Out of Istanbul, Bernard Ollivier
Out of Istanbul, Bernard Ollivier
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Out of Istanbul
A Journey of Discovery along the Silk Road

Author: Bernard Ollivier, Dan Golembeski

Narrator: Nigel Patterson

Unabridged: 11 hr 42 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 10/18/2022


Synopsis

Upon retirement at the age of sixty-two, and grieving his deceased wife, renowned journalist Bernard Ollivier felt a sense of profound emptiness: What do I do now? While some see retirement as a chance to cash in their chips and settle into a comfy armchair, Ollivier still longed for more. Searching for inspiration, he strapped on his gear, donned his hat, and headed out the front door to hike the Way of St. James, a 1400-mile journey from Paris to Compostela, Spain. At the end of that road, with more questions than answers, he decided to spend the next few years hiking another of history’s great routes: the Silk Road.

Out of Istanbul is Ollivier's stunning account of the first part of that 7,200-mile journey. The longest and perhaps most mythical trade route of all time, the Silk Road is in fact a network of routes across Europe and Asia, some going back to prehistoric times. During the Middle Ages, the transcribed travelogue of one Silk Road explorer, Marco Polo, helped spread the fame of the Orient throughout Europe.

Ollivier's journey, far from bragging about some tremendous achievement, humbly takes the listener on a colossal adventure of human proportions, one in which walking itself, through a kind of alchemy, fosters friendships and fellowship.

About Bernard Ollivier

Career journalist turned traveler, Bernard Ollivier believes that walking has the power to transform. His publications include Out of Istanbul, Walking to Samarkand, numerous travel guides, both adult and young adult novels, and Life Begins at Sixty. In 2000, he founded the Seuil ("Threshold") Association, helping troubled teens get back on track through walking. He lives in Normandy, France.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Josh

This book was a pretty random pickup on an e-book deal. But I liked the idea of someone physically walking the silk road, determined to experience the country and the culture on foot, slowly (even though the guy was a machine and walked 30km+ per day). It partially resonated also because I've starte......more