Back to Istanbul: On Foot across Europe to the Great Silk Road

After an arduous journey that extended nearly 7,500 miles, from Istanbul in Turkey to Xi'an in China, the French writer Bernard Olivier thought he had turned the page on the Silk Road, which is enough for a retiree to rest on his laurels! But that was before he met his life partner, Benedict Flaté. I wondered: Why didn't he start from France? The city of Lyon was the silk capital of Europe. Now, at the age of 75, Olivier decided to lace up his boots and set out to complete his Silk Road journey, once and for all: 1,900 miles, from Lyon to Istanbul. But this time, he won't be alone. Flaté has long wished to walk side by side with Olivier, so they set off together... This unexpected fourth volume of Olivier's Silk Road series (Out of Istanbul, Walking to Samarkand, and The Steppe Winds) is a great addition for fans of the writer: not only is it an exciting continuation of his long journey across Asia, it is a new journey in its own right through Europe, full of new and interesting experiences, such as the inclusion of short narratives by Flatté. Across ten countries - from the familiar France and Italy to the more mysterious Balkans - this adventurous duo invites us to discover the history, sometimes punctuated by happy and sometimes tragic moments, of those they meet, and to share with them the details of their daily lives. Return to Istanbul is an impassioned plea for greater understanding between peoples, and a wonderful declaration of love.