Marie and Nils embarked on their ‘Deux Pas Vers l’Autre’ (Two steps Towards Others) project on Monday on the Rota Vicentina in Sagres, from where they started their 17-month pedestrian adventure to the Turkish capital.
The young couple will be walking through 17 countries and more than 120 natural parks, “and have the double objective of promoting walking in Europe as an activity for the younger generations, as well as social, cultural and environmental sustainability, involving local populations and minimising the ecological footprint, more specifically in collaboration with the ‘1kg for the Planet’ programme”, according to the Rota Vicentina Association.
The Rota Vicentina Association, which works in partnership with public entities and local entrepreneurs to promote Nature Tourism as an essential development path for the southwest Algarve region, is lending its backing to the couple’s trip as it passes through the ancient Caminho Historico (Historical Path), on the Rota Vicentine, followed by the Via Alpina and the Via Dinarica.
The Rota Vicentina (Vicentine Route) is a network of walking trails along the southwest coast of Portugal, which currently totals around 450 kilometres of marked trails to walk between Santiago do Cacém and Cabo de São Vicente.
Comprising the Historical Path, the Fisherman’s Trail and the Circular Path, the Vicentine Route proposes a unique chance to experience the authentic rural living culture of the interior, and the surprisingly wild coast of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park.
During the first ten days of their project, Marie and Nils will, “besides enjoying the trails [of the Rota Vicentina], be getting to know some of the entities associated with the Vicentine Route, walking with members of the association, participating in joint volunteering actions, and meeting local people through cultural tourism products”.
Marie and Nil, aged 29 and 31, worked in the areas of human resources and photography and video, respectively, before embarking on their great trans-European project.
Follow Marie and Nils on Facebook (www.facebook.com/deuxpasverslautre), or the Deux Pas Vers l’Autre blog.