A Journey Across Borders

Conclusions

In this final episode I bring together all of the learnings from the 8 trips, to form my conclusions on the roles that borders play in their many different guises across Europe. Written in summer 2017, while living outside the UK. You can find the full text of this episode, along with maps photos and videos, at https://AJourneyAcrossBorders.wordpress.com/conclusions/ [https://ajourneyacrossborders.wordpress.com/conclusions/]

Trip no.8: Illicit Trade in the Netherlands 🇵🇱 🇳🇱 🇬🇧

In trip no.8 I organise a summer school in the Netherlands on the topic of illicit trade, visiting Rotterdam Port and learning from Interpol staff. I discuss how a transnational response is needed to track down and tackle the illicit traders, and I also look at the cost in time and money to the UK of new trade tariffs and customs checks if there is a hard border with the EU. Written in summer 2017, while living outside the UK. You can find the full text of this episode, along with maps photos and videos, at https://AJourneyAcrossBorders.wordpress.com/8-trips/trip-no-8-illicit-trade-in-the-netherlands/ [https://ajourneyacrossborders.wordpress.com/8-trips/trip-no-8-illicit-trade-in-the-netherlands/] To find out more about the Summer School on Ilicit Trade that I helped to organise, head over to https://www.rug.nl/education/summer-winter-schools/summer_schools_2019/illicit-trade/ [https://www.rug.nl/education/summer-winter-schools/summer_schools_2019/illicit-trade/]

Trip no.7: An Erasmus Mundus student's week in Krakow 🇬🇧 🇵🇱

In trip no.7 I attend a week-long conference in Krakow as part of my Master's. I look at the terrible history of the Holocaust in Krakow and the role of brick walls in the Jewish Quarter and barbed wire fences in nearby Auschwitz. I discuss the concept of Othering and the way that language can influence people's worldviews. Written in summer 2017, while living outside the UK. You can find the full text of this episode, along with maps photos and videos, at https://AJourneyAcrossBorders.wordpress.com/8-trips/trip-no-7-life-of-an-erasmus-mundus-student-a-week-in-krakow/ [https://ajourneyacrossborders.wordpress.com/8-trips/trip-no-7-life-of-an-erasmus-mundus-student-a-week-in-krakow/] For tips on travelling to Krakow, see https://TheWell-TravelledPostcard.com/2015/07/20/postcard-of-the-week-krakow-poland/ [https://thewell-travelledpostcard.com/2015/07/20/postcard-of-the-week-krakow-poland/] To find out about the academic paper on island mentality that I presented at the conference in Krakow, head to https://TheWell-TravelledPostcard.com/portfolio/an-island-drifting-away-into-the-atlantic-understanding-the-role-of-the-sea-in-the-tide-of-british-euroscepticism/ [https://thewell-travelledpostcard.com/portfolio/an-island-drifting-away-into-the-atlantic-understanding-the-role-of-the-sea-in-the-tide-of-british-euroscepticism/]

Trip no.6: Attempting to summit Mont Blanc 🇬🇧 🇨🇭 🇫🇷 🇮🇹

In trip no.6 I travel to the French and Italian Alps and try to summit the highest peak in the EU. From over 4,000m I reflect on how physical borders like mountain ranges and seas (like the English channel) impact the people and communities living near those borders, and the impact of de-bordering and re-bordering when significant infrastructure, like tunnels or walls, are built.  Written in summer 2017, while living outside the UK. You can find the full text of this episode, along with maps photos and videos, at https://AJourneyAcrossBorders.wordpress.com/8-trips/trip-no-6-attempting-to-summit-mont-blanc-the-highest-peak-in-the-eu/ [https://ajourneyacrossborders.wordpress.com/8-trips/trip-no-6-attempting-to-summit-mont-blanc-the-highest-peak-in-the-eu/] For more information on how to train and prepare for summiting Mont Blanc, head to https://TheWell-TravelledPostcard.com/2017/06/08/one-week-to-mont-blanc-training-and-preparations-for-the-summit/ [https://thewell-travelledpostcard.com/2017/06/08/one-week-to-mont-blanc-training-and-preparations-for-the-summit/]

Trip no.5: A Scandinavian road trip to the Norwegian fjords 🇸🇪 🇳🇴

In trip no.5 I take a road trip from Sweden to the Norwegian fjords. I compare the Nordic Passport Union to the UK-Ireland Common Travel Area, and discover how the hi-tech external EU border between Sweden and Norway works in practice, between two countries that are so close historically, economically and linguistically - much like the UK and Ireland. Written in summer 2017, while living outside the UK. You can find the full text of this episode, along with maps photos and videos, at https://AJourneyAcrossBorders.wordpress.com/8-trips/trip-no-5-a-scandi-road-trip-to-visit-the-vikings-in-norway/ [https://ajourneyacrossborders.wordpress.com/8-trips/trip-no-5-a-scandi-road-trip-to-visit-the-vikings-in-norway/] For a video of the beautiful Norwegian fjords we saw on this trip, head over to my Instagram (@VStuartTaylor): https://www.instagram.com/p/BUt-5sKjsvR/ [https://www.instagram.com/p/BUt-5sKjsvR/]