“Winter Travels” is a lecture series with a long-standing tradition. At the beginning of the year, we invite you to a total of ten travel lectures held weekly—always on Thursdays—at Atelier Schwartz. The speakers share stories of their trips to countries near and far. Their stories and photos allow the audience to immerse themselves in these travel experiences. In our experience, winter travel talks are a wonderful way to bring together a wide variety of people; they consistently provide topics of conversation and inspiration for one’s own travels.
Time Periode
02.2014 – 03.2014
Project Participants
Erik Hegewald
Projektpartner
Atelier Schwartz
Kontact
info@kulturaktiv.org
Events
05.02.2014: Russia & Mongolia, Jan Oelker
On February 5, Jan Oelker kicked off the “Winter Travels” series in grand style with his talk, “Traveling to Mongolia on a Robur.” In the summer of 2013, he traveled with friends through Russia and Mongolia on a Robur. He recounted a trip through the Altai Mountains, the rugged roads in western Mongolia, a round-trip through the Gobi Desert, the Naadam Festival—Mongolia’s national festival—and the long journey back through Russia.
12.02.2014: Montenegro, Torsten Hübner
In the summer of 2013, Torsten Hübner traveled to Montenegro by train with his girlfriend and his two children. Mediterranean charm on the Mediterranean coast, rural farming in the mountains, historic old towns, and new socialist-era buildings—Montenegro has many faces. The lecture covered these topics.
19.02.2014: Altai Mountains, Marcus Oertel
In the summer of 2013, our journey took us via Novosibirsk and Barnaul straight to the Altai Mountains, where Kazakhstan, China, and Mongolia border Russia. A region with a cultural history stretching back millennia, home to the proud Altai people and breathtaking natural scenery that must be explored without any major tourist infrastructure. The only road led us through the wild Ulagan region into the Tschulyshman Valley and on to the shores of Lake Telezker. Here, on a sand dune in front of a warm lagoon, time stands still. Driftwood, Altai children, and the famous wild horses pass by. A journey to the end of the world—and proof that Siberia isn’t always cold.
26.02.2014: Arab World, Mirko Sennewald
Mirko Sennewald recounted how, shortly before the outbreak of the revolutions in the Arab world, he visited Beirut, Damascus, Aleppo, Amman, Petra, and the Red Sea—traveling with a baby who was just 8 months old. Our mission: to trace the history of the Armenians in Lebanon and Syria, the results of which were originally intended to be compiled into a documentary film. Encounters and impressions that reveal how tensions had long been simmering beneath the surface before open conflicts erupted—but also evidence that the interplay of interests remains complex to this day. Along the way, tracing the history of humanity: culturally and historically unique sites and breathtaking World Heritage sites.
05.03.2014: Ukraine, Simon Wolf
On March 5, we set out with Simon Wolf on a journey through Volhynia, Podolia, Galicia, Lviv, Lutsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Mykolaiv, and Odessa. We made detours to the Black Sea, to the countryside, and to the FortMissia Festival on the Schengen border. A balancing act between the now faintly shimmering glory of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, alarmingly well-preserved remnants of communism, and a unique understanding of national pride.
12.03.2014: Krakow, Anna-Maria Hantschke
For nearly a year, Anna-Maria Hantschke explored the hidden courtyards and alleyways of Kraków, one of Poland’s oldest cities. In her talk, she spoke about the myths of Kraków, the city’s two faces, and its undiscovered sights that cannot yet be found in any travel guide.
19.03.2014: North Korea, Dirk Peiskers
In this lecture, we listened to Dirk Peisker’s account of his trip to North Korea in the year “102.” The Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung, who died in 1994, is the eternal head of state of North Korea and omnipresent. The country oscillates between modest modernity and poverty. Even the few foreign tourists are given no insight into North Korean reality while there, and many questions remain unanswered. In return, visitors—who are always welcome—receive a true “all-inclusive package” filled with unforgettable experiences and East Asian hospitality. Our series of travel lectures came to a close with photos, travel tips, personal reflections, and a few anecdotes.
Project Series
