Circling Around – OPEN CALL

Everybody gets up early for the ride to Castelo Branco. First we put Theun on the train in Alcaria. As difficult it is to come to the Fold, so difficult it is to get away from it.

Today we ride in different groups to our destination. We all have different priorities on this journey and today the Fold presents itself almost like a menu. There are three different road going to Castelo Branco: the big highway, the national route (N18) and the local streets. All have their advantages and disadvantages. The N18 follows the fold the closest (is the busiest with cars and the fastest way for bikers to get to our next point) and so Pacôme would like to follow this way. He sees the fold as a line of information and is interested how the landscape, rural and urban changes continuously. Juliane is biking by herself today. She is a bit sick and wants to follow her own rhythm. For her the actual following of the line is not a priority. She follows the routes that get her in touch with the people and the landscape that otherwise she would never see. Her route is the smaller national road through the mountains (is about more up and down and a bit longer the. The N18). The last group, Nicolas, Various Artists and nadine, takes the longest route. Before following the same route as Juliane, they follow pathways through the valley. The priority or this group lies in seeing the diversity of the landscape along the fold and in avoiding bigger car roads.

The more south we get, the hot and dry the landscape and climat gets. Although we started biking earlier today, at 11 it gets already over 30 degrees. The flora along the way is also changing. We pass many cork trees, olive orchards and many rivers are dry.

After 2 hours of driving Pacôme is already at the lake before Castelo Branco, Juliane found beautiful resting place next to a source in the mountains where she catches up some sleep. And the last group only did 7km biking their way through agricultural unpaved pathways. They meet up with Pacôme 15km before Castelo Branco and arrive at the destination of the day around 20:00. Juliane is still not feeling so well and decides to stay in the mountains and rest.

Castelo Branco is a very old town that dates from the 13th century and lies on top of a hill. We stay in a hostel with a bizarre architecture run by an old couple. We meet an old French speaking lady who comes here every year for holidays as she is a Portuguese living in France or over 50 years. She’s happy to translate for us and directs us in the city. We find a cantina for dinner and are served the menu of the day with sangria.

As we discuss our experiences so far it’s clear that our heads need some time of. The input the fold gives us is endless, but the more full our heads become, the less real attention we pay and the less we communicate on the fold, which is the goal of this intentional travel.

We go to bed tired and full of questions again not knowing what tomorrow will bring. The fold is one big surprise..

On 16 August Bruno De Wachter will circle around the Charleroi (Brussels South) airport, 15 kilometers.

From Friday 22 August till Sunday 24 August, Bruno De Wachter will circle around the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, 49 kilometers.

He’s inviting you to come with him. The idea is to ignore the airport and the planes, and to look at what lays around instead.

To inscribe for Charleroi, please leave your e-mailaddress on the following Doodle: http://doodle.com/xeh6re5dhqemp5d6#table

To inscribe for Paris and enjoy the hotels for free, please leave your e-mailaddress on the following Doodle: http://doodle.com/vib2pk6aftyx9ruf

Once the 10 tickets for Paris are sold out, participants will have to arrange transport themselves. In that case, leave your e-mailaddress here: http://doodle.com/apn57h7ykxfk8acw

(Nadine will pay the cost of the hotels for Circling Around Paris airport, for the first 10 participants (Campanile and Ibis, €63 in total). The cost of the TGV for people from Brussels is €100. We made 10 reservations in advance. The payment of the €100 has to arrive on the account of Nadine by 14 August the latest to confirm the inscription (see attachment for payment details). Once those 10 tickets are sold out, participants will have to arrange transport themselves.)

The total number of participants for each walk is limited to 19.

CIRCLING AROUND CHARLEROI

Saturday 16/08
10:25: Train at Bruxelles Central to Charleroi Sud
11:20: Pre-metro line M3 to Madeleine
15km walk anti-clockwise around the airport
Returning by train in the evening.

Sunday 17/08
Meeting at the WAB centre at Nadine to create a report of the walk. Participants who are not from Brussels can contribute per internet, but all airport-hikers are asked to participate in documenting the walk. We will conclude the reporting around 18h.
CIRCLING AROUND PARIS CHARLES DE GAULLES

Friday 22/08
For the people coming from Brussels
– 8:15 TGV from Bruxelles Midi train station
– 9:53 Arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle
– 10:14 RER to Parc des Exposition

For participants from Paris, the meeting point is at the RER station Parc des Exposition at 10h30. Walk clockwise around the airport to Le Mesnil Amelot, 23 kilometer.
Night in Hotel Campanile in Le Mesnil Amelot.

Saturday 23/08
We walk back to Parc des Expositions to close the circle around the airport, 26 kilometer.
Night at Hotel Ibis Styles, Parc des Exposition de Villepinte.

Sunday 24/08
TGV back to Brussels.
Meeting at the WAB centre at Nadine to create a report of the walk. Participants who are not from Brussels can contribute per internet, but all airport-hikers are asked to participate in documenting the walk. We will conclude the reporting around 18h.

Costs
– TGV: € 100 pp > to pay (10 reseservations made)
– Hotel Campanile Le Mesnil Amelot (22/08): payed by WAB/nadine
– Hotel Ibis Style, Parc des Exposition de Villepinte (23/08): payed by WAB/nadine

To confirm your enrollment, please pay the amount of €100 on the following account before 14 August:
Nadine, Herderstraat 30, 1050 Elsene – IBAN BE85523080241206 – BIC: TRIOBEBB

Cirling Around is part of the European project ALOTOF and is supported by the European Culture Program 2007-2013