Journeying: Bangkok to Barcelona on Foot

The borders between urban areas and nature are fading. New cities are expanding into rural areas, and urban dwellers long for more green spaces.

The journey is complete: 3+ years and 14,000+ kilometers. To see the latest posts from the journey, scroll to the bottom of this page.

But who really has access to nature in growing urban areas? How is nature being integrated into megacity plans? How are cities in emerging countries and developed nations making themselves more livable, resilient and sustainable? What are cities throughout Asia and Europe doing to improve equity and inclusion among their residents? How are cities creating opportunities for their citizens and incorporating social justice while also balancing environmental needs and natural resources capacity?

We hope to find out, and see for ourselves.

We are Jenn and Lluís, and in January 2016, we will start walking from Bangkok, Thailand, back home to Barcelona, Catalonia. Along the way, we’ll explore the idea of just cities, occasionally posting our perspectives, photos and podcasts of what we find in different corners of the world here on The Nature of Cities.

We’ll be walking in towns, cities and rural, far-from-anything stretches. We’ll stroll through parks, alongside rice paddies, up mountains, across deserts and into the chaotic bustle of city centers. Our feet will touch sidewalks, train tracks, riverbeds, paved roads and dirt paths. We think walking this distance—an estimated 14,000 kilometers—will create both an intimate and expansive view of our world while also compelling a deeply introspective look at how we interact with our planet and the people who call it home.

Our planned trek will take us through about 20 countries, starting in Southeast Asia and finishing on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It won’t always be a straight line, but it will be a route that will surely change our lives and, hopefully, touch the lives of others we meet along the way. We’ll share here what we see, hear, feel and experience along the way.

We hope you’ll follow our footsteps. You will find our series on The Nature of Cities here. For additional information about our journey, please visit http://bangkokbarcelonaonfoot.com.

Jenn and Lluís