a stand with required permits. For instance; Travel Turkey Fair Izmir, Römerfest / Heimattage, Villae rusticae / Festival, Römisches Stadtmuseum / Festival
In another destination point, organizing activities related to nature sports such as bicycling, paragliding, walking and making sure that athletes from different countries participate in this activity.

The project concept is primarily planned to cover a three-year period as a whole. As long as weather conditions allow it, spring, summer and autumn months shall be used for travelling.
In addition to this, having members of the team coming from different cultural environments shall allow narratives to be listened with great interest and cause some lively exchange of ideas.

A "by-product" that has emerged from the findings and experiences of the previous project work will be the creation of a camper route to the south across the Balkans, which will also find themselves in their final destinations in Greece, Cyprus and Turkey as sites to overwhelm winter period together with activities which will be available. Every 250 kilometers a site is listed, which offers all year round offers for the main activities within the framework of the project so that the traveler can experience the local contact with the population, explore the environment and thus contribute to the development of the region.

Roman Roads Network

Reaching up to Scotland and following the Northwest European Region and countries that have a border to Mediterranean Sea, Roman Road Network is 85.000 kilometers long. Due to political and structural reasons, it is not possible to follow all of these roads. Our aim is to complete approximately 50% of the total road network by including as many countries as possible.

We believe that your institution will display interest in "Culture and Intimacy Journey Along the Roman Road" with a sense of social responsibility and we expect your support to announce it to bigger audiences.

Your team Alaturka.Info™