For a little New Year's diversion, here is my start on a list of
top travel newsmakers of the last two millennia.
Ask yourself if you would want any of these characters as
clients.
1. The first known incidence of hotel walking clients occurred
in Bethlehem, probably in about 4 B.C., and it involved a couple
named Joseph and Mary. They were "protected" with space in a barn,
and when they checked out, they numbered three.
2. In a well-publicized long-distance trip, the same family --
for security reasons -- left their homeland for Egypt.
Considering they traveled by donkey -- slow and with no shocks
-- are you surprised they refused to come home for several
years?
3. Then we have the unlikely story of a sixth century Irish
abbot sailing across the Atlantic in an oxhide boat -- our earliest
example of budget cruising. The man was real; he sailed closer to
home -- and he gave his name to Brendan Tours.
4. The Vikings seem to have invented camping trips. At least,
they invented sleeping bags and carried them along when one of
their number, Leif Ericsson, led the first exploratory journey by
Europeans to North America precisely 1,000 years ago.
It is no wonder Leif wanted to get away from his Greenland home.
His father, Eric the Red, had been outlawed several times for
multiple murders. His sister Freydus was pretty handy with an axe,
too.
5. Millions left home for often disastrous long-haul travel to
"save" the Holy Land from the infidel in the Middle Ages.
For one dysfunctional family, it was a multigenerational
experience. In the 1140s, Eleanor of Acquitaine and the French king
Louis VII joined the action. In the most important event of the
trip, she asked for a divorce.
In the 1190s, England's King Richard Lion Heart -- Eleanor's son
-- took his turn while brother John stayed home, coveted the throne
and hunted outlaws with names like Robin Hood.
6. The world's longest recorded business trip started in 1271
and ended back in Venice in 1295. Marco Polo, his father and uncle
were traders who spent at least 17 years in the court of Kublai
Khan, the Mongolian emperor in Cathay.
Marco dictated his trip report while in prison, and judging by
the introduction, this journey was the ultimate fam. The Polos
traveled much of the time comped by the khan. And there is no
evidence Marco brought pasta to Italy.
I cannot be stopped now. I have six items on this list. Part two
will appear next week.