Noir-Cuivre

Noir-Cuivre.

Silk was, in many ways, one of the forging forces in the formation of trade routes between Europe and the Middle East. Louis XI chose Lyon as the location for the silk industry and spawned a whole industry of beautiful design. This journal - black-copper - takes it name from one of the crafted ornate styles (thank you Mx); a fitting title apropos to the approximate route my friend, Marcus, and I plan to travel along.

There were actually many routes that interconnected West and East through the Middle East and Middle-Asia. Like any dynamic system trails were formed, first slowy and tentitavely, then annealing to become solid and well trodden routes. Over time these led to trade souks springing up at various points: in the South in ancient Persia, in and along river colonies such as Byzantium: in the form of the Kapali Carzi; or to the North in Middle-Asia, in Turkmenistan, where the vibrant Tolkuchka Bazaar of Ashkabhad still boasts to sell anything and everything; even through to North-Africa amidst the merchants Marrakech's Riads and the bewitching and exotic Djemma El-fna. These silken routes just beckon to be explored. Fair enough, it's not all silk and happiness in many places in today's political climate. But I'm sure we'll muddle through.

We will probably split at certain point or points after India, but the first leg of our route will take us Through Turkey, to Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Middle-Asia, Iran, Pakistan, India, and then the Himalayas - with probably a couple of detours along the way.

So with my head recently shorn, my thanks Karen, and my life stuck in an 80 litre rucksack it's first to Istanbul, formely Constantinople, and even more anciently, Byzantium: historically recognised as the gateway to the east, and a fitting place to put the first foot forward.