Few would argue that Israel holds a particular fascination for men and women of faith. But most aren’t going to walk there and put their life on the line in the process. Inspired by the pilgrimage of Dutchwoman Johanna van Fessem, in the winter of 2006 Anthony de Lyon decided to do just that.
So began a 251-day odyssey spanning fifteen countries and two continents. Trekking across Europe and the Middle East, Tony battled against dogs, clouds of flies and a deadly snake but was helped on his way by white-robed monks, a Bohemian nobleman, a speed-crazy Croatian farmer, practically the entire population of Turkey and the Russian mafia (who kindly made him a pork sandwich).
Sleeping rough in meadows and open desert, exploring Ottoman mosques and Crusader castles, robbed by conmen and stalked by terrorists, engulfed in storms, blizzards and suffocating heat, Tony struggled on, aided by gallons of cola, about 2,000 plasters, hundreds of Good Samaritans, an innate sense of the ridiculous and above all, an implacable will to seek out the Divine.
So began a 251-day odyssey spanning fifteen countries and two continents. Trekking across Europe and the Middle East, Tony battled against dogs, clouds of flies and a deadly snake but was helped on his way by white-robed monks, a Bohemian nobleman, a speed-crazy Croatian farmer, practically the entire population of Turkey and the Russian mafia (who kindly made him a pork sandwich).
Sleeping rough in meadows and open desert, exploring Ottoman mosques and Crusader castles, robbed by conmen and stalked by terrorists, engulfed in storms, blizzards and suffocating heat, Tony struggled on, aided by gallons of cola, about 2,000 plasters, hundreds of Good Samaritans, an innate sense of the ridiculous and above all, an implacable will to seek out the Divine.
