PETER SOMMER An inexhaustible source of knowledge, energy and words and an archeologist. His passion and talents have brought him to the prestigious BBC as a director of many historical documentaries. This exceptional role has taken him on many fabulous trips, facilitating his access to the most remote or sought-after sites, giving him the opportunity to meet out-of-the-ordinary people who have, in turn, opened many doors for him that are rarely accessible to strangers. He is also known for having completed a 4-month journey, walking more than 3,000 km though Turkey, in the footsteps of Alexander The Great. This odyssey earned him an Explorers Club of America Young Expeditionners Award. He taught at Birmingham University and at Bogazici University in Turkey and is now giving conferences for varied audiences in order to share his discoveries with as many people as possible. He also plans and guides small groups on trips that combine the themes of archeology and cuisine. Admitting to be incredibly lucky when it comes to euphoric travel, has many secrets of the past and the present that he would like to share with Euphoria s readers. Let s follow the trail of this explorer of history and taste. 1 / 11
Euphoria Please describe a few euphoric moments that you have experienced on a t As a documentary maker : I have so many! In Ethiopia, I The reason for my trip was to attend the St. George s Festival, during which thousands of pilgrims come I was even more privileged to be able to film inside the church, once it was empty. Needless to say that In Mali. In Timbuktu, the legendary, real or imaginary as some say parade of caravans carrying loads In the middle of the night, a scene worthy of Star Wars: moonlight over the river and our barge fully loade In Kirghizstan and Uzbekistan. In the footsteps of Alexander the Great. There is magic in seeing sacred It was so incredible to hear people talking about Alexander the Great as if he had lived only rece Finally, I also had the immense surprise of participating in a wedding ceremony, as a guest of honor, inv As a photographer: In the extreme south of Morocco. First in the markets, the faces of the farmers with their African features, sometimes Persian, som The trip reached its climax, a dream for any photographer at the vibrating orange of the sand dune of Me 2 / 11
As a guide : In Turkey, in particular when kids are part of the archeological discovery group. One day, I received the ultimate compliment: the letter of a father telling me that his daughter was registe Eup horia Rome, under Hadrian s empire, nothing less! And exp Euphoria I plan at least four or five of them for this year and nex What w And a circuit in the Aeolian Islands, with a geological component, considering the presence of many volc Another one on the island of Malta, including ancient sites, true prehistoric monuments and fortifications Finally, next year, we will go back to Greece, adding to the cruise, a long trek to literally break in the sum Euphoria Would you mind presenting a A signi We talked for a whole afternoon and from then; he took me under his wings. He followed me at distance 3 / 11
A touching situation: At the beginning of my 3,000-km walk in Turkey, I had to face glacial cold during A fun moment: in the Turkish countryside, we were told to beware of semi-wild ferocious huge d Eccentric: in Siberian Russia, more precisely in Norilsk. I don t think it even shows up on a Euphoria Euphoria What is Smile! Smile at everyone you meet. This is what unites most people on Earth What ar A lovely vacation for me is a fa When it is possible, the family comes and joins me at the end of my tours in Turkey. Last year, we spent Our most recent best holiday was last fall: with family and friends we chartered a gulet for a week along Euphoria Do you On top of my list, until recently Totally opposite to my habits and interests, there is Sub-Saharan Africa. For my children and me it would 4 / 11
Thank you Mr. Sommer, and mostly congratulations on this insatiable curi To learn more about www.petersommer.com guided tours organized by, such as the one From Tur Interview and French original: Sylvie Berthiaume Translation: Christiane Théberge Lalibela Lalibela 5 / 11
Salt caravans in Mali Sogdiana Wedding ceremony 6 / 11
Merzouga Tuaregs Aeolian Islands 7 / 11
Malta Kaunos, Turkey Kale, Ottoman castle, Turkey 8 / 11
Knidos, Turkey On a gulet in Turkey Nisyros 9 / 11
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