In the Footsteps of Marco Polo

Two ordinary New Yorkers embark on a journey to retrace Marco Polo's historic route from Venice to China and back. With minimal resources but armed with cameras and determination, Denis Belliveau and Francis O'Donnell set out to follow the 25,000-mile path documented in The Travels of Marco Polo. The pair traverses twenty countries through Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, documenting their experiences through photography and video. Their encounters range from peaceful exchanges with locals to tense situations in regions of conflict and instability. Their two-year expedition mirrors many elements of Marco Polo's original journey, including crossing the same mountain ranges, deserts, and bodies of water. The authors compare their modern observations with Polo's thirteenth-century accounts, bringing historical details into the present day. This work explores themes of human connection across cultures and the enduring spirit of exploration, while questioning the boundaries between historical fact and traveler's tale.

Readers praise the adventure storytelling and rich details of retracing Marco Polo's exact route across Asia. Many note the authentic cultural interactions and photography that bring the journey to life. Multiple reviews highlight how the authors navigate modern political challenges like crossing Iran and Afghanistan. Common criticisms include the writing style being sometimes dry or academic, and some readers wanted more historical background about Marco Polo himself rather than focusing mainly on the modern journey. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.94/5 (127 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (81 ratings) "Takes you right along on their incredible journey" - Amazon reviewer "The photography alone makes this worth reading" - Goodreads reviewer "Sometimes gets bogged down in travel logistics" - Goodreads reviewer The companion PBS documentary receives consistent mentions in reviews, with readers often recommending watching it alongside reading the book for a complete experience.

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🌏 Authors Denis Belliveau and Francis O'Donnell spent two years retracing Marco Polo's exact route from Venice to China, covering 25,000 miles across 20 countries 🎥 The journey was documented in both the book and an Emmy-nominated PBS documentary of the same name, featuring footage shot on a hand-cranked camera similar to those used by early explorers 🗺️ The authors had to navigate through war zones in Afghanistan, cross the Wakhan Corridor, and obtain special permits to enter restricted areas of China and Tibet to maintain historical accuracy 📜 Unlike many modern travel books, they specifically followed Marco Polo's 13th-century route descriptions from "The Travels of Marco Polo," proving many of his disputed accounts to be accurate 🏺 Throughout their journey, they discovered several ancient trading posts and artifacts that hadn't been documented since Marco Polo's time, adding archaeological value to their expedition